Another quarter has gone by, and it’s been a tough period for the country as a whole. The BJP got mandate with a full majority, Narendra Modi was elected for his second term as Prime Minister, and the country still seems to be in economic turmoil. Businesses in almost all spheres are down, existing jobs are difficult to keep, and new jobs more difficult to find - there seems to be a negative economic force at play. I see a tough road ahead and wonder how this government is going to tackle it and bring back some cheer to the people of this country.

The last quarter has been emotionally tough for me. I lost my mother after a long bout of the Parkinsons malady. However, I must say this of her - she was a fighter and braved the discomfort of this disease very positively. I am happy that she is finally at peace with her maker.

And for a change, this time around, we decided to feature some doctors on our cover. We found and spoke with two renowned Mumbai-based cardiologists - Dr Haresh Mehta (don’t be fooled by the last name, he’s Sindhi!) and Dr Rajesh Rajani. Both prominent cardiologists have tremendous compassion and great resilience.

Other stories in this issue range from businessman behind Bright Performance Nutrition Amit Dhirwani, to founder of two Hong Kong based non-profits Shalini Mahtani, Mind Mapping expert Dharmendra Rai, interior designer Ameet Mirpuri, and salon owner Madhuri Thadani. Hot on their heels are stylist Nikita Jaisinghani, Head of Culture and Arts at the World Economic Forum Nico Daswani, young cricketer Yasmin Daswani, well known singer and comedian Parmanand Nihalani, and playwright Gerish Khemani.

And that’s not all. Also in the mix are stories of designer Smriti Ahuja, wedding filmer Meghaa Isrrani, the men carrying forward the Bhagat Tarachand legacy Prakash and Ramesh Khemchand Chawla, Kolkata-based restaurateur Sudhir Ahuja, anchor Mohit Shewani, Dubai-based chef Tarun Panjwani, nutritionist Karishma Chawla, entrepreneur Ashish Gurnani, squash player Tushar Shahani, national level swimmer Jaiveer Motwani, and graphic designer Itchha Talreja, all futher redefining the community’s success in the country and around the world.

Pluviophile that I am, July marks the beginning of my favorite time of year - when the rains arrive and wash clean all the dirt and grime collected from the previous year, and I can smell the aroma of the fresh new earth. Finally, I hope the stories in this issue keep you well informed and entertained.