MAM
Aashirvaad Svasthi ghee adds a love aroma to Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha
Mumbai: During the sacred occasion of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Lord Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on this month, Aashirvaad Svasthi, ITC’s Ghee brand, is set to spread and imbue the ‘Aro-Ma of Love’ in the Temple. In a gesture of devotion, ITC will be providing Aashirvaad Svasti pure cow ghee which will illuminate thousands of Diyas (lamps) during the auspicious day marking the homecoming of Lord Ram in the newly constructed Ram Mandir.
Also, in celebration of the Ram Mandir’s inauguration in Ayodhya, ITC’s social investment program, Mission Sunhera Kal, has strengthened its collaboration with the Ayodhya Nagar Nigam. The Swachh ‘Teerth’ campaign has been launched encompassing multi-dimensional interventions. As part of this effort, over 1,000 dustbins made from recycled plastic have been distributed to local vendors. These vendors have taken a ‘shapath’ that is committed to a pledge to ensure the effective utilisation of these bins, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable environment in the city.
As part of the Swachh ‘Teerth’ campaign, more than 200 Plastic Collection Boxes, constructed from recycled plastic and with a capacity of 290 litres each, have been strategically placed at various locations. A team of over 200 trained volunteers will be actively involved in overseeing the waste collection process. ITC has been associated with Ayodhya Nagar Nigam and collaborates with the Urban Local Body under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Uttar Pradesh. In the coming months, the installation of composters and bio-gas units is planned with the support of Ayodhya Nagar Nigam.
ITC Aashirvaad Svasthi Ghee takes pride in actively participating and enhancing the celebrations of the devotees during the Ram Nadir inauguration. To become a devotion enabler, ITC has collaborated with the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra to contribute to the momentous occasion of the Nutan Vigrah Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram Lallaji.
In a warm gesture to welcome all devotees visiting the sacred city of Ayodhya, ITC Aashirvaad Svasthi Ghee has adorned prominent locations with banners and signages. These welcoming displays can be found at key locations such as the airport, railway station, entrance of the Ram Mandir and other significant temples across the city.
The Pran Pratishtha ceremony in the New Ram Mandir, is a momentous event for Hindus, signifying the establishment of the life force within a deity’s idol. This transformative ritual endows the idol with divine essence, allowing it to receive prayers and bestow blessings on devotees. Believed to be enduring, the divine presence persists for eternity after the ceremony. The Ram Mandir signifies and is revered as Lord Ram’s birthplace, holds immense spiritual importance and is poised to become a key pilgrimage site, attracting devotees from across the world.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
