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
Yes. In BC we just replaced fear with returns!
[QUOTE=Ashrafmeer] Basantji, this is a momentous occasion, sad that such a important and historic forum had to be closed down. The cowards who disrupted this journey will face wrath in life and whatever new you build next will be even better and more successful. Hats off to you for showing everyone how to deal with such grave problems with dignity and humility.
You gave me confidence to invest so much money into the market while before even 3-4 lacs were invested with lot of fear! The journey though short has been a revelation with lot of learnings.
As people have already put it, morning tea readings or office commute readings will be missing a core ingredient.
Hope our association continues further, take a break and come back fresh and more eager!! All the best and may the Powers be with YOU!![/QUOTE]
Lacs to crore seems to be normal at Basant's Corner. Now you have to take it to 9 digits!
[QUOTE=vishu013] Hello Bansanth-ji
Many many thanks for all you have given us. Wish you all the very best.
The learning from TED and BC will always remain with us. Hope to emulate atleast 10% of what you have taught. The stupendous rise of portfolio from few lakhs to a Cr+, has been all with your guidance. Thanks again !!
It so happens that today is the last day at office, of my highly regarded Japanese counterpart too. What a sad day :-([/QUOTE]
As a passenger in the train to Kolkotta called "Basant's Express" my journey so far has been a very memorable one. The journey which started on a station called TED in 2006 has been breathtaking,an eyeopener and simply fascinating.As an investor of more than 25 years starting from Harshad Mehta times i have never come across a more magnanimous and sincere person who has made the stock market syndrome run in our blood stream.From investing in Real estate to Stocks any market where one can make large amounts of money is riddled with fraudsters and scamsters. Sir in this regard your integrity is unquestionable.As the train stops at the Station called "Basant's corner" and all of us deboard only one thought comes to mind that the "Journey is more important than the destination". Thanks a lot Basant!
I am into stocks since 15 years but only after following basant sir I have learnt to invest in stocks.The knowledge he has imparted is unparalleled.He is a very unselfish person and one always felt him as a fatherly figure sent by God to guide us retail investors.He has thought u that it is not money which is important in life but a pure and helping heart should be the goal of everyone.It is sad that few selfish people misused his knowledge. But that's life God creates some gems like basantji and few other fools.
From Ganesh70: The key takeaway from BC is the transition for the members from bewilderment at an amount of a crore of rupees to crores of rupees becoming common place for BC members. BC members converted the lacs into crore of rupees and crore into crores of rupees. BC members became very greedy. Thanks to Basant for that. Even for a person with finance background, using leverage to increase wealth was something new. Debt for creation of wealth and not for depreciating assets. Basant - you will be missed definitely, but you are also part of our lives. Most of BC family members look at Basant as part of their own family. You will be missed, but we are richer for your teachings and our learnings, though the teacher has decided to retire. Thanks & all the best to Basant and BC members.
we have minted money right from Pantaloon to Page ........ .....Ha Yaar how can i forget those.. late night sleep to watch nasdaq closing price to get a sense where market will go next day so many other memories also. If i recall those it seems how foolish I was . Became super bulish on pantaloon after reading It happened in India Ha ha so many stories so many sweet memories. I even remember your first reply in Ted after checking my portfolio How did u Make it.... Ab Kia likhe wish all your wishes words come True
Sir,I feel u must start a PMS service and I am sure in times to come it would become the most popular one in history of stock market. In this way selfish people can't use your knowledge in Facebook etc and keep commenting nonsense.
Sir even while reading the word good bye left tears in my eyes ,may be that is the part of life , sir u have given us a lot so can't ask more but life without bc ............. This last 4 years are most memorable in my life , u have given aam aadmi to dare to dream .........U Will always remain in our heart ... With heavy heart sir good bye take care ...... Me aapka picha nahi chhodunga
Dear Basantji - I was introduced to TED by a common friend many years ago and I was silently reading various discussions in the TED forums. The knowledge that was discussed here was far superior than any other place I knew of, at that time. This was the place for a very healthy and valuable analysis, humor, books..all under one roof. I remember discussions pertaining to specific page of Peter Lynch's book.It was like a college/school where collectively each company was dissected , going into specifics of particular page of the shareholder's report etc
And then came Basant's corner. Once again we could connect to you and make wealth.
I had told you one day, please teach us fishing too and not just give us the fish. Eventually you shared us knowledge with your book. Of course, I have a long long way to go before I digest your book and get into Basant's psychology of investing. You are among the very very few people who share their knowledge for gain of others. (I have honestly not searched for or met anyone else yet!)
It's sad to see you shut down such a fabulous corner! I hope you will find some way to connect with us again and share your knowledge and in turn us into multi-millionaires
[I hope to see your talks on various channels, MBA schools and keep hearing from you]
Thank you
Posted on:6/29/2015 8:49:09 AMphoton
Dear Basant Ji,
Its really ironic that despite being one of the oldest and civilized society, we are evolving (or devolving?) like this.
I want to thank you for being the inspiration and transformation to many dreamers for last many years.
I am sure you are going to use this opportunity to create something even bigger as you have done repeatedly in the past.
Thanks,
Amit