Dear Friends,
The events of the last few weeks leaves me in a state of discomfort. The mindless mudslinging by a few hiding behind the burkha of internet pseudo names - with a motive that is as elusive as their real identity has left a bad taste. I am surprised as to why most people would rather bring somebody down than try and stand up to his height.
Maybe this is a way of life which I am getting used to.
Added to this was the selective leaking of research write ups and all other information that I used to share on this platform. In fact people created What's Up groups where sharing of copyrighted material had become a norm. One person had conveniently put my research report on a Facebook group with over 2000 members. All this has been a pain to deal with. I have the names and voice samples of the culprits here but have resisted in going ahead as they are young professionals with a few decades of work life left ahead of them.
In my nine years of online activity I have never backed away from an argument. But those arguments had always been with people whom you knew existed. And not with people who just had a mischievous intent where one person created half a dozen identities and kept posting across the web. I refuse to be drawn into a fight where my opponents identity and existence remains hidden from the real world.
I am willing to argue with anyone on anything - anytime. But the person should first lift his veil and reveal his identity. As I always say internet blog sites are a funny place. It is an arena where people who buy 50 shares scream the loudest while the ones who buy 5000 don't write they just read.
I have always believed that people will value integrity, over intelligence and intelligence over wealth. I have played the game fairly for all the past nine years and need no proof from anonymous onlookers to prove the same. My subscribers most of whom I have known for almost a decade continue to back me on this with full might and strength.
It is true that Basant's Corner was creating ripples. Who likes to see people learn and earn - both at the same time? Business strategy suggests that clients should be educated only up to a point and not beyond it. But I went ahead as my subscribers were not clients to me - they were a part of my extended family.
I have had requests from people as far as Australia & America and as near as Dubai that they are willing to fly down on 24 hours notice to any place that I suggest to vouch for my credibility. My inbox is full with hundreds of mails of appreciation and accolades. Thank you all for your help and support. I wish I could have reciprocated the same by being with you for ever.
People come to the market to make thousands. At Basant's Corner we made crores. It was a collective effort where people postponed buying off houses; cars and jewelry as they embarked on a journey to financial freedom through stock market investing.
Most of them have succeeded and the others are well on path to it. Maybe this worries the onlookers.
It isn't easy to create reputation in the online world. The reputation and support that I have created is easily the subject matter of envy for many. It has disrupted thought processes all across. Moreover, it has encouraged people to be smarter in their financial dealings making them better managers of their own money. Maybe this also hurts. Who knows?
No one becomes rich by envying others; no one grows in life by feeling jealous. Being envious and jealous doesn't help one to swallow someone else's gain with a little less pain either. In all it just increases the suffering. But that is not my problem as I have always tried to learn and excel rather than abuse and insult.
Then there is this talk of me blocking off people on Twitter. This is true. If you have an intelligent discussion to make I welcome you with open arms but if you just have an axe to grind - my doors shall remain closed for you. I do not engage in needless accusations and unnecessary fights so the best thing to do is to raise the boundary wall of my house.
Guys, we talk of our 5,000 year old culture; we talk of India becoming an economic superpower can we do that if we keep engaging in mindless mudslinging? Had I been a thick skinned hippopotamus engaged in cutting corners I would have continued to run Basant's Corner instead of closing it. Someone told me that politicians get insulted all the time but still do their job. My answer was 'Maybe that is why I'm not in politics'.
No one closes down a business which is in its prime. I could have doubled subscription rates and kept back 80% of my subscribers but making money wasn't as important as sleeping well at night. I never took this job as a business or else I would never have closed it.
All this talk of me closing this out of fear is as bizarre as the other allegations. At an oportune time I might show as to why I have got nothing to fear about. But I am unwilling to open my defence in front of all and sundry.
My members have been under my skin to ignore this even as my phone rings continuously. But once a decision has been made we can't go back.
My final message for my friends who are so near and dear to me remains the same:
'Dare To Dream with Stocks
&
Invest without fear'
I wish you all the very best in the times to come and my sincere apologies again for leaving you midway like this.
Maybe life has a bigger role for me. Will surely come back to you then.
I look forward for your support and well wishes.
Yours Truly,
Basant Maheshwari
[QUOTE=us121] Welcome Omshivayaji...
your profile pic says you have grown quite old! but certainly Rich![/QUOTE]
Hi. Nice to see some old timers again.
I have done ok...not that rich.
Hello Basant. From TED to BC You have been able to take people along the journey to create wealth thru equity markets and help them learn the ways of investing in stocks with conviction and from position of strength. Think big and long term, see the larger picture, play sure & consistent bets and bet hard with balanced allocation. The daily dose of learning from BC will greatly be missed. Appreciate your investing wisdom, work ethics and people skills. Your equity advisory service has been much more than value for money. Many Thanks. All my very best of wishes for a greater success in whatever you may undertake.
Folks,
Maybe its time to meet again as old TED days. Basantji has still kindly left the TED forum open to us.
THANKYOU for everything you have given will never forget.
Basant sir,
Not sure what to write on the last day of BC.
BC has changed my life for good - I gained more confidence to invest in Stocks with significant amount, my wealth is increased by a few millions, ( CAGR should be more than 45 to 50 % )..
As I mentioned earlier in one of my posts in BC, I have gained more confidence in life (not just in financial area ) because of your guidance.
Thanks for changing my life; Me and my next generation will be thankful to you !!!!
Have been in touch with you since 2007.. first thru TEDand then BC.. The journey with you has been simply amazing!! Started with 5 figure portfolio and today managing 8 digit portfolio!! For someone from a completely non financial background, it would have been impossible without ur help n guidance!! Thank you :-) BC may have closed down but i am sure this is the beginning of something even bigger and better!! Au Revoir Basant!! My best wishes are alwayds with you!
Regards
Basantji, on the occasion of last day of this wonderful platform, wish to write a tribute for a man who entirely changed the way we looked at life. Basantji you are the Moses that led us ordinary mortals to the promised land, that helped us realise the dreams we never even had dared to dream. You gave us so many teachings about different walks of life apart from investing that I must say was equivalent to the lesson that parents impart to their children over a lifetime. Your daily interaction, your brilliant humor, your updates, everything shall be sorely missed. Just like our generation couldn�t imagine Indian cricket without Sachin Tendulkar, we cannot imagine daily life without BC. My only last wish was for you to consider was to keep the last day of BC the day Hawkins close price is 4620, but I know how painful this is getting for you. This would have been a tight slap to your detractors that you reserved the right to be wrong but you were never wrong in the first place. I know that in life all good things come to an end but only for something better to start. On this note, I hope our very own BM- the Lynch, the Buffet of India, the messiah who wishes to make 1000 crorepatis comes up with something even more powerful than BC, something which will change the life of even his detractors. In years to come. We will always discuss Indian stock markets as the Harshad Mehta era, the Ketan Parikh era, the RJ era, but our generation, the fortunate ones to be associated with you will always remember the BM era- the Pied Piper from Calcutta, who actually taught retail investors to make wealth from stock market. I wish to thank Basantji and also all the other members who through their contribution made this platform a wonderful and enlightened journey hopefully to financial freedom-Nishant
Please don't say that. Your returns have come with your conviction and though giving credit is good taking it isn't so bad either. All the best.
[QUOTE=Sushanth] Basant sir,
Not sure what to write on the last day of BC.
BC has changed my life for good - I gained more confidence to invest in Stocks with significant amount, my wealth is increased by a few millions, ( CAGR should be more than 45 to 50 % )..
As I mentioned earlier in one of my posts in BC, I have gained more confidence in life (not just in financial area ) because of your guidance.
Thanks for changing my life; Me and my next generation will be thankful to you !!!!
[/QUOTE]
Once in a While, a Legend comes and takes this world by storm. Which world? It could be in politics, business, sports, cinema, investing. While I do not know of any such legends personally in other fields, I certainly do know about a Legend in India whose specialisation is Investing. He is none other than Basant. The way to stardom is strewn with people trying to bring him down, copycats, frauds, imposters. It takes a lot of courage, will, self confidence, focus to reach pinnacle against these odds. Such people are great. However, if you take the common people also along with you in this journey, then that is a life worth living. Those people are called Legends. Basant, not only grew himself as an astute investor, but also took an army of people with him towards the financial freedom goal.
Now, the problem here is GREED. When someone suggests a stock X as part of a concentrated portfolio projecting it to be 5X in 3 years (let's say), the greedy mind will put more than 50% of the portfolio in this ONE stock. Now, if it halves, then the hell will break loose for such portfolios. However, had the portfolio been allocated properly with risk management in mind, no single stock can EVER demolish the entire portfolio.
Well, coming back to Basant, it is no secret that online stock forums, quality and growth investing has been popularised by Basant in INDIA. He may not be the first one to start, but surely he is the one who brought such things a greater platform and visibility which lead to mushrooming of such forums (few quality ones have survived and are a great source of knowledge). Investor educated has happened in a massive scale. This is by all means not an easy task.
It is hard to believe that Basant's online life 'might' be coming to an end, but sometimes people need some 'freedom, 'time to think', 'breathing space'.
The return of creative people when given some time is always in a MASSIVE AVATAR.
Here's to Basant, for all that he has done and to his beautiful future!
Posted on:6/30/2015 5:38:26 AMzrp75
Basantji- In the short time (1.5 years ) that I have been with you, not only has my thinking completely changed about investing ... but the dream that I now believe in has also changed the way I look at my job and life in general. Overall - it has been a very positive experience, touching us as a family, not just me as an individual.
Goodbyes are NOT forever ... relationships are. I will remain your fan and supporter in all your future endeavors. Thank you and best wishes for you and your family !!