My association with Manoj goes back more than a decade, when he was exploring the renewable energy space. Since then, we’ve met every couple of years, often crossing paths lately at Pavilion Restaurant in DLF Golf Club. What has always struck me is the ease of peerhood and mutual respect in our conversations.
One personal moment I will never forget is when he sent me a video message from Amitabh Bachchan almost ten years ago. That message lifted away my guilt of “not having done enough for my parents” and reminded me that parents never really leave us—they remain with us, always. It was more than a gesture; it was an act of humanity that touched me deeply. (Link in comments)
Professionally, his journey speaks for itself—from the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, to scaling Airtel from 2 million to 400 million customers across 20 countries, leading SoftBank Investment Advisers India, and mentoring many unicorn founders. What a wonderful and inspiring run.
What inspires me equally is how he has stayed deeply connected to contemporary technologies like AI and digital transformation, while also living the discipline of a fitness enthusiast—a reminder that leadership is as much about personal wellbeing as it is about scaling businesses.
I was honoured to share my book Dil Se Dost with him recently. For me, it was less about giving a book and more about acknowledging a peer who blends technology, health, impact, and values so naturally.
Many thanks, veer. I look forward to your feedback, and if you like it, I hope you will be one of my many angels in helping me impact a million lives through the message of my book.
Keep blessing and inspiring me and many others.
