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Housing finance pioneer, B.K. Madhur’s autobiography released

– ‘At Home In The Universe’ is a rare blend of corporate achievement, personal grit and spiritual discovery
– R.C. Sinha IAS (Rtd), advisor to Union Ministry of Road Development, releases the book at an event in Mumbai 
MUMBAI, India, Dec. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — At Home In The Universe, a book that chronicles a poor boy’s journey from a village in South India to the pinnacle of corporate success and personal spiritual growth spanning over six decades, has been released in Mumbai on December 6.
In this unusual autobiography, B.K. Madhur, former Chief Executive Officer at DHFL Property Services Ltd, shares the tremendous obstacles he faced early in life as the son of a landless farmer and daily wage labourer in a remote village in South India (in Kasaragod district of present day Kerala) shortly after Independence.
Blessed with an indomitable spirit and an extraordinarily supportive mother, the young boy went on to obtain an education against all odds. The 344-page book charts all the chronological shifts in his life, dwelling upon the heady early years as a young man newly arrived in Mumbai, the City of Dreams. Throwing himself headlong into every opportunity and job that came his way, Madhur soon began to find his place under the sun.
The book has engaging accounts of his rise from an ordinary salesman to a successful marketing maverick before finding his metier in 1984 when he helped establish Dewan Housing, one of India’s pioneering housing finance companies at a time when even the concept of housing finance was alien to the financial system.
Working closely with friend and mentor, the visionary entrepreneur, late Rajesh Kumar Wadhawan, he was central to the growth and scaling up of Dewan Housing through the 1980s and 1990s. Corporate success and acclaim was now part of his astonishing achievements in the housing finance sector where he is considered an expert to this day.
The book has been released by R.C. Sinha, IAS (Rtd), advisor to the Ministry of Road Development, Government of India. Sinha was vice-chairman and MD of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and built the world-class Mumbai Express Highway and 50 flyovers. 
As a pioneer in the housing finance sector in the 1980s, Madhur and his mentor at Dewan Housing were instrumental in creating opportunities for access to affordable housing for innumerable ordinary Indians who had nowhere else to go if they dared to dream of owning a home.
“At Home In The Universe is truly special for B. K. Madhur’s remarkable attempt to capture his life in his own words – his journey from an underprivileged background to the peak of corporate success based on determination, integrity and sheer hard work. His profound knowledge of spiritual philosophies is truly admirable and his life journey exemplifies how one can adopt them in personal and professional life. One of his biggest achievements is how he has helped people especially from the unbaked sections realise the dream of owning a home,” said R.C. Sinha. 
The book offers an inside view into the financial sector and policy environment of the 1980s and 1990s. The struggles to raise funds for onward lending were closely linked to the attempts to disseminate new ideas in the nascent Indian financial sector and capital market at the time.
The book also presents an intimate portrait of an unusual bond that B. K. Madhur shared with his mentor and good friend, the late Rajesh Wadhawan. As the company stabilized, especially after the inception of National Housing Bank (NHB) in 1988, Madhur and his team were able to offer innovative products including insurance-linked home loans, home finance schemes for economically weaker sections across the country, policemen, women and the self-employed.
“The book traces the start of my journey in the idyllic village of Bollar where I dreamt of a great future. The book also captures the various stages of my life. I hope to inspire my readers to keep the faith and overcome their challenges just the way I did. After the untimely demise of my mentor Rajesh Wadhawan, my passion for reading the sacred texts of diverse religions and cultures and exploring my inner self, developed further. After the pain of losing my mentor abated, I was able to emerge with greater self-knowledge and resilience.  I have been able to exist with a renewed sense of purpose in the larger scheme of the Universe. I would be delighted if readers could benefit from my experiences and set higher goals for themselves in every aspect of life and service,” said B.K. Madhur.
D.A. Chaudhary, retired IPS, Udaya Bhasker Jakke, Income Tax Commissioner were among the special invitees at the book launch.
Other key dignitaries who were present at the event were S. Balakrishnan, former Bureau Chief at Times of India, Sitaram Sankhe, Company Secretary and lawyer, Mohandas Hiriyadka, President of Devadiga Sangha Mumbai, Satish Shah, MD of Book World Enterprises and B.M. Chaturvedi, Chartered Accountant.
The book will be distributed worldwide by Bookworld Enterprises of Mumbai and will be available at all leading book stores across India.

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Reliance Digital Launches ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day Campaign Celebrating the Many Expressions of Fatherhood

MUMBAI, India, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital has launched ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day campaign to celebrate the many expressions of fatherhood. Built around a simple cultural observation, while “Maa ki Mamta” has long been a part of India’s collective vocabulary, there has never been a word that captures the distinct ways fathers express love, the campaign introduces ‘Baaptaa’ as a tribute to the many shades of fatherhood.

Conceptualised as an original music-led campaign, Baaptaa celebrates fathers not as idealised figures, but as they are experienced in everyday life, protective, dependable, emotional, quirky, practical, occasionally embarrassing, and always present. Through a relatable narrative, the campaign acknowledges the countless ways fathers care for their families, often through actions rather than words.Watch Video: https://youtu.be/9XyUsJB33Ds?si=PM67vhxrzth1JEkz At the heart of the campaign is an original music video told from a father’s perspective, capturing the different roles he plays across life’s moments and milestones. The film brings to life the humour, warmth and unspoken affection that characterise father-child relationships, while giving a name to a form of love that many recognise but few have articulated.The campaign stems from a simple insight: while motherhood has often found expression through familiar phrases and popular references, the unique language of fatherhood has remained largely undefined. Baaptaa seeks to fill that gap by creating a term that reflects the everyday gestures, practical wisdom and quiet sacrifices that fathers make.Father’s Day communication often leans into familiar emotional territory, but Reliance Digital’s campaign celebrates fathers in a way that feels more culturally authentic and relatable. The idea for ‘Baaptaa’ came from a simple observation — mother’s love has been immortalised in a number of heartfelt, emotional songs, there needed to be an anthem dedicated to dad’s love. And thus was born Baaptaa – a love language that is often awkward, practical, protective, humorous and deeply felt, even if rarely verbalised. It’s a celebration of fatherhood in all its wonderfully imperfect forms immortalized by a song that you won’t be able to stop humming.Shop for the widest range of electronics at Reliance Digital and thank your father for his Baaptaa.

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Canara HSBC Life Insurance Celebrates Father’s Day with a Heartwarming Tribute to Dad Jokes

The digital film highlights how fathers express love through humour, turning everyday moments into lifelong memoriesNEW DELHI, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited (“Canara HSBC Life Insurance”) today announced the launch of its Father’s Day digital film, a light-hearted and heartfelt tribute to fathers and their unique way of expressing love through humour. Celebrating the universally relatable phenomenon of ‘Dad Jokes’, the campaign shines a spotlight on the small yet meaningful moments that often become some of the most cherished family memories.

Presented in the style of a mock documentary, the film follows a sibling duo as they recount some of their father’s most memorable jokes—ranging from playful puns to classic one-liners. While the film begins with humour and nostalgia, it gradually reveals a deeper truth: behind every seemingly cringe-worthy dad joke lies a father’s sincere effort to connect, bring joy, and remind his family that he is always there for them.The campaign is rooted in the insight that fathers often express their emotions differently. Rather than through words alone, they communicate their care through everyday actions, practical guidance, shared experiences, and sometimes, through humour. Dad jokes may not always receive the loudest laughs, but they often become lasting reminders of a father’s presence, warmth, and unwavering support.Through relatable storytelling and candid family moments, the film celebrates fathers who may not always wear their emotions on their sleeves but consistently show up for their loved ones in their own unique ways. It captures how these seemingly ordinary interactions become treasured memories that families carry forward for years.Reflecting the campaign’s central message, Canara HSBC Life Insurance reiterates its belief in standing by every promise that matters. Just as fathers quietly support and protect their families through every stage of life, the company remains committed to helping customers secure their loved ones’ future and fulfil their financial commitments, truly embodying its promise of being a ‘Promises Ka Partner’.The campaign is now live across Canara HSBC Life Insurance’s X (twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram channels.IG- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZwH5IKhCzG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== FB- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1cSkxsFWNY/X- https://x.com/CanaraHSBCLI/status/2067808467205918962?s=20Li- https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7473574831364468737Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997652/Canara_HSBC.jpgLogo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2739906/6008480/Canara_HSBC_Logo.jpg

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Harper Collins Publishers India is Delighted to Announce the Recent Publication of ‘People We Love’ by Preeti Shenoy

NEW DELHI, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HarperCollins Publishers India is delighted to share the recent publication of People We Love by bestselling author Preeti Shenoy. At once tender and sharp, this collection of stories offers intimate, truthful and relatable portraits of the people we cherish, the ones we lose, and the people we become.

ABOUT THE BOOKThe people we love never truly leave our story…In these tender yet piercing stories, Preeti Shenoy returns to some of her most beloved characters to reveal who they were before they appeared in her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have.Aniket, a coder, carries the weight of a longing for Trisha that he cannot bring himself to act on. Nidhi abandons her corporate life to teach pottery, only to discover that clay is far more forgiving than the people she loves. A quiz competition sparks an unlikely romance between Aman and Shruti, one that must withstand parental disapproval and class divides. And Anjali, a journalist, is so busy chasing stories that she almost misses the one unfolding in her own life.Set against the pulse of contemporary India, People We Love explores the tug-of-war between duty and desire, family and freedom, who we are and who we dare to be. Intimate and deeply felt, these are stories about love that stays, leaves and almost slips away … love that quietly and irrevocably shapes the people we become.Preeti Shenoy, author, says, “People We Love is a collection of three long stories, prequels to my bestsellers It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have. If you have read those books, you already know how these characters’ stories unfold. But what you don’t know yet is where it all began, the loves they carried, the choices they made, and the people they were before life shaped them into who you met on those pages. Writing these prequels felt like returning to a home I hadn’t realised I missed, and discovering rooms I had never been in before.”Rashmi Menon, Associate Publisher – HarperCollins India, adds, “Preeti Shenoy has an extraordinary gift for finding the heartbeat of ordinary lives. People We Love is a warm, wise and deeply humane collection of short stories that reunites readers with favourite characters from her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have, weaving them into fresh, deeply satisfying narratives. These characters feel like people you know, and their journeys will move, comfort and surprise you. This uplifting, thought–provoking collection reminds us why we turn to stories in the first place. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with our readers.”ABOUT THE AUTHOR Preeti Shenoy is among the highest-selling authors in India. She was featured on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life, Is Calling, Life Is What You Make It, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All in the Planets, Why We Love the Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, an avid fitness enthusiast, and an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journalling. Preeti lives in Bengaluru, Karnataka.ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIAAt HarperCollins Publishers India, we believe in telling the best stories and ensuring they reach the widest readership. We publish around 250 new books every year across 10 imprints, adding to a diverse catalogue of more than 3,000 titles in print and digital formats, with an array of genres and voices that ensure there is a book for every reader. Our authors have won some of the most prestigious literary awards, and we are proud to publish many acclaimed writers, alongside new and emerging voices shaping contemporary literature. We are also the publishers of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of the Booker Prize 2008, and Girl in White Cotton by Avni Doshi, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2020, and HarperCollins India itself has been awarded “Publisher of the Year” several times. In addition, we represent some of the finest global publishers such as Harvard University Press, Lonely Planet, Oneworld, Nosy Crow, Usborne, and National Geographic Children, bringing Indian readers access to world-class books and ideas. We are also proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years, a recognition of our culture, people, and values that make HarperCollins India a truly inspiring workplace. PRESS CONTACT:Nandini Tripathi, Manager – Marketing (Commercial)Email: nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in | Mobile: +91 9718928839Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997583/HarperCollins_People_We_Love.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/4665143/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg 

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