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
It's almost 9 years since I joined TED and then BC. There are very few relationships in today's world which goes so long !!! That itself is the biggest testimony of how valuable your guidance is.
I remember, on BC, this was my one of the earlier questions - is making money in equities so simple? Follow your advice and be rich !! Now I realize that how difficult it is for few people to simple things, even when the rewards is so high. They have to brought down good things just for the sake of it.
But in any case, your contribution should be remembered for all the wealth you have created for normal office going persons like me. Thanks a lot for your guidance and encouragement.
Thank you. I wish we could do something about the cheats and the fraudsters and also about the burkha clad boys in their nappies - trying to be men.
[QUOTE=raviteja02] 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![/QUOTE]
I am and will remain passionate towards investing so spreading this culture was a part of my day to day activity and I loved doing it. Glad that it worked well for so many.
[QUOTE=getmanoj12]
But in any case, your contribution should be remembered for all the wealth you have created for normal office going persons like me. Thanks a lot for your guidance and encouragement. [/QUOTE]
Dear Basant Sir,
Everything will happen - just invest without fear and with knowledge.
[QUOTE=merchantp]
Probably I am ahead by atleast 7 to years in my life in terms of my saving, the amount has grown really big.
I was never part of BC and was associated only with TED and I derived lot for benefit from TED and happy that Basantji and TED made a great impact on me in shaping my investment philosophy . I trust Basantji knows what best to do and wish him all the best for his future .
Goodbye and good luck to everyone. Three cheers for Ted and bc. Basant zindabad.
While friends and colleagues were busy trading with a few thousands here and there, I steadily invested, nudged on with your guidance and started growing my lakhs into tens of lakhs and tens of lakhs into more than a crore in less than 3 years. All this, without having to sacrifice any sleep/worry about losing my profits through bouts of fluctuating markets. While I couldn't convince any around me to be BC subscribers, they knew I was upto something when I left my well paying job at a very reputed MNC IT firm in Jan this year to be on my own.
It is to BC, your wit and wisdom (watch "page grow into a book" !) that I was able to invest large sums into quality scrips and create a strong balanced equity portfolio. I still have some way to go before I can rest easy in financial freedom with passive income. However the comforting thought that I can choose to do what I want to without having to worry about my family needs over the next few years is priceless !
Salute your sharp and focused mind in picking some gems early on and more importantly your resoluteness and handholding during crucial junctures to create a wonderful life for us and our families.
Although I am saddened at the turn of events with pseudo-masked-envious-mudslingers, I certainly hope & pray - May your ilk increase so others like me stand benefited and turn into equity believers in the years to come.
Certainly want to be in touch and meet up on your visits to Hyderabad ! Best wishes !
Dear Basantji,
Posted on:6/30/2015 9:22:45 AMcatchsudipto@gm
nice to old ted members back on the last day of TED.