july 2026
Good Monday Morning folks.
This last week was quiet eventful. I watched The Odyssey (I do not think it’s worth the hype), moved places twice, spoke to dozens of incredibly smart people, all after spending over twenty-four hours between planes and airports to come back to a friend I’ve only ever associated with tomfoolery to do something that’ll probably change the courses of our lives, or at least the way we look at it. An investor said that we, as co-founders, are entering a marriage of sorts. I found it quite strange at first but I guess it does make sense after all.
I’ve also slowly started to realize the fleeting nature of opportunity. I used to be scared — really, really scared about whether or not what I’m doing is right, and whether it is the right time to do so. A lot of people told me I should wait till I graduate or that it’s too early to work on what I’m working on. I did start to believe them for a while but deafened my ears to that noise eventually. I, personally, don’t think it’s going to be any easier for me to take such a bet any time later in my life. As cringe as it may sound, it simply feels like a waste of time to not do whatever the hell I want, and I probably won’t have the time, energy, or freedom to do it in the future if I don’t do it right now. I
If it works, it works. If it fails,
Part of trying to build something with someone else is a firm sense of trust in the other person, of which I have plenty in my co-founder. However, I’m also a firm believer in the idea of the non-vocalized trust that arises between people for a multitude of reasons. If I go to a restaurant, I automatically trust the chef to not poison me through the food. If a colleague of mine refers someone to me for something, I automatically trust their judgement of that person. If a friend of mine suggests that I watch a movie, I automatically assume that the movie ought to be at least half decent.
So what happens when an institution which owes such trust to its people fails to uphold it?
For the longest time, I’ve had mixed emotions about my national identity. It has also always felt wildly hypocritical to be passing comments on the operations of a country, the ground reality of which has never really affected the cushioned part of society I have had the privilege of belonging to. Less so, now that I’m thousands of kilometers away in a different bubble altogether. I think the frustration often came from the people and its government’s inability to take action and accountability. Some how, the sphere of do-I-really-care-? never went past one’s own home.
It seems like that’s changing though.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about the future of my country than I am now.
Either way, I’m glad you made it to the end of today’s edition. I think this one was a bit over the place.
I might also start writing a lot more often. It’s quite hard to wait a whole week to consolidate my thoughts rather than letting them out whenever I feel like it.
All my pieces will also be up at joshgupta.com
I was unable to find a domain which said joshua. It was unfortunate.
I’ll see you guys soon.