Dr. Dinesh Thavamani had called me a few weeks ago, to invite me to be the anchor of the inauguration of Book Bites – an initiative by Project Management Institute Chennai Chapter, on 15 Nov 2025. He also cited a Kural, highlighting the importance of right delegation and its impact, increasing my pressure to deliver a high quality program!

I thought it would be effective to adopt a multi-format presentation focusing on audience participation & engagement. For larger reach, cricketing parlance was interwoven into the format. After a quick search, I zoomed in on a book.

Book reading always reminds of Prem Kumar. I dialled Prem, he readily agreed to join. As we were speaking, he told me that he has ordered the book and it would be delivered soon!

Bay of Bengal decided to enable the success of the program and remained quiet!

I opened the session with “Bouncer Quiz” – The restaurant in Chennai appearing in the Top 50 of Asia. [Avartana, ITC Chola, with its multi course menu]. I said like Avartana, we will have a 7 course event – Intro Video, Bouncer Quiz, Dumb Charade, Keynote, Chat, Double JAM Super Sixer & Conclusion

Quiz – Fielding position in Cricket associated with 3 numbers [SLIP]. 3 participants volunteered for the dumb charades and were given 3 SLIPs (in 3 COVERs!). They did very well and the audience identified “Mind without Fear” [Book title], “Bhagavad Gita” [Influence on the author], “Life” [How to lead?]. Special note Dinesh (Umpire) and Swapna Ramarao (Third umpire)

I then spoke about the life of Rajat Gupta, (this book is his autobiography). His rise [from humble background, education at IIT Delhi, Harvard, Joining McKinsey and later elected thrice as its MD, establishing ISB at Hyderabad, association with Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and other celebrities for numerous philanthropic works], his fall (charged for insider trading case of Raj Rajaratnam, the trial, conviction, imprisonment for 2 years] and the efforts to rebuild. I also touched upon the structure of the book with 4 parts, each opening with an apt quote from Gita

Prem then joined me on stage for the chat. With his usual flair and narration, he brought important business lessons valid for all. Vitality of building client relationships, solving client problems while listening to their views respectfully, the 8 laws of Rajat Gupta and two important extracts, unity in diversity, Tagore’s impact on Rajat were beautifully explained by him

The audience having absorbed the page extracts that were circulated, raised their hands to be in the double JAM (Just a Minute, Just a Message). They did an excellent messaging. The jury – Prem, Karthik K Ramamurthy and Sivaram Athmakuri chose the 2 best presenters

Conclusion : Book reading is important and can be made simple and entertaining as shown!

Thanks John and Krishnakumar Kesavan!

Intro : https://lnkd.in/gp_r5AFe