What do you say about a man who could speak with equal ease on Jethro Tull, Rim Weighting, Khow Swey, PeopleMeter Technology, Chingdi Malai curry or the historical background to the crisis in Ireland?
That he was a man who knew his stuff!

What do you say about a man whose shopping list included Canadian smoked ham, balsamic and cider vinegar, Emmenthal cheese and two sets of 3-pack blue shirts, and could give a discourse on the therapeutic properties of green chillies?
That he was a man with great taste!

What do you say about a man who could sweet-talk suppliers into giving incredible deals on computers, laptops, office space and catering, but would open the “fund-gates” if one of his employees was ever in need?
That this was a man who gave his all to his company and his people!

What do you say about a man who moved his relatives from his house to accommodate an office which needed space in an emergency?
That for him the organisation was as much a part of his family!

What do you say about a man who got his GM’s spanking new Esteems, but used a 7-year old Contessa himself?
That here was a man who believed in giving!

What do you say about a mechanical engineer with a soft corner for “micro-engineering” in his organisation (encouraging one IMRB employee to marry another)?
That this was one engineer who understood the fine side of human behaviour!

What do you say about a man who would give his personal international credit card number to his people so that they could book hotel rooms in Austria?
That he was a man who trusted his employees!

What can you say about a man who is snatched away from his family and from us, in his prime, without any notice? Who has given us so much, but has left us yearning for more?
Only that he was RAMESH THADANI!!

Farewell Sir, you will always be in our hearts – and we will always remember you and be guided by your principles.

Nikhil Rawal
IMRB – Mumbai

Ramesh Thadani – A Lifeline

In the month of July, when the family was watching Kaun Banega Crorepati, my daughter suddenly turned around and asked me: “Appa, if you were to go for this show, I know whom you will phone for ‘phone a friend’!” Before I could answer, my son joined her and in chorus they said “Ramesh Thadani!”

I tried telling them it would be more like ‘phone a boss’ – to which they said it was OK, it was allowed. Frankly, I could not deny that I would indeed reach for Ramesh if I got stuck with a question.

‘Phone a friend’ or ‘phone a boss’ – one thing undeniably Ramesh was – he was a LIFELINE!

The one thing I wish I could have emphasized more to Ramesh is that if silence is golden, then speech is platinum – whenever Ramesh spoke, we could listen and gain manifold. On balance, he believed in silence more than speak-ing. And now, we have to contend with a ‘golden’ period when we could have done with a little bit of ‘platinum’.

The one thing I must share with all of you is his amazing ability to sift through pages and pages of detail and come up with just two or three key points – and this out of nearly a hundred pages! Whether it was legal documents or agreements to be executed, he would glance at all the pages I had prepared and readied for his approval – and merely seek a couple of clarifications: imagine my disappointment! (I used to wonder whether he had noticed the effort that had gone into the preparation) – now I look back in admiration at that ability – to seek those ‘couple of clarifications’ and satisfy himself as to the completeness of the document.

V. Hariharan
IMRB – Corporate