Shanker Adawal wears white; to him it signifies totality,
the amalgamation of all hues. He speaks softly. There is never a raucous voice
in his stream of conscious thoughts. As a corporate head, he has never missed
the bull’s eye; that is his job. As an astrologer he steps beyond the mundane
and explains the inexplicable; astrology is his passion. He is an activist who
holds on to honesty and stands by those whose truths are muffled. That is his
peace.
Too many roles, too many expectations, but Shanker is at
ease. Everywhere.
He studied economics, learnt the nuances of management and
hurried up the corporate ladder. As President, Corporate Affairs, Reliance
Industries, Shanker has dabbled in millions and handled projects large enough
to unnerve the mediocre. But he has dug his heels in; whatever job he
undertakes, whichever alley he walks, for Shanker the method always remains the
same: diligence.
When he is not brainstorming strategies, Shanker moseys to
another realm – an astrologer keen on understanding the intricacies of the
metaphysical and the randomness of human lives and their destinies. The
esoteric fascinates him, he has written several books on astrology.
When he sits behind the mahogany desk as president of the
Manavadhikar Samajik Manch, he knows he is fighting the battle for the values
which are under siege in this modern world. Violation of human rights is his pet peeve and he stretches
beyond putative boundaries to ensure justice and dignity to all.
Too much to pack in one life? But Shanker is not
complaining. He does not. He would never rewrite his life.
At the end of the journey when the credits for his life
roll, Shanker will take responsibility for his actions and their consequences.
He would stand for his beliefs, for his dreams, for the questions that brew
forever, for the blessings that he can count, for the mistakes that cannot be
erased and for the chaos that simmers in his heart.
That’s Dr. Shanker Adawal.
“This
too will pass”. That would be his epitaph.
