When you grow up in Ghatkopar and live there for 3/4ths of your life, most friends tend to be Jains. So over the next few days, a lot of them will call me to say ‘Michhami Dukkadam’. And as is wont, I will repeat it.

I am communicating far, far more on my blog than through my other daily interactions or even through lectures. I hate, hate, hate hurting people – knowingly or unknowingly. However, I do hurt people.

So here is my apology to all Marxists, Socialists, Capitalists, Democrats, Republicans, Congress (no not Baboons), BJP loyalists, all Ayn Rand devotees (I used to be a fan, never became a devotee), all fans of indexing (does not work in India), all regulators (does not work anywhere in the world), all financial education and inclusion bandwagon riders (yes there are about 84000 organisations doing it), all experts who come on television, all anchors, all personal finance writers who spew generalisations as personal finance planning, all the people reading my blog, all the people who click on the ads on my blog, all the people know ads should not be clicked, all the people who comment, all the people who think I edit comments, all the people who know I do not edit comments, to all the children who expect their parents to spend for their education, to all the parents who show off their wealth by blowing money on kids weddings – and the kids themselves do not want it, to all those who are not investing for retirement, to those who are hoping that their kids will take care of them in their old age, to those who do not plan for retirement thinking they will die young, to all those students whose MBA degree is getting them only low end jobs, to those colleges who are telling their students …well it is too boring is it not….so …..and every body else including Obama, helicopter Ben and their guru Alan Greenspan, why even Osama’s children. And the innocent people around Osama who were killed by Obama’s men.

Apologies to all the people about whom I had bad thoughts.

Apologies to all the people who got bad advice from me, shit happens.

Apologies to all the people who came to wrong conclusions based on their readings.

For those who do not know, the Annual Ritual of Brahmins changing their sacred thread, the Eid, the Flint (Christians) – all are about atoning. We apologise for polluting the rivers, hills, mountains, the whole ‘argyam’ is stunning! Hinduism has a lot of ‘apologising’ too.

Anyway Dayenu God, you made sure that we have enough! Thanks.

Not a fan of Osama, but not a fan of Obama either.

So just to carry this a little further, Michhami Dukkadam to all of you….well Wikipedia says this is what it is:

Jai Jinendra

On this auspicious occasion of Paryushan we wish you all Michhami Dukkadam!

We beg your forgiveness from inner of our hearts for whatever misdeeds or mis-behaviour whether knowingly or unknowingly occured by ourselves to you through mind, thoughts, actions or speech during the past year. Michchhami Dukkadam on the occasion of Savantsari Maha Parve

Kshamapana Sutra with Meaning

KHAAMEMI SAVVE JEEVA (I grant forgiveness to all living beings)
SAVVE JEEVA KHAMANTU ME (May all living beings grant me forgiveness)
METTI ME SAVVE BHUYESU (My friendship is with all living beings)
VAIRAM MAJHAM NA KENAI (My enemy is totally non-existent)

MICHHAMI DUKKADAM

With best wishes and prayers for the well-being of all things living……!