My life’s strangest coincidences

Balaji Viswanathan
Aug 26, 2017 · 2 min read

Act 1, Scene 1: In 2004, I left India to pursue Masters in United States. India had a worst thrashing in Tests against Australia that year. I flew past Europe where an Olympics was going on [Athens]. President Bush got re-elected winning 51% votes. I enrolled at UMBC next to the freeway I-95 in a city starting with B [Baltimore].

Act 2, Scene 1: In 2012, I left India to pursue Masters in United States. India had a worst thrashing in Tests against Australia that year. I flew past Europe where an Olympics was going on [London]. President Obama got re-elected winning 51% votes. I enrolled at Babson next to freeway I-95 in a city starting with B [Boston].


Act 1: Scene 2: In 2004, I got to the Masters with lofty goals — research. I ignored the career services department. I got good progress in the following summer. But, just before I graduated a year later, I inexplicably got into making enterprise software at Microsoft. I had no dreams/goals to do enterprise software even a couple of weeks before then.

Act 2: Scene 2: In 2012, I got to the Masters with lofty goals — entrepreneurship. I ignored the career services department. I got good progress in the following summer. But, just before I graduated a year later, I inexplicably got into making enterprise software at Black Duck. I had no dreams/goals to do enterprise software even a couple of weeks before then.

On both acts, I got on to roles that was directly related to the subjects I allegedly studied.


Act 1, Scene 3: Enterprise software didn’t excite me and I got on to writing. People knew me predominantly for writing in the internal distribution lists. After a couple of years I picked up my bag to attempt to change education in India. I founded online based education startup, NalandaU.

Act 2, Scene 3: Enterprise software didn’t excite me and I got on to writing. People knew me predominantly for writing on Quora. After a couple of years I picked up my bag to attempt to change education in India. I founded Invento as a way to build Maker centric education.


Act 1, Scene 4: I found that education is not easily monetizable and started building ML/AI tools for fintech industry. That became Zingfin.

Act 2, Scene 4: I found education is not easily monetizable and started on robotics with ML/AI tools that is sold in banks.


As I stare at LBS Marg in Bhandup where I stayed recently during a conference [and lived during Act 1], I saw the two worlds collide. It feels like Groundhog day — when things keep repeating.

I just hope that Trump doesn’t stand for a re-election as I don’t have any energy to study for another Masters to start Act 3.

)

Balaji Viswanathan

Written by

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade