‘Indians weren't respected': Aman Gupta on Goa in the 2000s vs today
Aman Gupta, the millionaire co-founder of boAt Lifestyle, spoke about Goa's changing party scenes in a recent podcast. The 43-year-old entrepreneur remembered the time he and his friends partied in the forests of Goa with foreigners. Gupta revealed that there were hardly any Indians at these parties, and certain parts of Goa welcomed only foreigners.
This, he said, is in stark contrast with the situation today, as Indian tourists are welcomed happily in Goa.
Aman Gupta remembered the early 2000s, when he and his friends would visit Goa and party in the forests of the state. At that time, Anjuna beach was populated by Israeli tourists.
'At Anjuna beach, only Israelis were given a place. I remember, this was a Goa where Indians did not get a place to stay as Israelis used to lead that place. All these Goan people actually did not respect Indians that much,' Gupta remembered.
He contrasted that with the situation today, where Indian tourists are welcomed warmly by Goans. 'If you see today, Indians can pay more than anybody else. So India has evolved and Indian tourists are also welcomed now.'
Before he became the millionaire co-founder of boAt, Aman Gupta was a regular youngster who liked to party in Goa with his friends. He recalled on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast that there used to be forest parties in Goa that were frequented mostly by foreigners.
'These parties, they were such parties that we didn't know the venue. We would take our scooter and ask our foreigner friends, 'Aaj party kahan hai? (Where is the party tonight?).''
'In 2000, Bamboo Forest was very popular in Goa,' Gupta recalled. 'This time, when we used to go to Goa, there were no Indians. We were the only Indians there [at Bamboo forest parties],' said the co-founder of boAt.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bamboo Farming Holds Promise to Uplift Vidarbha's Farmers: Experts
Nagpur: Senior scientist and agroforestry expert Vijay Illorkar on Friday said bamboo farming has immense potential to transform the agricultural landscape of Vidarbha, offering farmers a sustainable and profitable alternative. He was speaking at the first bamboo harvest at the Agroforestry Research Farm of Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV). Illorkar, who has been leading the study on bamboo since 2010, said that the university has submitted 15 key research-based recommendations to the state govt over the years, which have been implemented through various policies. Despite being a traditional resource, bamboo cultivation demands specialised skills. The tools used are still traditional, but training is necessary, as general labourers often cannot operate them effectively," he said. Illorkar emphasised the need to match bamboo varieties with available labour capacities, and also stressed the importance of fumigation and post-harvest handling. Adding to the discussion, bamboo entrepreneur Ashish Kaswa, who out of his 27 cultivation sites, collaborated with the PDKV and harvested the plant at the facility, said, "The plant has the natural ability to absorb toxic elements such as arsenic from water and convert them into harmless salts," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo Kaswa said that this could come in handy for Vidarbha, where many districts have high alkaline water. Additionally, bamboo retains 70–80% moisture in its early stages, requiring proper awareness to avoid premature harvesting. Despite its ecological and economic value, challenges in training labour, high harvesting costs, and misinformation have hindered widespread adoption. "Bamboo, unlike other crops, requires specific knowledge and labour training, which most daily-wage farm workers lack," said Kaswa adding that current harvesting costs of Rs2,000 per tonne need to be brought down to Rs 1,200 to make the venture viable. Historically, bamboo's use in India was curbed by the 1927 Forest Control Act imposed by the British, who restricted its cultivation and trade. "The Britishers labelled it 'poor man's timber' and psychologically distanced even the affluent Indians from its use," said Kaswa, adding that bamboo played a vital role in Indian culture, from surgical procedures to cremation. However, in 2017, bamboo was finally removed from the Forest Act by the Central govt.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
When Dr Radhakrishnan gave away degrees under tent at IIT-Kanpur
Lucknow: When RBI governor, Sanjay Malhotra, returns to his alma mater, IIT-Kanpur, on June 23 to address the premier institute's 58th convocation at its sprawling auditorium, the event will mark the institute's memorable journey from its humble beginnings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The institute's first convocation was held under a tent in 1965 and addressed by the then President of India, . The event saw 66 members of the institute's first graduating class conferred the BTech degrees. Dr PK Kelkar, founder director of IIT-K, presided over the function and gave a report on the growth and prospects of the institute. Among the many speeches on the occasion, Kelkar's was the most memorable. IIT-K has come a long way since its inception in 1959. From its humble beginnings in a borrowed room at Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, it has grown to become a premier institution, now situated on a sprawling 420-hectare campus located on the Grand Trunk Road, around 15km west of Kanpur city. Land for the institute was gifted by the govt of Uttar Pradesh in 1960 and, by March 1963, it had shifted to its current location. Today, IIT-Kanpur is renowned for its academic excellence, research, and innovation. A visit to the campus back then would have revealed a serene landscape featuring standing crops, acacia woods, a picturesque line of stately mango trees, flocks of peafowl roaming freely, and a quintessential Indian countryside scene. This idyllic setting made a perfect blend of natural beauty and rustic charm. The campus is designed with a focus on environmental freedom, featuring halls of residence, faculty and staff houses, and community buildings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now All these are strategically arranged around the central academic area to facilitate flexibility in movement and easy communication. The institute's inaugural batch, the Class of 65, produced some illustrious technocrats and business honchos in the country like Abhay Bhushan, a computer scientist who has been a major contributor to the development of the internet TCP/IP architecture and is the author of the File Transfer Protocol, Suresh Pandey (former director, Bokaro Steel Plant), and Vinay Kumar Modi (Director of Modi Industries Limited). The batch members recall how they departed from the campus in May 1965 and were waiting to hear when the convocation would be held. Finally, they received invitations by India Post. By then many batchmates had left for studies abroad and some of the ones in India could not attend because of work or personal issues. A few of them, though, did make it to Kanpur to receive their degrees. IIT-K made arrangements for them to be picked up at the railway station and they were lodged at the Visitors' Hostel. Abhay Bhushan, chairman of Asquare Inc and part of IIT-K's 1965 batch, reminisces: "The convocation was planned for the afternoon, from 3pm to 5.30pm. We, the graduating students, were asked to arrive by 1.30pm to collect our gowns and caps and to get instructions on walking in the procession. In all, 67 BTech and 5 PhD degrees were awarded." "During the convocation, several speeches were given. Of note was Dr Kelkar's speech where he recalled what we, as the pioneer batch, had been through and how we were better educated to handle whatever our profession and life may have to offer. He said that the faith that they have shown in the future of the institute has been a real source of inspiration," Bhushan said. The Class of 1965 gifted IIT-K Rs 2.5 crore during its Diamond Jubilee Reunion celebrations in March. The batch pledged this amount towards creating a "Pioneering Research and Innovation Award" at the institute. Talking to TOI, the institute's present director, Professor Manindra Agrawal, said: "This year, we are celebrating the 58th convocation. Over the years, the institute has come a long way in contributing to the nation's technology and innovation landscape, as well as shaping bright minds. As an alumnus myself, every convocation here is nostalgic."
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
ICICI sought to acquire HDFC, reveals chairman Deepak Parekh
Former HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh and ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar MUMBAI: Former HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh, in a candid disclosure, said that then ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar had proposed a merger between the two lenders - well before HDFC's eventual reverse merger with its banking subsidiary. During an interaction with Kochhar on her channel, Parekh said: "I remember you talking to me once. I remember it very clearly. It's never been talked about in public, but I'm willing to share it now. You said that ICICI started HDFC. 'Why don't you come back home?' That was your offer." Parekh said he declined the offer, saying "it won't be fair" or "proper with our name and the bank and all". Parekh said the eventual merger with HDFC Bank, completed in July 2023, was driven mainly by regulatory pressure. RBI had classified NBFCs like HDFC, then holding assets over Rs 5 lakh crore, as systemically important, breaching the Rs 50,000-crore threshold. "RBI supported us and they pushed us into it to some extent and they helped us," he said. However, he added that there were "no concessions, no relief, no time, nothing". Describing the day the merger concluded, Parekh called it "a sad day and a happy day". He said, "It's good for the institution. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 180k traders turn to IC Markets for optimum CFD trading conditions IC Markets Sign Up Undo It's good for the country to have large banks. Look at how large Chinese banks are. We have to be bigger, larger in India." Parekh believes that Indian banks must grow through acquisitions to become stronger in future. On broader economic concerns, Parekh cited persistent uncertainty in supply chains, trade policy, and export conditions as top CEO concerns. Calling insurance the "least understood product", Parekh criticised "mis-selling by banks" driven by high upfront commissions. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
