A question I was asked at Manthan Samvaad in Hyderabad last week has set me thinking: Who would you identify as the key influences that have determined the sort of person you’ve become? There isn’t one single person I can name but, equally clearly, there are at least four that I would cite.

The first was my housemaster at Doon. His name was Gurdial Singh, but everyone called him Guru -- which he certainly was for many. He taught geography and supervised swimming. But, it was as housemaster of Jaipur House that he shaped my life.

Guru taught me three things that have stayed with me. First, never be scared to speak your mind. It’s better to be honest and risk upsetting a few than to flatter and deceive to keep everyone happy. Second, attempt to excel at what you believe you have a flair for; it doesn’t matter if you have no skill at sport. At Doon, where sportsmen are idolised, this was invaluable advice. I was a debater and an actor, and Guru........

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