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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Poison Politics

The Muharram plot uncovered by Mumbai Police deserves to rank among the gravest terror conspiracies thwarted in recent years. Investigators say that Fayyaz Premji, a Pune-based businessman, spent nearly two weeks in a Dongri hotel assembling thousands of capsules containing zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rodenticide, before allegedly distributing them to Shia mourners during Muharram as purported painkillers. Nearly 15,000 poisoned capsules were reportedly recovered from his hotel room....

Poison Politics

The Muharram plot uncovered by Mumbai Police deserves to rank among the gravest terror conspiracies thwarted in recent years. Investigators say that Fayyaz Premji, a Pune-based businessman, spent nearly two weeks in a Dongri hotel assembling thousands of capsules containing zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rodenticide, before allegedly distributing them to Shia mourners during Muharram as purported painkillers. Nearly 15,000 poisoned capsules were reportedly recovered from his hotel room. Eleven people fell ill after consuming some of those already distributed. Had the conspiracy unfolded on the scale allegedly intended, Mumbai could have witnessed a sectarian massacre of horrifying proportions. The case has immediately acquired another dimension because of the political commentary surrounding it. Even before investigators have completed their inquiry, familiar voices have begun suggesting that the affair is somehow too convenient to be true. The case is politically awkward precisely because it refuses to fit India’s preferred ideological templates. The intended victims were Shia Muslims. The alleged perpetrator had once belonged to the Khoja Shia community before publicly renouncing Islam and embarking upon an increasingly bitter campaign against Shia religious institutions. According to investigators, the motive appears rooted in sectarian hostility rather than the Hindu-Muslim polarisation that usually dominates India's political discourse. For decades, India’s debate on communalism has become increasingly one-dimensional. Much attention has, understandably, been devoted to majoritarian politics and Hindu-Muslim relations. Yet sectarian violence within religious communities has rarely received comparable analytical attention despite its devastating record elsewhere. The Sunni-Shia schism has fuelled conflicts from Iraq and Syria to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives over successive decades. It is among the oldest unresolved religious fault lines in the world. India has largely avoided importing that conflict on any significant scale. But that does not mean the fault line does not exist. The Mumbai case therefore deserves to be examined as a reminder that religious extremism wears many faces. It does not always conform to the narratives that dominate television studios or election campaigns. Sometimes its victims belong to the same broad religious community as its perpetrators. This is also a moment for introspection among those who pride themselves on opposing communal politics. Genuine secularism cannot operate selectively. It cannot acknowledge only those forms of religious hatred that reinforce pre-existing political convictions while treating others as inconvenient anomalies. More troubling still is the eagerness with which some commentators appear willing to transform an ongoing criminal investigation into another chapter of partisan warfare. To see every act of terror principally through the prism of electoral advantage is itself a form of communal politics. The courts are the bodies to determine guilt. But if the allegations are ultimately sustained, India should recognise the conspiracy for what it was: not merely an attempted mass poisoning, but a warning that sectarian extremism is neither geographically distant nor historically extinct.

Indecision Kills Personal Branding

Updated: Jan 20, 2025

Indecision Kills

In a world that celebrates clarity and confidence, hesitancy is a silent yet powerful force that can diminish your personal brand. When people dwell in the realms of “I’m not sure” or “maybe,” they unknowingly project uncertainty and unreliability—traits that can undermine the foundation of a strong personal brand. Your ability to make decisions and stand firm on them is not just a reflection of your leadership but also a testament to your personal brand’s strength.


Every interaction we have leaves an impression. Be it a professional email, a networking event, or a casual conversation, these moments contribute to how others perceive us. When you continuously oscillate between indecision and vague responses, it sends a message that you lack confidence or direction. In business, where trust and reliability are paramount, this can become a significant roadblock.


Imagine a scenario where a client approaches two service providers with the same inquiry. The first one confidently outlines a plan, clearly stating the next steps, while the second hesitates, replying with, “I’m not sure; let me think about it.” Even if both have the same expertise, the client is more likely to gravitate toward the first provider. Confidence fosters trust, and trust is the bedrock of all successful relationships—professional or personal.


Indecision can often stem from the fear of making mistakes or being judged. While this is natural, it’s important to remember that perfection is an illusion. The act of making a decision, even if it turns out to be less than ideal, demonstrates courage, responsibility, and accountability. These are the traits that elevate a personal brand, distinguishing you in a crowded and competitive world.


Being decisive doesn’t mean being impulsive or reckless. It means gathering information, weighing options, and then committing to a choice with confidence. In personal branding, this is particularly crucial because every decision you make—how you respond to challenges, present yourself, or communicate with others—forms part of the narrative others associate with you.


Hesitation and indecision don’t only affect how others perceive you; they also impact how you view yourself. Constantly second-guessing yourself leads to self-doubt, which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more uncertain you are, the more others will mirror that uncertainty, creating a cycle that can be hard to break.


One way to counter this is by setting clear priorities and aligning your decisions with them. For instance, if your personal brand is centred around being a thought leader in your industry, your choices should reflect expertise and foresight. Even in moments of ambiguity, acknowledging the uncertainty while showing a proactive approach—such as saying, “I’ll find out and get back to you”—conveys both honesty and determination.


During my recent trip to Australia, I was reminded of how decisiveness shapes impressions. Whether interacting with global clients or navigating unfamiliar professional terrains, I realized that certainty in communication was key to building trust and rapport. This was particularly evident when representing my personal brand on international platforms. A clear, confident tone opened doors and strengthened relationships that would have otherwise remained distant.


The next time you find yourself leaning on phrases like “I’m not sure” or “maybe,” pause and ask yourself: Is this hesitation necessary? Sometimes, it’s about silencing the inner critic and choosing to act decisively. Even if the outcome isn’t perfect, the act of making a choice positions you as someone who is reliable, proactive, and worth trusting.


Your personal brand isn’t defined by the absence of mistakes but by how you handle them and move forward. Decisiveness isn’t just about making choices—it’s about owning them. And in a world that often feels uncertain, those who lead with clarity and conviction stand out.


Make your decisions a reflection of your confidence, and watch as your personal brand strengthens, opening doors you never imagined.

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(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+countries. Views personal.)

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