‘Happiness lies in pure contentment’ - Ajay Gowda, entrepreneur

(The Proust Questionnaire is a questionnaire about one's personality. It has its origins in a parlour game popularized by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.)

‍Ajay Gowda is Managing Director and Co-founder of Byg Brewski Brewing Company, situated in Sarjapur and Hennur. These are his answers to our Proust questionnaire...

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What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Genuine smiles and pure contentment.

What is your greatest fear?

Turning evil!

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Sometime I take this people I love for granted.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Artificiality.

Which living person do you most admire?

Dr Vergis Kurian, Founder of Amul.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My home.

What is your current state of mind?

Thinking and doing things towards moving to a better fiscal state.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Favour.

On what occasion do you lie?

When people asked if I’m stressed, I lie (Sometimes!)

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My serious face.

Which living person do you most despise?

Despise is a strong word!

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Selflessness.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Warmth.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

New challenges, especially in path breaking attempts.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Creativity with the use of hands.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Conceit, whenever it happens.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My parents being proud of my achievements.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I hope everyone knows that they don’t come back after dying and they will try their best to do everything that they intend to or should have done, in the remaining years of this life only!

Where would you most like to live?

In a small town or village with less than 1000 inhabitants.

What is your most treasured possession?

Clarity.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Helplessness and becoming overtly selfish.

What is your favourite occupation?

Any leadership role, with the less privileged.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I am told that I am down to earth.

What do you most value in your friends?

Their time and care.

Who are your favourite writers?

Dale Carnegie and Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar

Who is your hero of fiction?

Jerry from Tom and Jerry!

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

I’m too insignificant but I always loved the valour of Tipu Sultan.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Our head chef and our Operations Director.

What is your favourite name?

Sarva which means everything.

What is it that you most dislike?

Phones ringing on a holiday.

What is your greatest regret?

My temper in the past.

How would you like to die?

Smiling.

What is your favourite journey?

Rags to riches.

What is your motto?

Empowerment is the key to success.

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