महानगरपालिका निवडणुका: लोकशाहीचा महोत्सव !

महानगरपालिका निवडणुका: लोकशाहीचा महोत्सव !

भारतीय लोकशाही व्यवस्थेत पंचायत राज्य व्यवस्थेला अनन्य साधारण महत्व आहे. ७५व्या घटनादुरुस्तीने स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थांना नवे बळ दिले.

अनेक वर्षानी महाराष्ट्रात स्थानिक स्वराज्य संस्थांच्या निवडणुका होत आहेत.

त्याकरिता सुप्रीम कोर्टाचे अभिनंदन!

महाराष्ट्र शासनाचेही अभिनंदन !!

या निवडणुकात, अनेकजण  दांडगा जनसंपर्क, अफाट लोकप्रियता, तन मन आणि धन अर्पून केलेले कार्य आणि पक्षाची उमेदवारी या बळावर निवडून येतात.

ज्यांना पक्षाचे बळ लाभत नाही त्यांना प्रचंड संघर्ष करावा लागतो. तशा ही परिस्थितीत ते जिंकले, आणि जनतेला दिलेल्या आश्वासहनांची पूर्तता करण्याचा कसोशीने केला तर त्यांचे नेतृत्व उजळून निघते.

पण काहीना मात्र निवडणूक जिंकण्या करिता अनेक प्रकारच्या क्लूपृत्या  वापराव्या लागतात. त्यातील काही पारंपारिक तर काही नावीन्यपूर्ण असतात. तो ही लोकशाही प्रक्रियेचाच भाग मानायला हवा.

ए बी फॉर्मची खेळी:

महाराष्ट्रातील महानगरपालिका निवडणुकीची प्रक्रिया सुरू झाली आहे. ३० डिसेंबरला उमेदवारी अर्ज भरण्याचा शेवटचा दिवस होता. त्या दिवशी पक्षांच्या कार्यालयांत, नेत्यांच्या बांगलयांवर, फार्म हाऊसवर  आणि निवडणूक विभागात प्रचंड हालचाल होती.

सत्ताधारी पक्षांकडे इच्छुक उमेदवारांची संख्या प्रचंड होती. ए बी फॉर्म देण्याची प्रक्रिया शेवटच्या क्षणापर्यंत रोखून ठेवण्यात आली. हा रणनीतीचा भाग असू  शकतो. दुपारी तीन वाजेपर्यंत अनेक उमेदवारांना ए बी फॉर्म मिळाला आहे की नाही याची खात्री नव्हती. त्यामुळे काही ठिकाणी गोंधळ, तर काही ठिकाणी असंतोष प्रगट झाल्याचे सोशल मिडियावर बघायला मिळाले. पण हा गोंधळच पक्षांतर्गत लोकशाही अजूनही जिवंत असल्याचे उदाहरण मानावे लागेल!

उमेदवारी अर्ज दाखल करण्याची प्रक्रिया :

वेळ कमी असल्याने, तसेच निवडणुकी संदर्भात वेळोवेळी प्रसिद्ध झालेले शासन निर्णय, परिपत्रके या संबंधात पुरेशी माहिती नसल्याने अनेकांनी आपले अर्ज वकिलांकडून भरून घेतले. त्यामुळे वकिलांच्या कार्यालयात गर्दी मावत नव्हती.

छाननी झाली. काहींचे अर्ज बाद झाले. काही बिनविरोध झाले.

पात्र उमेदवारांची यादी प्रसिद्ध झाली.

काहींच्या अर्जाबाबत आक्षेप घेण्यात आले. या बाबत उच्च  न्यायालयात जाण्याचीही तयारी ही अनेकांनी करून ठेवली आहे.

उमेदवारांची यादी प्रसिद्ध झाली.

प्रसिद्ध झालेल्या यादीतील चार प्रकारचे उमेदवार:

1. प्रमुख पक्षाचे अधिकृत उमेदवार – ज्यांना पक्षाने ए बी फॉर्म दिला आहे.

2. पक्षाची उमेदवारी न मिळालेले उमेदवार – पूर्वी यांना "बंडखोर" म्हणायचे. पूर्वी बंड या शब्दाबद्दल लोकांमध्ये आकर्षण होते. मत देणार नसले तरी, अनेक बंडखोर उमेदवारांकडे, लोक आदराने बघायचे. पण आता बंडखोरीसाठी लागणारे धैर्य दुर्मिळ झाले आहे. तरीही, लोकशाही जिवंत ठेवण्यात त्यांचा सिंहाचा नाही, पण खरीच वाटा निश्चित आहे! 

3. लहान पक्षांचे आणि आघाड्यांचे उमेदवार – जे मोठ्या पक्षांच्या सावलीत स्वतःचा आवाज उठवतात.

4. स्वतंत्र उमेदवार – ज्यांना कोणत्याही पक्षाकडून उमेदवारी मिळणार नाही हे आधीच ठाऊक असते, पण लोकाग्रहस्तव किंवा स्वतःच्या प्रेरणेने नशीब ते आजमावतात.

यानंतर सुरू होतो उमेदवारी माघारीचा रंगमंच.

• तथाकथित बंडखोरांना पक्षाचे नेते विविध प्रलोभने दाखवून उमेदवारी मागे घ्यायला सांगतात. काही मान्य करतात, काही हट्ट धरतात.

• तिसऱ्या आणि चौथ्या प्रकारच्या उमेदवारांवर ताकदवान उमेदवार "साम-दंड-भेद" नीतीचा अवलंब करतात.

• काही उमेदवार आधीच व्यवहार्य दृष्टिकोन ठेवून उमेदवारी दाखल करतात. त्यांचे हितचिंतक तडजोड घडवून आणतात आणि शेवटी उमेदवारी मागे घेतली जाते.

प्रचाराचा पुढचा टप्पा:

माघारीनंतर चित्र अधिक स्पष्ट होते आणि पुढचा टप्पा सुरू होतो—प्रचाराचा.

प्रत्यक्ष प्रचार:

भेटीगाठी, प्रचार पत्रके वाटणे, नेत्यांच्या सभा व भाषणे, रॅली—या सगळ्यातून उमेदवार एकमेकांना आणि मतदार उमेदवारांना जोखतात.

अप्रत्यक्ष प्रचार:

हा प्रकार मात्र रात्री सुरू असतो.

• मतदार संघातील प्रमुख व्यक्तीं सोबत बैठक.

• उत्साही कार्यकर्ते ढाबा, फार्म हाऊस, रिसॉर्ट, स्टार हॉटेल वर जमून रणनीती आखणे.

• खर्चिक असले तरी या बैठकात ‘मोठे निर्णय’ घेतले जातात. कॉन्फरेन कॉल किंवा स्पीकर फ़ोन लाऊन संभाषण केले जाते. दुसऱ्या दिवशी त्यानुसार अंमलबजावणी केली जाते. 

आचारसंहिते नंतरचा ४८ तास आधी प्रत्यक्ष प्रचार थांबतो. त्यानंतर पक्षाचे महत्वाचे नेते पुढे येतात.

• समाजातील नेते, मंडळांचे अध्यक्ष, सेवाभावी संस्थांचे प्रमुख, शासकीय कंत्राटदार यांच्याशी संपर्क साधला जातो.

• विविध प्रलोभने, आदेशवजा सूचना दिल्या जातात.

• या काळात अफवा तंत्राचा खुबीने उपयोग केला जातो.

• WhatsApp ग्रुप्स महत्वाची भूमिका बजावतात. Admin ना सगळ्यात जास्त महत्व प्राप्त होते ते याच काळात! या निमित्ताने एका इंग्रजी  कवितेची आठवण होत आहे.

"I have a dream!

I have a dream that one day, I will become a WhatsApp Admin!"

कदाचित कवीने ही कविता निवडणूक प्रचाराच्या पार्श्वभूमीवरच लिहिली असावी!

आधुनिक तंत्रज्ञानाचा वापर:

अलीकडे या टप्प्यात AI तंत्रज्ञानाचा उपयोग होतो. खरी आणि खोटी माहिती डिजिटल प्लॅटफॉर्म वर प्रभावीपणे पसरविण्यात येते. माहिती खरी कोणती आणि खोटी कोणती हे Fact Check सारख्या तंत्रज्ञानातून तपासता येते, पण सर्वसाधारण माणसाकडे ती सुविधा आणि त्यासाठी लागणारा वेळ नसतो.

‘लक्ष्मी दर्शन’ काळ :

या काळात ‘लक्ष्मी दर्शन’ ही होते. अनेकजण या क्षणाची उत्सुकतेने वाट पाहतात. हा अर्थपूर्ण जागरणाचा काळ असतो. काही जण  ‘मतदार राजा जागा राहा. रात्र वैऱ्याची  आहे’ असे आवाहनही करतात. त्यामुळेही  मतदार जागत असतात.

आणि नवखे उमेदवार मात्र या टप्प्यात गाफील राहतात किंवा फसतात...

मतदार राजा:

लोकशाहीच्या या रंगमंचावरील सर्वात महत्वाचा कलाकार म्हणजे मतदार!

पूर्वी त्याला "मतदार राजा" म्हणायचे.

आजही म्हणतात.

त्या दिवसा पुरता तो खरोखरीच राजा असतो—हातात मुकुट नसला तरी मतदानाची शाई हीच त्याची राजमुद्रा असते.

"People get the government as they deserve!" असे म्हणतात.

आपल्याला हवे तसे लोकप्रतिनिधी आपणच निवडतो. त्यांच्या गुण-दोषांसकट. कारण ते काही प्रमाणात आपल्यातील अनेकांत प्रतिबिंबित होतात. हाच तर "प्रतिनिधी" या शब्दाचा खरा अर्थ आहे.

लोकशाहीचे अनेक फायदे आहेत, काही तोटेही आहेत. पण सर्वात मोठा फायदा हा आहे की बहुसंख्य लोक मिळून आपले प्रतिनिधी ठरवतात. म्हणजेच, हा एक सामूहिक निर्णय असतो.

प्रत्येक मतदार आपला एक सूर लावतो,

आणि त्या असंख्य सुरांच्या संगमातून,

लोकशाहीचे सुमधुर संगीत निर्माण होते.

मीही सध्या मतदार राजा च्या भूमिकेत आहे.

४० वर्षांपेक्षा अधिक काळ मी प्रभाग क्रमांक १२ मध्ये राहत आहे. बराच काळ पुण्यात राहत असलो तरी, माझे नाव या प्रभागाच्या मतदार यादीत आहे. येत्या १५ जानेवारीला मी माझा मतदानाचा पवित्र अधिकार बजावणार आहे. मत कोणालाही दिले तरी निवडून आलेले व्यक्ति माझे प्रतिनिधी असतात याची मी कायम जाणीव ठेवतो. शासकीय अधिकारी असतांना मी लोकप्रतिनिधींचा नेहमीच मनःपूर्वक आदर केला. आजही करतो.

या प्रभागातून सौ. उज्ज्वला बेंडाळे बिनविरोध निवडून आल्या आहेत. अजून तीन उमेदवार निवडण्याचे स्वातंत्र्य माझ्याकडे आहे.

भ्रमनिरास आणि नाराजी:

वर्षानुवर्षे पक्षात राहूनही, पक्षातील अनेक पदाधिकाऱ्यांना आणि कार्यकर्त्यांना, पक्ष कसा चालतो किंवा चालवला जातो हे न समजल्याने, त्यांचा या प्रक्रियेत भ्रमनिरास होतो.

• काहींचे क्षमता असूनही तिकीट कापले जाते. ते नाराज होतात.

• काहींची क्षमता नसल्याने तिकीट नाकारले जाते. तेही नाराज होतात.

• पोकळी निर्माण होते तेव्हा इतरांना उमेदवारी करिता तयार केले जाते परंतु योग्य पर्याय मिळाल्याने त्यांना उमेदवारी दिली जात नाही. तेही नाराज होतात.

• काहींच्या स्वतःविषयीच्या अवास्तव कल्पना असतात, ते ही उमेदवारी न मिळाल्याने नाराज होतात.

पक्षाला उमेदवारांची उपयुक्तता, उपद्रव मूल्य, निवडून येण्याची क्षमता, आर्थिक स्थिती, जातिनिहाय मतदार वर्गातील स्थान, नेटवर्किंग कौशल्ये आणि त्यांची कर्तबगारी याची अधिक माहिती असते. अलीकडच्या काळात ती सर्वाधिक असते. या सर्व माहितीचा उपयोग करून ‘जिंकून येण्याची क्षमता’ या निकषावर पक्ष उमेदवारी देतो. त्याकरिता राजकीय पक्षांकडून सर्वे ही केले जातात. अलीकडे काही उमेदवारही असे सर्वे करून घेतात. या प्रक्रियेतून सर्वे करणाऱ्या एजन्सीजना कोट्यावधी रुपये मिळतात. काही उमेदवारांना मात्र याची पूर्ण कल्पना नसते. त्यामुळे तिकीट न मिळाल्याने त्यांचा भ्रमनिरास होतो. संवेदनशील व्यक्तींच्या भावनांचा उद्रेक होतो. गंभीर परिस्थिती निर्माण होऊ नये म्हणून वेळीच त्यांचे समुपदेशन करणे गरजेचे आहे.

या निवडणूक रंगमंचावर,

बिनविरोध झालेल्या उमेदवारांचे अभिनंदन !

निवडणूक लढविणाऱ्या उमेदवारांना,

आणि त्यांना मत देऊ ईच्छिणाऱ्या मतदारांना मनःपूर्वक शुभेच्छ्या !  

महेंद्र इंगळे @ जळगाव, जानेवारी  १, २०२६

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats

 

Dear Readers,

Dear Readers,

Writing a book? Easy!

Publishing a book? Easier!

Self-publishing? Easiest of all!

But distribution without an established publisher ? 

Ah, that’s the Everest of the literary world !

Very difficult!  Extremely difficult!!

If books could walk on their own, life would be simpler!

Now, if the content is original, inspiring, and useful, 

It will eventually find its way to readers,

Like water finding its path downhill!

But patience is the secret ingredient.

To bridge the gap, I’ve been sharing my thoughts through blogs.

Yet, let’s be honest: a blog is like a cup of tea, while a book is the full buffet!  

So, when the chapters were ready, I thought,

Why not knock on the doors of established publishers?

And so I did.

Some sent their format of proposal.

Some said, "We do not accept any unsolicited material. We only accept submissions sent to us via a literary agent."

I contacted the literary agents.

Proposals for publishing  Value-Based Leadership have been submitted to Publishers and Contact Agents where required.

Some publishers promise decisions in 4 weeks, some in 8, and a few in 6 months.

Publishing houses clearly run on geological time scales!

Am I in a hurry? Not at all.

But you, Dear Readers, will have to wait with me.

Meanwhile, let’s stay connected here,

Because every Great Book begins as a conversation!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Dec 26,  2025

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats

#PenguinRandomHouse #PenguinBooks #PenguinUSA #HarperCollins #HarperBooks #LiteraryAgent #AmQuerying #WritingCommunity #PublishingIndustry #BookLaunch #AuthorLife #Bookstagram 

Does My Cheese Really Move?

 Does My Cheese Really Move?

While revisiting books that shaped my thinking during the refinement of my manuscript Value-Based Leadership, I came across a small yet powerful work: Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson, with a foreword by Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D.

This book holds a special place in my memory. Years ago, it was gifted to me by the Maharashtra Board of Technical Education, Mumbai, after I attended a workshop on curriculum revision. Such gestures were common at that time, reflecting the spirit of encouragement and lifelong learning.

As an active member of the teachers’ association, many colleagues often approached me with their challenges, seeking guidance and counsel. I tried to ease their worries and offer practical advice, staying connected to both the people and the system. In this process, Who Moved My Cheese? became a tool I frequently used in training programs and discussions.

The Story and Its Metaphors:

The narrative is deceptively simple: four characters—two mice and two “little people”—navigate a maze in search of cheese. Yet the metaphor is profound:

•           Cheese represents what we desire in life: jobs, relationships, money, health, happiness, recognition, peace, or freedom.

•           The Maze symbolizes the environments where we spend our time—our organizations, communities, and relationships.

Timeless Lessons:

•           Having cheese makes you happy, but clinging to it makes you vulnerable.

•           If you do not change, you risk extinction.

•           “What would you do if you were not afraid?”—this question unlocks courage.

•           Smell the cheese often, so you know when it is getting old.

•           Movement in a new direction leads to new cheese.

•           Imagining yourself enjoying new cheese even before you find it helps you reach it.

•           The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you discover new opportunities.

•           Old beliefs rarely lead to new cheese.

•           Noticing small changes early prepares you for bigger changes ahead.

•           Ultimately, move with the cheese—and enjoy it.

A Pause for Reflection:

After reading the book, take a pause. Ask yourself: Does my cheese really move?

Sometimes the cheese truly shifts—jobs end, organizations change, relationships evolve. At other times, the cheese remains where it is, but we move in relation to it—our values, priorities, and perspectives evolve. The question is not only about external change but also about internal growth.

Just last week, while discussing the struggles of a former colleague, I advised him to first read this book and then return to me. Sometimes, the best counsel is not direct advice but guiding someone toward a mirror that reflects their own situation. Who Moved My Cheese? is such a mirror—it teaches us to embrace change, overcome fear, and find joy in renewal.

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Jalgaon on Dec 23, 2025

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats

 

Book Refinement: Polishing the Mirror !

 Book Refinement: Polishing the Mirror !

After completing the chapters of Value-Based Leadership, I now find myself in the crucial stage of refinement. Many of the chapters have already been shared on social media, where readers have responded generously with feedback. I have also appealed to thought leaders for their suggestions. For me, the subject itself is of primary importance—the author remains secondary. Each chapter will be revised and enriched with the help of my AI assistant, Copilot, ensuring consistency and continuity. Where necessary, chapters will be supplemented with the latest insights shared by thought leaders and collaborators.

Another important dimension of this refinement process is my deliberate return to the leadership books I have studied throughout my career. I am aligning the principles and thoughts presented in those works with my own writing, while carefully examining the new ideas I have introduced. This deep reflection allows me to test the practicability of value-based leadership in real-world contexts.

Across the globe, there are institutes dedicated to training and developing leaders who embody values. In addition, several executive search firms specialize in identifying leaders whose personal values align with those of the organizations they serve. I intend to highlight such institutions and organizations in my book. In a previous blog, I wrote about the Moral Re-Armament Centre, which organizes training and renewal programs for people in leadership roles.

While exploring resources on value-based leadership, I came across Perrett Laver, a leading international executive search firm operating in 70 countries worldwide. They advocate strongly for values-led leadership, stating:

“We are led by our own purpose and values, and we are proud to use our voice and expertise to drive values-led hiring forward. We will help you find an exceptional leader who not only has the experience and skills you need, but also aligns with your broader purpose, mission, and values, using our values assessment framework.”

This resonates deeply with my own work. I have developed two frameworks—one on intuitive decision-making and the other on value-based leadership. Rather than publishing these frameworks in journals or presenting them at conferences, I have chosen to share them through my book.

I sincerely hope the readers will find value in it.

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Jalgaon on Dec 21,  2025

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats

Heart: Conductor of Flow, Reservoir of Light

Heart: Conductor of Flow, Reservoir of Light

Engineering Heart Beats is the title of my book. It carries a meaning far deeper than its words suggest. Some readers have asked why I did not call it Engineer’s Heart Beats. The distinction is deliberate.

For me, engineering is not just a profession—it is the manifestation of creativity itself. As an adjective, it represents the collective spirit of engineers, a community devoted to designing, building, and shaping the world. As a verb, to engineer means to skillfully arrange, to bring into being, to create harmony out of complexity. Thus, Engineering Heart Beats is not about one engineer’s pulse, but about the universal rhythm of creativity and life.

The heart, biologically, sustains life through its rhythm. Yet beyond its physical role, I see it as a metaphorical governor of energy. Stimuli from our sensory organs, interpreted by the mind, generate experiences. These experiences flow through the heart, where each expansion and contraction becomes a symbol of how energy is received, regulated, and released. To speak of engineering heart beats is to speak of consciously shaping this flow—exercising mastery over the rhythm that animates our inner life.

Through our senses, we encounter two kinds of experiences: pleasant and unpleasant. The enlightened—the yogis, the spiritual seekers—remain indifferent to both. They dwell in the present, allowing energy to pass freely through the heart, where it replenishes and renews. For most of us, however, stored experiences can obstruct this flow. Pleasant memories, when revisited, bring joy, inspiration, and light. Unpleasant ones, when recalled, stir anger, frustration, and negativity.

Over time, I have cultivated an art: to store pleasant experiences in one part of the heart, like a reservoir of energy! When needed, I revisit them, drawing strength and inspiration. The other part of the heart I keep free—an open channel for the continuous flow of new energy! This practice allows me to balance memory and presence, joy and openness.

This thought crystallized further after reading The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer, particularly the chapter The Secret of the Spiritual Heart. It affirmed my belief that the heart is not merely a physical organ but also a spiritual center—a conductor of flow and a reservoir of light!

Engineering Heart Beats is my attempt to explore this reservoir and flow: how we can design the rhythm of our inner life, just as we engineer the structures of the outer world.

Closing Invitation:

Every reader carries their own reservoir of pleasant thoughts.

The question is:

Do we revisit it often enough?

Do we allow new energy to flow freely through the heart?

Perhaps the art of living is not only in remembering joy but in keeping space open for renewal!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Jalgaon on Dec 19, 2025

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats

The Golden Thread of Reading Deeply

The Golden Thread of Reading Deeply

In the previous chapter, Learn to Learn – Lifelong Learning, I suggested that deep reading is one of the most enduring ways to cultivate lifelong learning. This chapter continues that thought, for books have been my companions and silent mentors throughout life.

The first storybook I ever read was ‘Sonyache Sut’—The Golden Thread. I was in the fourth standard when my father gifted it to me. He was a social worker and activist, a man whose life was devoted to helping others. That book did more than entertain me—it transported me. I found myself immersed in a world so vivid that I forgot the boundaries of my own.

Soon, I was drawn to other books—'Veer Dhaval’ by Nath Madhav, and many more fantastic, historical, and biographical novels. Most of these had come to my father as gifts from his friends and colleagues, fellow travellers in the world of social and political work. They were not merely books—they were tokens of shared ideals, silent witnesses to meaningful conversations.

Among them were biographies of great world leaders. They stirred something deep within me. One such biography was of Henry David Thoreau. His words still echo in my mind:

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.”

That line became a quiet anthem for my inner rhythm—a reminder that it is worthwhile to walk a path less followed, if it is the one that calls your soul.

As I grew older, my reading expanded into works that became lifelong companions:

• The Power of Positive Thinking taught me the strength of optimism. Norman Vincent Peale’s words reminded me that faith and confidence are not luxuries, but necessities. His message was simple yet profound: when the mind is filled with hope, even the darkest path becomes lighter. This book helped me cultivate a habit of looking for possibilities rather than obstacles.

• Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do instilled resilience. Dr. Robert Schuller’s voice was like a friend urging me forward during storms. He showed me that adversity is temporary, but character endures. The book became a shield in moments of struggle, reminding me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to move ahead despite it.

• An Autobiography of a Yogi opened the doors to spiritual reflection. Paramahansa Yogananda’s journey revealed that true leadership begins with inner harmony. His stories of meditation, discipline, and divine connection taught me that inside peace is the foundation for outward service. It was not just a book—it was a doorway into the vastness of the human spirit.

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People offered practical wisdom for leadership. Stephen Covey’s framework of habits—beginning with proactivity and ending with renewal—was like a map for living with integrity. It showed me that effectiveness is not about speed or success alone, but about aligning actions with principles. This book became a manual for balancing personal growth with collective responsibility.

• The Power of Your Subconscious Mind revealed the immense potential hidden within our thoughts. Joseph Murphy’s insights taught me that the mind is both seed and soil—what we plant in it grows silently, shaping our destiny. His words encouraged me to nurture positive beliefs, to trust the unseen processes of thought, and to recognize that transformation begins within.

• Chicken Soup for the Soul added warmth and humanity to my reading journey. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen’s collection of real-life stories reminded me that wisdom is not only found in great philosophies, but also in everyday acts of kindness, resilience, and love. Each story was like a gentle spark, showing that ordinary people, through small gestures, can create extraordinary impact.

Together, these books were not just lessons—they were lifelines. They helped me remain calm in adversity, gave me courage in uncertainty, and reminded me that leadership is not about authority, but about values lived consistently. Reading them deeply was like weaving a tapestry: each book added a thread of optimism, resilience, spirituality, discipline, and inner strength.

These books are not for one-time reading. I return to them regularly, again and again. Each time I revisit them, I discover new meanings in familiar words, because I myself have changed—with time, with experience, with insight. The principles and values they contain are timeless, and they grow with me as I grow with them.

Reading deeply is not about finishing chapters quickly—it is about allowing words to sink into the soul, to shape our thinking, and to guide our actions. For a leader, reading is not a pastime—it is a discipline. Books are reservoirs of wisdom, and when approached with sincerity, they transform into lifelong teachers.

I have also learned to choose carefully what to read and what not to read. I have publicly stated which books I will not read—those that do not align with my values or my purpose. Reading is not about quantity; it is about quality. It is about choosing companions that elevate the mind and strengthen the spirit.

My process of reading is deliberate. I take pauses, relate the words to my own experiences, and think over them deeply. Through this reflection, insight is developed. And that insight, when expressed through writing, reinforces lifelong learning. Writing becomes the mirror of reading—the act that transforms knowledge into wisdom.

Together, reading and writing form a cycle of growth. Books provide the seeds, reflection nurtures them, and writing allows them to bloom.

That Golden Thread still runs through me, stitching memory to meaning, reminding me that every book read deeply is not just a story—it is a step toward becoming a better human being, and a more value-based leader.

Dr. Mahendra Ingale @ Jalgaon on Dec 18, 2025

#ValueBasedLeadership #EngineeringHeartBeats

Happy Marriage Anniversary!

Happy Marriage Anniversary!

१६ डिसेंबर हा दिवस अनेक अर्थांनी विशेष आहे. 

१९७१ च्या युद्धातील भारताचा विजय म्हणून हा ‘विजय दिन’ आहे. 

१६ डिसेंबर हा दिवस माझ्या करिता ही विशेष आहे.

१९८५ च्या या दिवशी, कोठारी मंगल कार्यालय, जळगाव येथे, 

मी सौ. लता यांच्याशी विवाहबद्ध झालो. 

लग्नाचा वाढदिवस लक्षात ठेवणारे पुरुष, 

पत्नीच्या प्रेमास अधिक पात्र होतात, असे म्हणतात!  

मी हा दिवस नेहमीच लक्षात ठेवतो.

प्रिय सौ. लता,

लग्नाच्या वाढदिवसानिमित्त, तुमचे खूप खूप अभिनंदन!

तुम्हाला मनःपूर्वक शुभेच्छा!!