Sunday, February 21, 2010

A TAJ COROMANDAL SCENE !

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Prof. Ishwar Dayal had agreed to be interviewed. He had conveyed his permission in a letter to me.  He had asked me to contact Zonal Office at Chennai for necessary arrangements for the same as he was coming on an official visit to Chennai.

 

Prof. Dayal is the architect of modern version of LIC.  He shaped LIC to its present form. 

 

I received necessary invitation from Chennai office.  They had reserved a room for my use in their VIP Guest House.  I stayed there for about a week's time.  The occasion provided me with an opportunity to meet several dignitaries who stayed there.  Prominent among them was the Director General of A.I.R. who was on a private visit to Chennai.

 

Prior to interview, Regional Manager had called me to his office.  He explained the necessary formalities I should comply with to meet Prof. Dayal. 

 

Prof. Dayal was staying in a VIP suite at Taj Coromandal. I was given the date and time for interview.  But the Regional Manager asked me not to go to his suite direct.  I should make a telephonic call from the reception and seek his appointment after reaching Taj. Though I have met Chairman of LIC after taking permission from his private secretary, this time I felt that I was meeting more formalities to meet the advisor to LIC.

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On the day given to me for interview, I reached Taj Coromandal Hotel around 5 pm.  I also made a call to Prof. Dayal.  I could talk to him.  In a gentle voice, he said he had just returned from the office.  I was asked to wait for five to ten minutes.

 

I waited.  I was not sure when I will receive the call to meet him. 

 

It was my first meeting with Prof. Dayal.  I had seen his pictures in office magazines.  Beyond that I had no idea about him. 

 

Soon I saw a tall, rather stout man approaching me.  As he reached me, he asked:"you are Mr….. isn't it?"  I said, yes.

 

"Come along.  I am Ishwar Dayal."  Then he escorted me to his suite on the fifth floor of Taj for the interview.

 

That was a memorable interview.  It was prominently published in 'Yogakshema'.  It was also published in 'Initiative',a magazine I edited. 

 

After about 20 years, the same interview was also reproduced in the Special Issue of 'Yogakshema' brought out in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Life Insurance Corporation of India.

 

That he came down to the ground floor from his fifth floor suite and the fact that he meted out a warm and affectionate treatment to me lingered long in my mind for many years. Even now it provides me with happy memories.

  

 

 


 





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