Share the Joy of this Pongal with Mad Over Donuts’ Signature Delights

 

This Pongal, Mad Over Donuts invites you to add a touch of delight to your festive celebrations. Known for our innovative creations and unwavering focus on quality, this Pongal, Mad Over Donuts is shining the spotlight on our beloved 18 Signature Bites in Bengaluru and Chennai. Perfectly sized and packed with flavour, these treats are just what you need to add an extra touch of joy to your festive moments.

 

Here’s what you can look forward to:

 

Eggless Delights: 100% vegetarian donuts, made to cater to all preferences without compromising on taste.

Signature Bites: Perfectly sized treats, ideal for sharing or enjoying on your own during the festive gatherings.

 

What: Signature Bites for Pongal
When: From 14th January to 17th January
Where: Across all Bangalore and Chennai Mad Over Donuts outlets

Whether you’re hosting a joyous gathering with friends and family or searching for the perfect treat to brighten someone’s Pongal, our bites are here to add a touch of happiness to every moment. Each bite is crafted to bring smiles, spark conversations, and make your celebrations even more special.

About Mad Over Donuts:

Mad Over Donuts (MOD) is a Singapore based brand which began its journey in 2008 with a commitment to offering 100% vegetarian donuts. With stores across major Indian cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Chennai, MOD has become a go-to destination for delightful treats and innovative flavours. Dedicated to quality and customization, MOD brings friends and families together through shared experiences and joyful moments through its freshly topped donuts

Book Review - Idhaya Oli

Idhaya Oli is a detailed life experience of the legendary industrialist, hotelier and educationist Dr Palani G Periyasamy. He prefer to call this book as a “detailed life experience” rather than an autobiography.

This book has 49 episodes. What I liked the most is throughout the book Dr PGP has captured his expression and experience in a detailed way without compromising on little aspects. 

Loved reading this book since I had admired him as a kid. I was born and brought up in Purasawalkam. During 90’s whenever I use to go to my grandparents house in Ashok Nagar, the bus/auto/cab or 2 wheeler I use to travel has to go via Barnaby road, Kilpauk and I never use to miss the glimpse of the sprawling PGP Minor. There was another renowned heart surgeon who lived in the same lane (he is not anymore). 

When I started reading the book which is in Tamil (English version also available ), I  could connect more with his life because there were few similarities. The major one being his friendship with MGR. As a kid, I adored MGR more than anyone (though we had Rajni/Kamal and others by then) & my parents were his fans as well. How will one not be his fan especially when they are born and brought up in Tamilnadu. His meaningful songs, beautiful stories and the guaranteed happy ending made him a Demi-God. I still remember going to the now demolished “Mekala” theatre near my area to watch all his movies as and when they were released.

Born to Pazhani Gounder (who was a farmer) & Palaniammal in a village called Muthukapatty in Namakkal, his path was not “Bed of Roses” but of “thorns”. He was the first boy child and got special care and attention. His elder sister was Silambayi. Younger brother Perumal and sister - Parvatham.

How many of you know this? 

He was born as Krishnasamy. Raised as Sankar but finally known as Periyasamy as it is the name that is given to him by Sayibu Teacher. 

Dr PGP is a Distinguished Alumni of Dr Alagappa Chettiar’s institution. I too studied in Alagappa Matriculation Higher Sec school from STD 6 to 12. 

How he got admission in Trichy St.Joseph’s and became a Lecturer in PSG College is a detailed story by itself. This comes at a time when he got an offer of almost 3 times the salary in MRF. He then worked in Tagore Arts College, Pondicherry as Asst Professor.

On 29.4.1964, he marries his better half  Mrs. Visalatchi in his home town. This shows the kind of binding they have as they have completed 61 years of being together and going strong. I pray to Lord Almighty to wish them give more and more years of togetherness. The similarity here is my parents are married in Apr (Apr 21,1978 & completed 46 years of togetherness).

Mr PGP is the father of 4  - Jayanthi, Shanthi, Ananthi & Nalini. While the eldest daughter was born in India and they had to leave her when they traveled to USA for work, the other 3 were born in USA.

Do you know?

Despite plenty of opportunities that came his way to become a U.S. Citizen, Dr PGP still holds a Green Card. 

₹4500 was one way airfare to USA in the late 60’s. When he got selected to University of Pittsburgh to pursue his PhD, he only had USD 7 in his hand. What pushed him to pursue his PhD there? 

How Ganguly from RBI helped with forex and how he praised Periyasamy when the latter decided to forfeit them after securing university scholarship is a heart touching story. 

He recommits an incident of “Be a Roman when in Rome”. How he missed an “open book” exam. How he get caught in “Judicius Non Excusat” (Ignorance of Law is not an excuse).

His detailed recount of his days with MGR is a breeze to read. What made MGR so special? How his speech in USA was misunderstood?

What steps taken by Dr PGP to arrange for treatment of Bharat Ratna Dr MGR in the USA. 

Shivaji Ganesan meeting MGR in the USA.

How will I miss his meeting with late CM Perunthaliavar Kamaraj? He is one of the few cleanest politicians works world have ever witnessed. I take pride in mentioning here that his residence as a CM (which is now turned into a Govt Monument) was gifted by my wife’s family :)

Do you know?

Dr PGP’s House Name in the USA is called Tamilnadu

Publication - Vaazhum Thamizh Ulagam 

Owns Ramada Inn hotel in USA

Who all helped him in various stages was vividly captured in this book.

His life of setting up the Cement factory - Dharani Cements and how it is transferred from Epodhum Vendram to Disayanvilai (The term he used Disai Thiruppi shows his sarcastic humour).

Setting up of Dharani Sugars and Distliieries, Schools and colleges.

Purpose of naming Dharani was so thoughtful.

He has mentioned few names including Professors who helped him shape his career, his close confidante Mr Chennimalai who is looking after Le Royal Meridien, Chennai in the capacity of MD.

The initial plan for Le Meridien in Coimbatore was 4 acres with ₹80 crore investment but later 2 acres were added - 255 rooms in total. 

Le Royal Meridien in Chennai (on the 4 acres  land that was purchased from the late NPV Ramasamy Udayar) has 250 rooms. 

There is a dedicated chapter for his friends.

No hobbies. Only work. 16 hours. People who think that he got benefitted due to his proximity to MGR is incorrect since he never used that true friendship for his personal gains. Had it been the case, he would have grown manifold. Like what Ajit Kumar says in one of his movie “Each and Every Second of his life was sculpted by Dr PGP himself”.

It is really overwhelming to see him say this “people think I’m having all the luxuries in life since I own many properties but I too face difficulties from time to time” which clearly shows despite the heights he has reached, his legs are standing firm on the Earth(ground) and not flying above the sky. 

I’m happy to publish this review today (12th Jan) which is his 85th Birthday.

You can also watch his interviews online (YouTube channel of Galatta).

Shaista’s Expands Culinary Horizons with a Diverse Portfolio of Authentic Brands

 Shaista’s Expands Culinary Horizons with a Diverse Portfolio of Authentic Brands

Noida, 24th December, 2024 : Shaista’s, a celebrated name in Noida’s food delivery landscape, has solidified its reputation as a culinary powerhouse by offering a range of authentic dining experiences through its expanding brand portfolio. Each venture under Shaista’s umbrella promises to bring the warmth and richness of home-cooked meals, tailored to the diverse tastes and needs of modern consumers.

Shaista’s is the flagship brand, renowned for its customizable North Indian dishes. Whether customers crave rich curries or light, flavorful meals, Shaista’s offers a full menu where they can personalize their dining experience by selecting from premium oils and  ghee. This dedication to quality and customization ensures that every meal reflects the customer’s unique taste and dietary preferences.

Mommylicious Meal Box: Addressing the needs of busy professionals and senior citizens, Mommylicious offers wholesome, balanced meal boxes that evoke the comfort of home cooking. The menu includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, such as Curd Rice with Masala Aloo, Paneer Butter Masala, and Mutton Korma. Each box is thoughtfully prepared, ensuring a nutritious and satisfying meal.

Zaika-e-khas: For lovers of Mughlai cuisine, Zaika-e-khas delivers an indulgent array of home-style biryanis, rich curries, and North Indian delicacies. The brand promises authentic flavors that tantalize the taste buds, offering a truly immersive culinary experience.

Recognizing the growing demand for health-conscious dining, Shaista’s is set to launch a new brand focused on nutritious, balanced meals designed for fitness enthusiasts and health-aware consumers. This upcoming venture will feature high-protein options, avocado salads, and other nutrient-rich dishes, catering to those seeking both flavor and wellness.

Shaista’s journey from a humble home kitchen to a trusted name in Noida’s food scene reflects its commitment to quality, authenticity, and community well-being. Each brand under its umbrella tells a story of passion, innovation, and the desire to bring people closer through food.

Founder Shaista shared her vision: "Our goal is to offer more than just meals; we want to create experiences that bring comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging. Whether it’s through a traditional Mughlai dish or a healthy meal box, every offering from our kitchen is crafted with care and love."

With its diverse portfolio, Shaista’s continues to redefine home-style dining, ensuring that every meal resonates with flavor, tradition, and the warmth of home-cooked goodness.

Press Release || Empowering Financial Literacy On-the-Go: IDFC FIRST Bank Launches IDFC FIRST Academy Mobile App

 

Empowering Financial Literacy On-the-Go: IDFC FIRST Bank Launches IDFC FIRST Academy Mobile App

Move to enhance Financial Literacy in India

New Delhi, January 02 2025: IDFC FIRST Bank is proud to announce the launch of IDFC FIRST Academy, a comprehensive financial literacy initiative available through digital platforms. This Academy reflects the Bank’s mission to enhance financial literacy, enabling individuals to better manage their financial matters.

Participants can easily access the courses of IDFC FIRST Academy at https://www.idfcfirstacademy.com on the browser of the desktop or the mobile. For IDFC FIRST Bank customers, it is also available on the mobile Banking App.

 

  

​​​​ Desktop​​​​​   Mobile

 

IDFC FIRST Academy has simplified complex financial subjects in easy-to-understand bite-size modules with easy, expert-designed content for quick and effective learning. It has blogs, videos, and interactive quizzes for diverse learning styles. It also includes Real-world scenario-based activities to enhance practical understanding. Finally, it has Certification programs to recognize learning of the participant.

  

  Desktop – Video​​​​Mobile – Video

 

                                             Desktop – Blog                                                                  Mobile - Blog

 

 

The program has three levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. With 35 courses covering 255 topics, IDFC FIRST Academy is meticulously designed to provide a deep understanding of financial topics. Each topic takes just 3-5 minutes to complete, with the full program totalling 36 hours of learning:

 

Levels	Courses	Duration (Hrs)	Topics	Video	Blogs
Foundation	11	6.5	38	16	22
Intermediate	12	11.5	78	24	54
Advanced	12	18.5	139	2	137

 

The learning program is designed to progressively increase the depth of understanding of financial topics. Thus, users canjoin any level of the program based on their level of current financial literacy and grow their knowledge on financial matters. 

For example, the Savings course covers topics across all levels, such as:

• Foundation: “What is a Savings Account?” and “What is Interest?”

• Intermediate: “The Power of Compounding” and “Types of Savings Accounts.”

• Advanced: “Goal-Based Savings,” “KYC,” and “How to Manage Emergency Funds.”

 

 

Mr. V. Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank said, "IDFC FIRST Academy is a key initiative from IDFC FIRST Bank. We notice in our day to day lives, whether savings or investments, most people don’t quite know where to begin. For example, they may have heard of Mutual Funds, but don’t know whether to invest in Debt, or Equity, or Hybrid, or Tax savings Mutual Funds, what these terms mean, and how to begin. This program will make complex concepts easy to understand.”

 

Interactive Quizzes & Certificates: After the completion of each course, users will be prompted to take an interactive quiz to test their understanding of the topic. Basis the test results, they will be awarded certificates.

 

  

 

 

Join IDFC FIRST Academy Today: Start your journey toward financial learning with IDFC FIRST Academy. Visit www.idfcfirstacademy.com . IDFC FIRST Bank customers can also access the courses through the IDFC FIRST Mobile Banking App.

 

About IDFC FIRST Bank

 

IDFC FIRST Bank is a new age Universal Bank in India built on the foundations of Ethical Banking, Digital Banking, and Social Good Banking. We are building a world class bank in India.

 

As part of the Bank’s ethical banking approach, it applies a "Near and Dear" Test to its products, so that the employees of the Bank serve only such products they'd want for their own loved ones. It believes income earned unethically is not worth earning.

 

Therefore, the Bank avoids complicated descriptions, calculations, and legalese that customers don’t understand. It abolished all charges on Savings Accounts including for Debit Cards, IMPS, RTGS, NEFT, Cash Deposit, “Non-Home branch” access, Cash withdrawals at ATMs and at branches, 3rd party transaction charges at branches, SMS Alert, Cheque book, Demand Drafts, Pay-order, duplicate statement, and all such services that are usually charged in the market. It follows the principle that it won’t touch its customers’ bank account for one reason or other. It is the first and only bank in India till date to do so.

 

IDFC FIRST Bank is the first bank in India to offer monthly credit on savings accounts. The credit cards have no hidden charges. It offers Lifetime Free without minimum spend conditions, never-expiring rewards points, zero interest on cash withdrawal at ATMs, dynamic low APR and much more. Fees if any are transparent and described neatly in a manner a common person can understand. Every product offered by the bank is highly customer friendly, most often the best in the industry.

 

As part of technology led banking, the Bank has built a modern technology stack and has built an advanced mobile app with 250+ features such as Goal based investing, MF investment assistance, electric-speed payments, Account Aggregator, MF Aggregator, Personal Finance Manager, Auto categorisation of spends, single app for personal and business banking, UPI on Credit Cards, travel and shop, bill and recharges, deals and reward redemptions, which offer great convenience to the customers. For business customers the Bank offers on-the-go bulk payments, ability to pay income tax, GST, customs duty, and connected banking with ERP solutions.

 

As part of the Social Banking theme, the Bank’s business model is naturally geared to social banking. It has developed unique capabilities for financing bottom of pyramid customers with consistently high asset quality. The Bank has financed over 40 million customers including 0.3 million SMEs, 0.9 million livelihood (cattle loans), 16 million lifestyle improvement loans (for laptops, washing machine, etc.), 1 million sanitation loans (toilets, water fittings), 6.5 million mobility loans (2-wheelers and cars), and home financing (over 100,000 homes), and 15 million loans to 4.3 million women-entrepreneurs. It also offers other retail and rural loans such as Kisan Credit Cards, harvest financing, gold loans etc.

 

IDFC FIRST Bank is a Universal Bank, and offers end to end Corporate Banking, Trade Finance such as issuance of LCs & BGs, SBLC, Packing Credit, Pre-shipment and Post-shipment Finance, Treasury products including risk hedging solutions like Forwards, Swaps, Options, and other Forex Solutions, SME Banking, Wealth Management, NRI banking, Cash Management, Nostro & Vostro account operations, Escrow facilities, Correspondent Banking, Fastag, Toll-acquiring, Dealer Finance and Purchase/Sales Invoice discounting.

 

ESG Goals: The Bank is incorporating ESG in every aspect of working and has high ESG scores. The Bank believes that to get an opportunity to create a new age, ethical and world class Bank for India is a great privilege for its employees.

 

PRESS RELEASE | fxis.ai Provides Intelligent AI Solutions to Businesses to Improve Customer Experiences

fxis.ai Provides Intelligent AI Solutions to Businesses to Improve Customer Experiences 

 

 

Ahmedabad, 26TH December 2024: fxis.ai, a pioneering  AI solutions provider, continues to transform customer experiences through advanced artificial intelligence technologies. With over 450 successful projects since 2015, the company helps organizations solve complex business challenges using Generative AI, Explainable AI, and AI-driven automation.

 

As businesses seek innovative ways to enhance customer interactions and operational performance, fxis.ai provides strategic technology solutions. The company's AI platforms help enterprises address key challenges like scalability, personalization, and decision-making, delivering solutions that generate meaningful business results across multiple industries.

 

Sharing his views on the same, Hemen Ashodia, Founder of fxis.ai said, "In today's digital landscape, enterprises need AI solutions that create deeper, more meaningful customer connections. Our mission is to empower businesses with technologies that are practical, transparent, and strategically aligned."

Working with global brands like Johnson & Johnson, fxis.ai provides specialized solutions for healthcare, finance, telecommunications, and other industries. By developing adaptive technologies that enhance customer engagement, simplify support operations, and enable insight through intelligent systems, fxis.ai’s professional team empowers enterprises to take control of their success.

The future intent is building more advanced Generative AI, Natural Language Processing, seamless enterprise platform integrations paving the future that positions this company at the forefront of innovation in AI technologies.

 

ABOUT FXIS.AI

 

Founded in 2015, fxis.ai is a leading Artificial Intelligence and Data Science solutions company offering innovative technological solutions across business, startup, and enterprise sectors. The company's services include Machine Learning,Full-stack Development, Generative AI, Custom Software Development, and advanced technological consulting. fxis.ai's mission is to create transformative AI solutions that promote business success while driving technological innovation and operational efficiency.

 

As a specialized AI solutions provider, fxis.ai takes responsibility for delivering solutions that are both technologically advanced and practically implementable. Their services cater to a diverse clientele, including businesses, startups, and enterprises seeking to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies to enhance operational capabilities and gain competitive advantages.

 

The core of fxis.ai is its team of skilled professionals spread across India, with a core group based at its primary location. This talented group includes experts in Artificial Intelligence and Full Stack Development, creating a unique blend of skills that enables the company to meet a wide array of client technological needs effectively. In just over eight years, fxis.ai has partnered with over 250 clients, delivered numerous high-quality AI-driven solutions, and made significant impacts across various technological domains. By 2027, fxis.ai aspires to become a leading AI solutions provider, setting new benchmarks for innovation, technological excellence, and impactful digital transformation.

 

Led by its founding team and supported by investor Pavan Bakeri, fxis.ai combines visionary technological leadership with extensive industry experience. The company's efficiency and excellence are evident in its impressive growth trajectory and numerous accolades. fxis.ai has been consistently recognized for its outstanding contributions, receiving awards and testimonials from prestigious clients, including notable recognition from the Indian Army for its technological capabilities.

 

fxis.ai's current growth strategy targets a 30% expansion in client base for the next fiscal year, reflecting its commitment to sustained technological innovation and market leadership. The company aims to continue expanding its service offerings and entering new markets while maintaining its core focus on delivering practical and impactful AI solutions.

 

With operations spanning across technological domains, fxis.ai serves a national clientele while keeping an eye on global technological best practices. The company remains committed to its founding vision of being a catalyst for technological transformation, empowering organizations to bring advanced AI-driven solutions to fruition.

 

By combining deep technological knowledge with a commitment to practical innovation, fxis.ai is shaping the future of AI and technological solutions in India, one innovative project at a time. The company continues to drive value for its clients while contributing to the broader technological ecosystem, truly embodying its mission of creating transformative AI solutions for businesses and society.