varathkanth

Figuring stuff out and enjoying the journey. #OruNaalil

[Jaya Gupta @JayaGup10]

https://t.co/yiGW8jKKXk

[Arivu @Arivubeing]

For clarity regarding “Enjoy Enjaami” (released 5 years ago):

The beat was sent to me. I wrote the lyrics, composed the main vocal melody and performed the song based on my own cultural history and lived experience.

Music is collaborative. But credit and compensation must also

[Anand Sankar @saybwala]

Predictably I have received the messages and nudges over the last 48 hrs cautioning me about being openly critical of @deepigoyal

"VCs are watching." "He is a potential investor himself." "Why are you drawing unnecessary attention?" "You can just stay quiet like you were advising him to stay quiet." "You might have to chase Blinkit to list there soon."

Being outspoken about issues I care about is who I am and this won't change, especially when this issue of gig workers is central to the industry where I run my business.

I have been in D2C for 5 years. I have always been openly grateful that my business is built on the backs of countless faceless delivery agents who get our orders to customers. Without them we don't exist - this is important for the D2C & E-Com seller community to acknowledge.

Issues concerning their welfare for me have been beyond just their remuneration.

Let me recall a few incidents that pushed me to care.

2020 - We were new. Shipping our first few hundred orders every week from our home in Dehradun from my car dicky. I had brought down about 600 kg of orders from the mountains for pickup. Delhivery had to pickup some 320 KG. I expected they would send a chota hathi like FedEx. Instead one poor chap on a bike came with that ginormous bag. He wanted to do 3-4 pick up trips with 60-70 kg on his back. I said that it's too heavy for a rider to carry on his back. You can do 20-30 KG at worst, 60 KG was madness. If he had a fall he would break his spine. I refused the pickup and sent him back. He probably lost his pick up incentive that day, I felt bad but I had to make a point to his supervisor. The call came from Delhivery and we had an argument, I refused to handover orders till a chota hathi came or they sent 10 riders. They sent a chota hathi the next day. And after that every single pickup they would ask me what vehicle to send because they realised I am dead serious about this matter. Change happened at least for my orders.

2021 - Bangalore. A 10 KG apple box order had to be delivered to the 8th floor at a multi-storey apartment on Bannerghatta Road. They had banned delivery agents from entering the building. The agent calls the customer from the reception. The customer says come up the stairs. The building guard is not letting the agent go up. The customer showers the worst abuses on the agent. The agent calls his supervisor at Gati, and they call me saying the customer is refusing delivery. Fresh apples can't be returned to the shipper. I call the customer, the customer says the agent is abusive. I then call the agent directly as the supervisor says the agent is a nice boy. (Me speaking the local language is the glue that helps here). I called the agent. The agent is in tears almost because the customer is giving the worst abuses and the building guard confirms that the customer is always bad tempered with everyone - a specimen. Called the customer, gave my choicest @#&+ and did a spot refund. I told the agent he can keep the apples for himself. I thought he would take it home - he instead shared it with his entire office. For the next 2 years he used to pay and order apples to his office for all staff because they are amazing, even though we left Gati the next year. He still continues to order one box to his home every year even though he has left logistics.

2022 - We had started shipping with Blue Dart. In October one of my staff called me after a drop to their warehouse and the staff there wanted to buy our apples and asked me to speak to them. The supervisor said the apples smell nice and they wanted to eat a few and wanted to pool ₹100 each to order 2 boxes. They saw the price on the invoice and wanted to share the cost. I had a hearty laugh. Next consignment I sent 5 boxes to the entire staff in the night shift. The poor day shift staff were sad I heard next - 5 more sent. Now it's an annual ritual to send apples to the warehouse staff there before Diwali.

Contd...

[Asma @asmatasleem13]

On popular demand , posting @Pawankhera Ji’s full video

“Poornima Joshi said Media is alive. Show us some proof of life. We don't see it. How did it die? Was it murdered? Did it commit suicide? I don't know but you, the Media, left us, the Opposition widowed. Someone spoke of a beast in the jungle, the only beast there is a hiran (deer) or hiren whatever and it had gone somewhere but it's back.

So. If the Media is alive, then is not a Bystander. The media is part of the lynch mob that's murdering democracy”

[Temba Bavuma @TembaBavuma]

Call Me By My Name - with @NewBalanceSA. This is a story of hope. 🏏

[Barry Malone @malonebarry]

Refaat Alareer would have been 46 today.

[Paul Graham @paulg]

A Palestinian child's life is worth as much as an Israeli child's life.

[Marc Owen Jones @marcowenjones]

ITV pulling zero punches in this incredible footage - "This landscape of destruction looks otherworldy, but it's not, it's this world - What is happening may come to define one of its darkest eras, one that casts a stain on humanity, which will endure for generations" #Gaza

[Vinay Aravind @vinayaravind]

It's heartening to see this young person, full of fear and trepidation, and clearly aware of the consequences this would entail, still go out and use this platform to say what needs to be said over and over again until the genocide and occupation end. Shame on @nyuniversity.

[Dr.Medusa @ms_medusssa]

Have said this before, will say it again. @zoo_bear is a modern day freedom fighter. Our ancestors would have been proud of him. We are.
#IStandWithZubair

[Prashant Bhushan @pbhushan1]

How true!

[SANJAY HEGDE @sanjayuvacha]

In Solidarity with Prisoner No 626710

[varathkanth @varathkanth]

@rafat https://t.co/5XkYbF4xZA.

[varathkanth @varathkanth]

Vinesh is a hero!

[varathkanth @varathkanth]

@sarayupani Have you tried https://t.co/k7IzR7Twwr ?

[ParanjoyGuhaThakurta @paranjoygt]

“Yes, the war is far from over

There is lie and corruption in the air, everywhere, 

But I am right here

And you are right here as well

And together we are committed to bring forth the truth”

Join Vedi & Pakhi Sinha as they echo the grit and the passion to struggle for the search for truth and justice in संग्राम/Sangram (Struggle)

https://t.co/16VEV4SSKx

[khusanov dogso enjoyer 🇵🇹 @josepsburner]

rahul gandhi btw, what a man. these gaandus made him the laughing stock of the entire country and tried to kill his political career at every step of the way. man didn't let any of the ridicule deter him and he's actually the face of the opposition in this country

[varathkanth @varathkanth]

@atti_cus ~200

[Macklemore @macklemore]

HIND’S HALL. Once it’s up on streaming all proceeds to UNRWA.

[varathkanth @varathkanth]

@rafat There is a clean process, but waiting time is significant. https://t.co/hCnOyMxAXV