Remembering the 'Jewel'

The ‘Sahasra Chandra Darshana’ of the influential industrialist of the last half century was over a few years ago. The professional journey became ‘Purna’. He is an ideal of industrial issues handling, successes and not so accrued to his account. His personal life was a mystery, his later years acquired more of philanthropic, animal loving, and altruistic shine than business or commercial aspects. Named reportedly after the second son of the founder of the large industrial group, he proved to be a real ‘Jewel’. Born to adopted son of the daughter-in-law of the father of the largest industrial empire that has been synonymous with our industrial progress made him get groomed and ultimately occupy the chairmanship of the largest group, that had scores of companies and dozens of lines of industry presence. Half a million direct employment, and multiple times that of indirect employment may be the contribution to the economy by that group in this country of hungry stomachs and productive engagement needy hands.

One would have read many stories told or obituaries or recalls of his great life. What is striking is, many of these focuses more on the values he lived, charity he silently did, and general overall well-being concerns he expressed in his public interactions. Cancer cure is synonymous with his group name. The story that made more rounds now is, he choosing to miss the lifetime achievement award abroad, as he was tending to the sick or unwell pet dog at home in Mumbai. Another story is of a (stray?) dog trailing him in a new place he visited. It got adopted and brought to Mumbai and became his companion for next decade plus years. Another story is, his refusal to grease the palms with a few crores of rupees to obtain a favourable decision. His sticking to a value-based decision and not getting deviated under any duress or pressure is highlighted by a senior brand executive who worked with him. Another recent news was significant funding that was discontinued or ‘not released’ to a family titled or named prestigious institute in Mumbai where several contractual jobs got affected adversely. Many of these were Professors! They were asked ‘not to come’. Reportedly, he learnt about it and got the trust funds released. This helped reinstating of all those who were dropped. He reportedly mentored many outsiders during his later years. I am sure, he must have done insider mentoring during his active professional days too. Contrasting is inaccessibility of many ‘top’ corporate leaders even for their own repartees or the ‘special language’ their review meetings witness.

Acquisitions, IPO, rightsizing attempts, poor base salaries of junior level positions in group companies, the car making attempts, all these have their own plus and other sides. The credo that ‘Good thoughts, good words, good actions’ is worth emulating. During his times, the family title named group demonstrated that they are open to admit outsiders, non-community persons to the high and highest offices. When I started my career outside that group, the top leadership of all important companies of the group were from that community. May be the comfort they derived in terms of having common roots, derived value system from their own ancient wisdom, close knitted mentoring system they had for their community youngsters were the reasons. They worked that way, and it worked well for them till then. When the world was opening up, the group too opened up under his leadership.? He was the positive catalyst and facilitator. The chairman of the group now comes from outside their community, and for the first time.

Best homage is in the form of implementing the path they laid and travelled on. Own it up, finetune it to the times that might have changed, but retain the spirit. Travel on it, even if it is ‘The road less travelled’. As Prof. Randy Pausch said in his ‘Last lecture’, when we do right things, the karma shall take care of. Let community be before the commercials, cooperation before the competition, and collective before the crass selfish motives. With this the world shall become a better place. He inspired and shall keep inspiring many is one certainty. Such do not need Brand Management; Brand gets into place automatically. For now, and for times to come.