My real life heros.
In my life, some people have clearly stood out. They stand out for what they have taught me; while teaching, supervising, being peers, or reporting into me or standing outside the office. Most of these people I failed to thank, when I knew them. So thank you people (list below) for contributing to a life (sometimes without knowing):
• Mr. Tantra , Master of Chemistry at St. Joseph’s Academy , DehraDun , circa 1988-89. Mr. Tantra could make a boy shiver, without even raising his voice. His eyes had it. I shivered every time he looked at me and he looked at me a lot. He made sure that everything that a ‘gentleman’ does; is taken responsibility for by the same animal… fixed, appreciated, thrashed, loved, stared at, hugged, taken to a side, applauded publicly…the animals in our small class knew Mr. Tantra to be capable of everything and more. Most remembered by boys who would never loosen their tie at 47 degrees Celsius.
• Manoj Kumar, Master of Food Production at IHM Pusa , around 1992. Manoj Kumar must have had a surname that he never shared with people, lest he gets associated with a certain state in India. Well, everybody knew. He came from Bihar and everything about him was from there. The way he would smoke his ‘navy cut’, the pride in Hindi and the pronunciation of words we didn’t even know existed. Manoj knew each young man in college (especially in the hostel) as an individual. He knew what each of us went through, what new heart breaks needed to be consoled, where to not go during his rounds, and when to offer some of us a cigarette from his packet. Most remembered for his ability to connect with 87 or more different people and making each one feel at home.
• Vivek Agarwal, AVP, GE Appliances Customer Service, 2000-01. There can’t be a more down to earth guy than Vivek. Small in built with very little to call muscle, but sharp as a knife. Not the man to stand in front of 130 people and motivate them ,but constantly with people one on one , with his cabin always open to any ‘walk-in’. I really never figured out where this little man got his energy from, or his patience…but any other man in a situation like ours (never meeting our targets) would have passed on a lot more heat to ‘mere mortals’ like us, many steps below in the hierarchy. Laughed like a lion with a voice one can’t forget, and care one wants more bosses to have. Remembered for being a great boss, leader and human.
• Prakash Toppo, VP , HR, Global Vantedge 2002-2008. Prakash would rarely talk louder than 43.5 decibels (I mean he is soft). He really never needed to be loud. People loved him and he knew that. Much adored for being the ‘wise’ amongst an absolutely immature set and sharp enough to understand the business better than some so called ‘business /line guys’. Prakash has a larger fan following than a lot of screen superstars (makes you envious , doesn’t it)… for playing no character other than his own. Remembered for being the only guy who could think straight when the world was going crazy (say 7 times a week).
So, thanks guys , wherever you are…
• Mr. Tantra , Master of Chemistry at St. Joseph’s Academy , DehraDun , circa 1988-89. Mr. Tantra could make a boy shiver, without even raising his voice. His eyes had it. I shivered every time he looked at me and he looked at me a lot. He made sure that everything that a ‘gentleman’ does; is taken responsibility for by the same animal… fixed, appreciated, thrashed, loved, stared at, hugged, taken to a side, applauded publicly…the animals in our small class knew Mr. Tantra to be capable of everything and more. Most remembered by boys who would never loosen their tie at 47 degrees Celsius.
• Manoj Kumar, Master of Food Production at IHM Pusa , around 1992. Manoj Kumar must have had a surname that he never shared with people, lest he gets associated with a certain state in India. Well, everybody knew. He came from Bihar and everything about him was from there. The way he would smoke his ‘navy cut’, the pride in Hindi and the pronunciation of words we didn’t even know existed. Manoj knew each young man in college (especially in the hostel) as an individual. He knew what each of us went through, what new heart breaks needed to be consoled, where to not go during his rounds, and when to offer some of us a cigarette from his packet. Most remembered for his ability to connect with 87 or more different people and making each one feel at home.
• Vivek Agarwal, AVP, GE Appliances Customer Service, 2000-01. There can’t be a more down to earth guy than Vivek. Small in built with very little to call muscle, but sharp as a knife. Not the man to stand in front of 130 people and motivate them ,but constantly with people one on one , with his cabin always open to any ‘walk-in’. I really never figured out where this little man got his energy from, or his patience…but any other man in a situation like ours (never meeting our targets) would have passed on a lot more heat to ‘mere mortals’ like us, many steps below in the hierarchy. Laughed like a lion with a voice one can’t forget, and care one wants more bosses to have. Remembered for being a great boss, leader and human.
• Prakash Toppo, VP , HR, Global Vantedge 2002-2008. Prakash would rarely talk louder than 43.5 decibels (I mean he is soft). He really never needed to be loud. People loved him and he knew that. Much adored for being the ‘wise’ amongst an absolutely immature set and sharp enough to understand the business better than some so called ‘business /line guys’. Prakash has a larger fan following than a lot of screen superstars (makes you envious , doesn’t it)… for playing no character other than his own. Remembered for being the only guy who could think straight when the world was going crazy (say 7 times a week).
So, thanks guys , wherever you are…
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