Mornings taught Manish Jaiswal how to swim, literally and metaphorically. Growing up in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) in the era of tough love, the Grihum Housing Finance CEO would be lobbed into the Ganga by his well-meaning grandfather, so that the boy could learn swimming. In the water, Jaiswal would encounter all kinds of objects – branches, underwater weeds, dead bodies. It equipped him to deal with whatever life threw at him. Now, based in Pune, Jaiswal prefers to start his days with quiet contemplation at the break of dawn, followed by a gym session. Excerpts from an interview:
Are you an early riser?
Absolutely, I'm on first-name terms with sunrise. I get up every day at 4.30 or 5 am. My grandfather would say that 3.30-5.30 am is the Brahma Muhurta, the Creator’s Time. I prefer calling it a rendezvous with the universe.
How do you ease into the day?
Since I’m up early, I have the luxury of the first one-hour to myself. I drink lemon water and immerse myself in the quietude of that hour. (As CEO) It is lonely at the top and you deal with a lot of complexities and emotions. Early morning is the time when you declutter mentally. Then I plan my workday and send out mails and messages. At 6.30, I go to the gym.
What is your typical workout like?
I have done a lot of swimming, running and squash through the years. But now my focus is on balanced training. It’s a mix of cross-fit, cardio, squash, weights, stretching and yoga. My workout keeps me saner and I won’t give it away for anything. I guard it like a dragon guards its treasure.
What do you like to see on the breakfast table?
My diet is quite regimented. On most days my first meal is fresh vegetable juice, unstrained, made from sprouts, spinach, carrot, beetroot and ginger.
I do indulge sometimes. I love the sabudana khichadi and poha my wife makes. I have a sweet tooth so when I’m in, say, Indore, I never miss their famous poha-jalebi. Wherever I travel, I enjoy the local delicacies.
A luminary you’d like to have breakfast with and why?
There are three.
PM Narendra Modi is the first. His selfless dedication to nation-building has not only changed perceptions globally but has also infused energy into the soul of Indians.
Deepak Parekh ... to ask him how he builds multiple iconic institutions with scale, profitability and professionalism.
Ratan Tata. To steer a business ship so diversified that it ranges from salt to airlines, to carry himself in a humble and dignified way, and now invest in committed and high-impact projects by youngsters is commendable.
How do you consume news – digitally or newspaper?
These days news consumes you. The AI is so strong, it provides you with everything you might want to read. You need NI (natural intelligence) to sift through the overload. I prefer reading and interpreting news events than listening to the noise that happens on channels or digital platforms.
Any places around the country or world where you find the mornings especially beautiful?
My hometown Allahabad (Prayagraj). There is a certain purity and spirituality about the city.
I have special memories of Prayagraj. In summer vacations, my grandfather would toss me in the Ganga near Allahabad Fort and tell me to swim till the Triveni Sangam. It was painful at first, but I learnt to take care of myself. There used to be weeds, whirlpools, the odd dead body along the way. It prepared me for the twists and turns of life, and I have seen a few.
Fontainebleau, France, is another place I’m fond of. On Sundays, during a brief stint at INSEAD, I would go on long solitary walks and get lost in the woods nearby.
Any prayer or song that you chant or listen to in the morning?
Anything by Kishore Kumar. I’m an undying fan. And at times my teenaged daughter’s Gen-Z songs and Sonny Boy's bass guitar. Some days I chant ‘Aum’ and ‘Om Namah Shivay’.
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