The Book, authored by Mumbai-based Chartered Accountant, Badri Baldawa, intends to inspire and motivate the young and seniors to face the challenges in life to their advantage
A Mumbai-based Chartered Accountant, Badri Baldawa, has come out with a stirring book “One Dream is Not Enough.” The book, which has foreword by former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti, illustrates the actual incidents of daredevilry, challenges, problems, setbacks, affection. The book, “One Dream is Not Enough, ”edited by the National award-winning book editor Meeta Kabra, shares the stories of Baldawa’s diverse experiences while he was a top rank student, disciplined corporate executive, leading businessman and above all an adventurer who travelled to the places not many would dare to go.
The Chartered Accountant is the first Indian to visit 90-degree North Pole, self-drove to make a record making 22,000 km from Mumbai to London at the age of 73, first Indian to have a Polar plunge into the freezing waters of North Pole, trekked up to Mt Everest BC at the age of 63 and twice to Kailash-Mansarovar and had several other thrilling expeditions and adventures.
The book has testimonials and words of appreciation from internationally inspiring personalities like Peter Hillary (son of Edmund Hillary), Guinness Record holders like Alan Malory, Tushar/Sanjay etc.
The book “One Dream is Not Enough ” is intended to inspire and motivate the young and seniors to face the challenges in life to their advantage. The outgo from the book is to illustrates the actual incidents which prove: Daydreaming is a must in life. Do not consider problems as problems, but as challenges. Let problems not dominate you in life, you dominate the problems. Setbacks are learning lessons in life and Affection is as important as perfection.
Dwelling on the book “One Dream Is Not Enough,” Badri Baldawa narrates his lifetime experiences. On an epic road trip, from Mumbai to London, Badri Baldawa’s granddaughter Nishi asks him to tell her about his many adventures. She was with him when he handled their car breaking down in their driving around Iceland just a year ago and wondered what other adventures would her Nana have had? When Badri tells her about a terrifying incident from his Kailash-Mansarovar trip 30 years ago, experience of his trek to Mt Everest and Mt Kailash, being first Indian to step on 90 deg North, North Pole, her appetite for his stories only increases. And then begins the narration– the life of Badri Baldawa– as told by him helped along the way by his wife, Pushpa, and punctuated by the many sights and stops on their 72-day self-drive to London. His 9-year-old granddaughter Nishi is the medium through which they explore the events that shaped his unusually exciting life. From his more-than-humble beginnings to the top ranker in his university, his efforts to qualify as Chartered Accountant to Udyog Ratna award winner to first Indian to visit 90-degree North to record making 22,000km self-drive from Mumbai to London at the age of 72, Badri’s life is an extra-ordinary journey of perseverance and never backing down.
Being an adventure enthusiast of the rarest kind, he has travelled to places on this earth most only dream of going. Be it a dip into the freezing waters of North Pole, or the trek up to Mt Everest base camp at the age of 63, or a drive to the North Cape to see the midnight sun in the 1980s when such trips were unheard of– each thrill adds to his philosophy, ‘A life isn’t rich if it doesn’t give you problems to face.’
In the simplicity of Nishi’s listening, Baldawa relives his entire life. He remembers how important his family has been in helping him become who he is. With a selfless abandon, after his father’s demise, Badri stepped into his shoes and ensured the family of twelve siblings functioned the way it ought to have given the circumstances.
The discipline inculcated in him from an early age helped him get the right jobs in his career. When looking back, it appears that they were mere stepping stones in the process to become the businessman he had always dreamed of being. Within a short decade, his enterprise made a place for itself by becoming the fastest-growing business in the export of stainless-steel, house-ware products. Along the way, he made sure his siblings, their children and many others had a launching point in their lives and careers.
This book is about the many dreams that a 75-year old has fulfilled. And yet, he is on to his next one relishing the misadventure hidden in each adventure. “One Dream Is Not Enough” because there is always one more.
About the Author Badri Baldawa:
Badrinarayan Baldawa was born in Rajasthani family in 1945 in Bellary, Karnataka and resides in Mumbai for several decades. Besides being the gold medalist in B.Com, he completed his studies with top-level grades in CA, CMA and CS. Post qualifications. In 1968 he offered his services for 18 years in finance and management with private corporate sectors in India and overseas. He started his own export business in 1986 under brand name “Seeba” which is popular internationally now. He was the President of All India Stainless Steel Industries Association from 2006 to 2009, who recognised his services to the industry by bestowing on him their highest honour “Udyog Ratna” in 2017.
Badri has been an adventure-thrill seeker through his life, especially after the age of 60. Over the years he has travelled to 65+ countries. Being an adventure enthusiast of the rarest kind, he has travelled to places on this earth most only dream of going. Be it be the first Indian to visit North Pole, or a dip into the freezing waters of North Pole, or the trek up to Mt Everest base camp at the age of 63, or a drive to the North Cape to see the midnight sun in the 1980s when such trips were unheard of—each thrill adds to his philosophy, His latest expeditions being a self-drive from Mumbai to London over 22,000 km in 72 days and that too at the age of 73, off roading in Nagaland, van camping in Ugandan forests and snow drive in Russian winter.
He is associated with many religious, educational and humanitarian activities including as a trustee of the Trust formed by Jagadguru Sri Sridharacharyaji of Asharfi Bhawan of Ayodhya. Badri Baldawa carries the support of his siblings and is blessed with wife Pushpa, two daughters Meeta and Seema and a son Anand. He also has four grandchildren Arsh, Ruhi, Nishi and Aarya.
