Remembering Alok Shivpuri

THE RECENT passing of Alok Shivpuri from swine flu was a shock to everyone who knew him, both personally as well as professionally. Shivpuri, who was the Principal of the Institute of Hotel Management, (IHM) Pusa, New Delhi, was himself a graduate of the institute who became the youngest Principal of a hotel school when, at the age of 35, he headed the Food Craft Institute in Chandigarh. Shivpuri was widely liked and known in the hotel industry with more than 30 years of experience in managing academics, administration, finance, operations and personnel at the institute and hotel.

K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor, said they were both alumni of IHM Pusa, whose Alumni Association, Kachru also heads. “I have seen him as a student and as the Principal of this great institution,” he said.

“I remember a case when a student could not afford his semester fee and Shivpuri approached the alumni association to pay for the fees, in order to ensure that the student didn’t have to discontinue his studies. Shivpuri used to pay personal attention to such sensitive issues and had also established a financial support system for needy student at IHM, Pusa,” Kachru reminisced.

Expressing his deepest condolence, Saeed Shervani, Managing Director at Shervani Hospitalities Ltd. and another batchmate from IHM, Pusa said “For us who are alumni of the IHM Pusa, he was the bridge between the alumni and the college. He was passionate about teaching and making the college the best not only in India but in the world. Alok’s contribution in the field of hotel management education in India cannot be forgotten.”

Mandeep Lamba, Managing Director at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group India and batch mate of Alok Shivpuri at IHM, Pusa, remembers him as an educator who made a difference, “Alok's passion lay in the work that he did for IHM, Pusa and its students. His 13 years as Principal really established the Institute as the undisputed leader and his work made the college be rated No.1 in various ranking lists.”

On asking how the institute and hotel industry is going to be affected by his death, Lamba said, “Alok’s untimely demise is a huge loss to IHM Pusa and the hospitality industry. It's a cruel twist of fate that took him away while he was doing stellar work for IHM Pusa which will truly feel orphaned without him.”

“Hotel life is full of incidents but as a Hotel Manager he (Shivpuri) was one of the most sincere, disciplined, calm, exacting persons I have worked with, a diehard perfectionist and 100 percent reliable. I could be sure that any task given to him would be surely completed.” said Rakesh Mathur, Director and Principal Advisor, New India Hospitality Specialty Restaurants Ltd. And Founder & Honourary Secretary, Ecotourism Society of India.

Remembering Shivpuri as a ‘warm and humble human being’ Vijay Wanchoo, Senior Executive Vice President & General Manager, The Imperial New Delhi, said “I always found Alok to be very warm and humble. He was a fine human being and always very helpful to people at all levels.”

 “Alok will always be remembered as being benevolent, kind, sincere, honest, and dedicated and an innovator. His contribution to the IHM, Pusa has been unparalleled. He is an innovator and initiator of various novel activities at the college. The amount Alok has done for the industry cannot be easily equaled.” Wanchoo added.

Sanjay Raina, Founder and Masterchef at Mealability said, “Alok raised the bar of hospitality academicians to a level which is very difficult to match. The industry will remember him as the person who transformed hospitality schools. All credit for IHM, Pusa being rated as No.1 across the country, goes to him. For us, he being in IHM was like us being back in college again. That strong and likeable was his personality.”