HRISHIKESH GARUD

HRISHIKESH GARUD

My friendship with Hrishikesh Garud, to whom the twenty-sixth post on my blog is dedicated, dates back to the sixth grade at Indian School Muscat, Oman in the academic year 1993/94. We were classmates for three years in middle school, namely the sixth, seventh and eighth grades in the years 1993/94, 1994/95 and 1995/96 respectively.

Apart from the Muscat connection, we also have a Pune connection. He is a resident of the western Indian city and completed his graduation in engineering there, whereas I spent five years there after school and pursued my graduation in commerce and diploma in journalism.

He is one of the few people I've met up with after school, during my last couple of visits to Pune. He was a professor at a reputed coaching institute for students aspiring to pursue their masters' degrees in business administration.

Hrishikesh is an all-rounder in every sense of the term. He is brilliant at academics, an excellent sportsman (he plays cricket and soccer and is an avid trekker), a keen quizzer and a great teacher. But above all, he is a gem of a person and a very close friend.

He is humble, honest and hardworking. Extremely passionate about everything he does, he always has a positive attitude, a never-say-die spirit and a smile on his face.

Owing to his impressive list of achievements, this cool CAT (combined admission test) guru lives upto the English translation of his last name (Garud means eagle), but has his head firmly on his shoulders.

Here's wishing Hrishikesh all the very best of luck, happiness and success in all his future endeavours, and hoping we continue to keep in touch.