Great leaders like Mr Ratan Tata are rare

The House of Tatas and Taj Hotels have always been a source of inspiration for me, thanks to their remarkable vision, leadership style, humility, and genuine care for people and the nation. I feel fortunate to have personally interacted with JRD in the 1970s and 80s, as well as with Mr Ratan Tata (RNT) later on. I vividly recall meeting RNT when he frequented the Sea Lounge and Shamiana at The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai as a young man in his late 30s.

In 1982, when I was the opening manager for Isfahan, the 24-hour eatery at Taj Palace, I spotted RNT seated with five IBM executives in deep conversation. The moment he noticed me, he waved. I found myself torn between whether to wave back or take a different approach. Ultimately, I hurried over to his table, and in his characteristic nonchalance, he stood up to greet me. It deeply moved me to see such a distinguished leader extend that gesture, reinforcing my commitment to remain with this incredible company for life, which I ultimately did.

I remember an instance when a young receptionist at Taj Palace assigned RNT a regular room instead of a suite. Without making a fuss, he checked in as usual. Later, when the GM realised the mistake and offered to move him, he graciously declined, saying he was quite comfortable. During that same visit, I saw him entering the lift, and I quickly rushed to show him our new Chinese restaurant, the Tea House of the August Moon. He noticed me, stepped out of the lift, explored the restaurant in detail, and wished me the best for its success.

I was fortunate to closely interact with him during the launches of Taj Krishna, Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef in the Maldives, Vivanta by Taj Srinagar and Vivanta by Taj Whitefield in Bengaluru. His words of encouragement and infectious modesty taught us so much. He personally attended all the Taj Long Service Awards as our Chairman, taking the time to speak with each awardee individually. I was lucky to receive my 35-year Long Service Award from him.

When he became Chairman in 1996, he initiated Senior Leadership Meets, which were truly inspiring. He clearly communicated the Tata vision and direction, encouraging open questions from all of us. I also had the pleasure of meeting him in a friendly setting with his good friend, Mr B Ramakrishna, a Tata Motors dealer from Andhra Pradesh. It was during this meeting that I got to witness his wonderful sense of humour.

I feel grateful that I could receive his blessings on my last day with Taj in 2015. As usual, he stood up, shook my hand and wished me all the best. Great leaders like Mr Ratan Tata are rare, and he will surely be missed by the world — and by me, without a doubt.