The Currency of Time

Time truly is one of the most precious commodities we have. And sometimes, it takes a trip somewhere unexpected to be reminded of that.

I was invited to speak to students at the National Sports University in Imphal, Manipur about career opportunities after graduation. I was excited for a couple of reasons. I had never travelled to Manipur before, and my previous experiences in the northeast of India have always been something special. Add to that the fact that I genuinely love every opportunity to speak with young people about building careers they care about, and I was already looking forward to the trip before I even packed a bag.

My three-hour interactive session on "How to Create a Dream Career" went well. I went into full self-expression mode and, fortunately, the students responded positively, attentive, curious, and most importantly, engaged. But this post isn't really about the talk. It's about time and hospitality. 

Flying from Bombay to Imphal is quite a journey. I was up at 3:45am to catch a 6:00am flight, had a short layover in Delhi, and finally landed in Imphal at around noon. I've been spoiled by India's connectivity, hopping on a 1–2 hour flight to a major metro has become routine so nearly six hours of domestic flying left me a little worn down. By the time I landed, I was ready to head to the hotel, rest, and maybe spend the evening quietly exploring a new city on my own terms.

I assumed the organizers might send a taxi to pick me up however I was already mentally prepared to jump in a taxi. Instead, I was greeted by five members of the National Sports University management holding a traditional scarf and a bouquet of flowers. The warmth was immediate and genuine, and it injected energy into my tired system in a way I hadn't expected. They escorted me to a car, and one of the faculty members joined me on the drive to the hotel, pointing out landmarks, asking thoughtful questions about my life, and openly sharing about his own journey and aspirations when I returned the questions. It was the kind of easy, unhurried conversation you rarely find in transit.

We arrived at the hotel and all six of us sat together in the reception while the room was being prepared. When it was ready and I went up, they waited happily in the lobby without a hint of impatience. I came back down fifteen minutes later and they were almost surprised I'd been so quick. We then went for a long, relaxed lunch, sharing stories, laughing, swapping experiences from our lives and from the sports industry. And then, to my genuine surprise, we headed to a famous lake more than an hour outside the city. On the drive there, one of the faculty members, someone with deep knowledge of Manipur, kept me both entertained and informed about the state's history, culture, and people. At the lake, we took photos, went on a boat ride to a small café on an island, ate local food, drank local tea, and simply got to know one another. Afterwards, they took me to a historical site connected to Manipur's role in the Second World War, a place where the Manipuris had supported the Japanese and Burmese in their fight against the British. It was fascinating, layered, and not the kind of thing you stumble upon as a solo tourist.

We eventually headed back to the hotel not because they were winding down or showing any signs of the day being over, but because I gently mentioned that it might be good to get some rest before the talk the next morning.

Almost as an aside, I mentioned I was planning to visit a local temple the following morning. They immediately offered to send someone to pick me up at 6am and escort me to the temple. I politely declined. But the day after the talk, students did arrive at my hotel at 615am, 15 minutes earlier than the time I'd mentioned, took me to the temple, and sat peacefully for nearly an hour while I prayed. Afterwards, they dropped me back and offered to show me more of Imphal if I was up for it. And as I write this post, some of the management team are on their way to the hotel to meet me for breakfast, despite it being a Sunday morning during a holiday weekend. 

Time is precious. And the time these individuals gave me is, honestly, priceless.

It's not that they don't have full lives. They have families, personal commitments, religious practices, social plans. This was their weekend, a holiday weekend, no less, and they chose to spend a meaningful chunk of it with me. Not because they had to. Not because I'm particularly famous or fascinating. But because it seems to be deeply embedded in their value system to treat guests with this level of care and presence. And I can tell you from experience, it feels extraordinary.

Indulge me while I generalize. Having spent roughly 30 years living in the west and 16 years in the east, I feel I can offer some observations on how the two cultures approach hospitality, not to rank one above the other, but simply to name what I've noticed.

In many parts of India, and I'd say especially in places like Imphal, the way a guest is made to feel valued is through time. The host gives you as much of their presence as they possibly can. They set aside their own priorities and simply show up to talk, to serve, to accompany, to introduce you to others, or sometimes just to share the same space, even when conversation runs dry. The measure of hospitality isn't how much money is spent; it's how much time is given.

In the west, things tend to work differently. People place a high value on personal time and individual space and there's nothing wrong with that. When a guest arrives, the focus is on making them comfortable while also ensuring that both host and guest have time for their own routines. The hospitality often expresses itself through thoughtful spending, a lovely hotel, a great restaurant, a curated experience and through a well-organized schedule designed to give the guest the best possible version of the city. Fine food, fine drink, luxury, exclusivity, efficiency and comfort.

Both approaches come from a genuine place of care. But if I'm being honest, I'll choose the eastern way nine times out of ten. Even though I'm very much a product of the west as I value my personal space, my morning routine, my quiet time. And yes, I do get a little uncomfortable when I'm in company for extended stretches, especially when the conversation fades and we're simply occupying the same space by mutual, unspoken agreement. But the feeling that settles in my chest when people genuinely set their own lives aside to make sure I feel looked after? That's something no fancy meal, high-brow itinerary or hotel upgrade can replicate.

I've been experiencing this since my first trip to India back in 2006, nearly twenty years ago now. But something about this recent trip to Imphal made me want to write about it, even though I often talk about these differing approaches to hospitality. India is changing. People are getting busier, especially in the larger cities, and the western model of hospitality is becoming more common. Which is precisely why places like Imphal, where eastern values are still very much alive in daily life, feel so genuinely heartwarming to visit.

It was just a two-day trip. But it's one I won't forget. Not because of the colour and energy of the town, or the quiet beauty of the lake, or the stillness I felt at the temples, or even the warm reception I received around my talk. I'll remember it because of the way the management team and students at the National Sports University made me feel while I was a guest in their wonderful state.

That feeling is priceless.