My Dear...

“My Dear” - these words resonated with the kind of person he was. Words that put everyone, big or small, at ease. When it began and why he used it, is not material but it always felt genuine and was identified with him.

As young marketing executives, we knew him as the one who had a purple Maruti Zen – a stand out car. We would hear that he did like driving cars - at good speed, particularly driving out of Mumbai. He definitely must have had many sides to his persona but to interact with or when he engaged, he was always down to earth.

He associated himself more with supply chain, especially till the 90s. Consequently, marketing got to interact rarely but the earliest was over a new product – for the rural market. He wished it had a different name. But his way was to be suggestive, giving his perspective and preference but leaving it to the team to take it forward. He consciously took care not to be overbearing or let his authority ride his observations.

His interactions mostly were one on one with managers. Often over a relaxing cup of tea. His focus was seldom on analytics or strategic reasoning, but almost always on sensing the feel of managers and team. While chasing M&As overseas he would want to know how it felt in the target market, what the target team was like and trying to understand what we felt about acquiring the target.

When the acquisition in Egypt was made- immediately the currency devalued, Iraq war broke and he was amongst the early visitors to the unit. While it must be important at his level to understand and assess such investments and risks, he saw the facilities but mainly was keen on meeting the people in the team and spent time through the visit doing just that. When asked would he like to have Ghar-ka-Kaana – ‘’Yes my dear’’, was his prompt response. Family still remembers the only time he came home. He got playing with the younger one who was just turning 4 and asked me to go and freshen up at ease. No airs, no fuss but just experiencing our lives.

@ the Great Pyramids of Giza

As widely perceived and experienced, he was inductively humble, believed in simplicity and let people be what they are. He gave and supported needy institutions, individually, and would take care that it is understood by the team to avoid conflicts. An anecdote gives a glimpse of what he was at heart- pristine. In a visit to Hyderabad he refused to step into the hotel - the Krishna Oberoi as ‘’Krishna’’ was written on the door mat. It had gone unnoticed but he saw it and politely urged them to have it removed (the hotel is now Taj Krishna)

When the financial crisis struck a decade back and there was turmoil in the market, his outlook was to look at our policies and actions to be fair to the customers and team as it was uncertain times. Over a couple of decades one had the opportunity to have only a few interactions. It has been a decade from my last interaction with him, but some people simply leave a lasting impression of humility. RIP My Dear…