What’s failure, really? Not getting into the big exam? Missing out on the “prestige” college? Or is failure simply refusing to see the detours that life quietly lays out for us?
In this week’s Coffeehouse Chronicles, Ritesh in Bangalore sat down with the Mayor in Cleebourg for a conversation that hit home for anyone who’s ever stumbled (so, basically all of us). Ritesh shared how not cracking India’s legendary JEE exam once felt like the end of the road—until it became the start of a richer, more fulfilling path.
Together, they peeled back the glossy layers of “success” in a society obsessed with engineering seats, salaries, and shiny possessions. What emerged was something softer and stronger: the idea that success is handling life’s rough edges with grace—and finding joy in the journey, not just in the trophy.
It’s thoughtful, it’s personal, and yes—it’s the kind of conversation you’ll want to carry into your own kitchen table debates.