Mayday! mayday! a mehendi problem!

Going against all public perception, for any international public policy gangsta or corporate fat cat, an India stint is seen as a big plus in their career graphs. It is not difficult to gauge why. This unique country/market can throw up unique challenges that can test the best. Pass India, you're ready to conquer the world. Here's the latest example from Kolkata. Couples intending to get their marriage registered in the city are facing a new kind, new-age problem: mehendi-ed palms of brides and witnesses being unsuitable for biometric registration. Marriage registrars have been flagging several cases where mehendi, alta and sindoor on the fingertips of the bride or witnesses have delayed marriage registration, which mostly happens on the day of the wedding. So, registration officials are now requesting them not to stain their thumbs. Who says tech is no impediment to tradition?

In the last few decades, India has established itself as a tech powerhouse. Its citizens have enthusiastically adopted new technologies that make their lives simpler and smarter. While this kind of tech support is great for more innovation, the Kolkata mehendi saga shows that entrepreneurs, policymakers and corporate leaders can never take things easy here. Challenges can come in myriad shades and take you by surprise. Just like the country.