In a gentle way, you can shake the world, says Abhijit Sonagara, founder, Adosphere
Abhijit Sonagara quotes MK Gandhi when he responds to our question on his favourite motto. Here are his responses to our Proust Questionnaire, penned by. Marcel Proust, the French essayist, who believed that in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.
Abhijit Sonagara is founder of Adosphere, a digital marketing company and a Workplace from Facebook Partner in India. He also founded ISAAC Education, an education initiative focused on teachers’ training and capacity building for educators.
Abhijit received the ‘Young Achievers’ Award’ by Whistling Woods in the year 2013 for his innovative ideas. He is also a two-time recipient of the Gujarat government’s ‘Purushartha Gaurav Award’.
He has attended a full-time executive programme in 2016 from John F Kennedy School, Harvard University. He also has an MBA in Marketing from the University of Hartford.
Abhijit has participated in TedX Talks and has also been associated with many international communication projects in Africa and the USA.
Here are his responses to our Proust questionnaire…
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Seeking perfection and happiness are utopian goals, but it’s the fuel that keeps us running.
What is your greatest fear?
Not being able to answer simple questions.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Mostly forgetting names but I am great with faces.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Narrow/short term vision or objectives.
Which living person do you most admire?
My father.
What is your greatest extravagance?
My gadgets.
What is your current state of mind?
Full of unlimited possibilities, that I still need to explore.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Loyalty - unless it is coming from both sides.
On what occasion do you lie?
When it is required to protect larger things.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I am always casually dressed, but I would like to push myself sometimes into wearing formal attire.
Which living person do you most despise?
Not any particular person, but I despise people who do not value other person’s time
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Commitment towards his passion or work.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Same as for a man. Commitment towards her passion or work.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Amazing! I love the word and opportunities it conjures.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My workplace.
Which talent would you most like to have?
The art of singing.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Learning to say “No”.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Being the most likeable person in my team.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Myself or a bottle of wine.
Where would you most like to live?
In my office balcony with its amazing lake view.
What is your most treasured possession?
My experiences.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The moment before you do something that you do not wish to do.
What is your favourite occupation?
Entrepreneurship.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Getting along with everyone.
What do you most value in your friends?
A positive attitude towards life.
Who are your favourite writers?
Mark Twain and Yuval Noah Harari
Who is your hero of fiction?
Iron Man without his Iron Suit. It is about knowing the potential of the power you can have but making decisions with human emotions.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Mangal Pandey. He was born on the same date as I was and he sparked off the revolt of 1857, often known as the First War of Indian Independence.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Everyone is. Some people teach you what to do and others - what not to do. Both are heroes in their own place.
What is your favourite name?
Adosphere.
What is it that you most dislike?
Anger.
What is your greatest regret?
Not learning to code.
How would you like to die?
Old and peacefully.
What is your favourite journey?
The journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
What is your motto?
‘In a gentle way, you can shake the world’ - by MK Gandhi.
Edited by Megha Reddy