Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday, 20 October 2025

The Inheritance of Tragedy

The Inheritance of Tragedy

The news of Isak Andic's death, the founder of Mango, is tragic in itself. But the recent, shocking allegations that his son, Jonathan Andic, may have been involved (source) casts a shadow so dark it forces one to pause and reflect on the very nature of wealth, family, and ambition. It is a story that seems to have clawed its way out of a Greek tragedy, playing out in the boardrooms and mansions of our modern world.

The Corrosive Nature of Wealth

How does a family legacy, built with immense effort and vision, arrive at such a horrifying juncture? We often speak of wealth inequality, a topic I explored in "Equal is Exception, Unequal is Ubiquitous," primarily through the lens of societal structures. But the story of the Andic family suggests that the most profound inequality can manifest within the gilded cage of fortune itself—an inequality of purpose, of validation, and perhaps, of love. When a father's shadow looms so large, does a son feel he can never measure up, leading to resentment that curdles into something monstrous?

A Familial Black Swan

Years ago, in a 2011 post titled "A full-blown crisis," I speculated that the world was "one shock away from a full-blown crisis," listing potential triggers from economic collapse to political upheaval. I confess, I never imagined that the most destabilizing "Black Swan" events might not be on the global stage, but within the intimate theater of a family. A son allegedly turning on his father is not just a family tragedy; it is a societal tremor, a crack in the foundation of our most basic human contract. It suggests a crisis of values that no amount of wealth can paper over.

The Unbearable Weight of a Crown

The pressure to inherit and expand an empire is a burden few of us can comprehend. In the corporate world, as I once wrote, there are clear metrics for success—targets, achievements, and performance appraisals (Thought for Today). But what are the metrics for being the son of a titan? Is it simply to become a bigger titan? When the expectation is not merely to perform but to eclipse, the weight of that crown can become unbearable. It can warp relationships and extinguish the very filial bonds it is meant to preserve for the next generation.

The story of Isak and Jonathan Andic, whatever the final truth may be, serves as a grim cautionary tale. It forces us to ask what we are truly building and what we are passing down. A financial empire is a fragile thing if it is not built on an even stronger foundation of mutual respect, love, and shared humanity. Without it, the inheritance is not wealth, but a legacy of tragedy.


Regards,
Hemen Parekh


Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai

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