The Nirav Modi I met five years ago was a talented diamantaire with a sharp business acumen
There is one striking similarity between Edmond Dantes, the protagonist of the 1844 French classic The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas, and Nirav Modi. Both of them know how to manipulate greed. While Dantes bribed Caderousse with diamond to bring out the truth, Modi must have bribed Shetty and his ilk with diamonds and more for the heist he was planning. Modi said he was reading The Count of Monte Cristo when I met him a few years ago.
I met Modi for a late afternoon appointment at his office, after two other meetings and an exhausting battle with Mumbai traffic. But, as they say, art is magical. His office, adorned with some fine paintings and a pleasing décor, energised me. The art collection was spectacular—from Amrita Sher-Gil to F.N. Souza and Jitish Kallat. I discovered that he was the proud owner of Sher-Gil’s ‘Boy with Lemons’, and was told that his sea-facing house in Worli had an equal number of stunning pieces of art. A person who knew about Modi’s collection told me it was worth more than ₹200 crore.
Denne historien er fra March 04, 2018-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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Denne historien er fra March 04, 2018-utgaven av THE WEEK.
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Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
