FLIP SIDE: Arijit Basu, CEO, SBI Life

Play day dreams
Thought of going to the moon inspired by Neil Armstrong

How about books?
I liked reading Charles Dickens (Tale of Two Cities/ Great Expectations). To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the favourites

Entertainment
Movies. Watched Charulata seven or eight times. And Gregory Peck-starrer Roman Holiday. Music of the 1950s, 60s. Like to listen to Hemant Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, country music

Any role model?
Nelson Mandela. When young, he was the favourite with the South African freedom struggle

Most terrifying moment
When the Japan earthquake happened. My son was still there. He was taking his high school exams after I had returned. When the news came, there was this 15-20 minutes of horror. We were very terrified

If you were to start all over again
I would pay more attention to my studies

Life after retirement
I hope to keep myself mentally active. I would like to read, analyse and write about elections more from a statistical point of view

Political belief
Anything which is good for the country. Talks about peace and prosperity are my political belief

Believer or an atheist
I have faith in something above me, which has control over our lives. I like to go to temples, church because of historical reasons and not because I am spiritual

Unfulfilled desires
When I was young, I wanted to write novels and articles

Next vacation
Northeast of India. We have not explored that part of the country

Work-life balance
It is about enjoying time at work and at home

Childhood’s fondest memory
Football matches played in school and time spent on the playground