Even though my face time with MD Pai was just for an hour or so some 6 years back ( I did meet him for a few seconds during a function @ IIMB much later), he is one of those who left an indelible mark in my psyche and life. Don’t get me wrong. I am not one of those star gazing , name dropping type who was looking for 5 minute of fame under the Sun. Also many who had worked/Still work in that organization would vouch for the fact that one of the mails that they least look forward to is ( “is” till June 2011 J ) a meeting invite from the reigning (now
dethroned!) Tsar.
one company which ensures the success of a Reckit Benkiser or P & G in India. A naïve visitor may even wonder, whether they have OCD like Lady Macbeth!).
His physical presence is quite intmidating, even with that half- friendly smile. Almost built like a wrestler, his unkempt beard, scars around his eyes and baritone voice adds to the effect.
Contrary to expectations , he gave the impression of an absolutley honest and straight talking human being. One who preaches very little, but does practice what he preaches. (Unlike many
others who remain perfect paper idealists.). I did feel that the chosen/entrusted mandate of “Taking care of his organization” did take precedence over his own world views and values. And it was not that easy to verbally spar with someone with that kind of razor sharp intelligence and crystal clear articulation. Even though there was an amount of ruthlessness like Gary Kasparov ( especially when playing mindgames against some one as gentle as Viswanathan Anand), in a sense he did show signs of an compassionate and fair side, especially when he shared his own career experience in his previous organization and how it had shaped his own career.
wizardry (hails from South Canara) as CFO and the director with widest span of responsibility) added to that myth. So it was bit surprising for many to learn about Pai’s resignation.
But what really stuck to my heart was his own statements in those endless interviews he gave to those teeming journalists after the announcement. He said and I quote “I feel liberated”, “I feel free” and “Life is all about tomorrow. You know I am a Bangalore guy, but I have not had lunch at a restaurant in the city in the past 17 years. I want to spend a lot of time with my wife, kids and friends. I want to catch up on my reading. My wife has bought me a houseful of books. Also, I want to
destress and tame my temper.”
It left one wondering whether he was truly enjoying his stint. Or whether it was just an
adrenalin pumping and teeth gritting kind of forced motivation born out of ambition to prove a point. It also raises an important question, even conceding the point that earning a living, contributing to the society and organization, leaving a legacy etc are worthy pursuits, does it have to be @ the cost of everything else.
Does life have to be single spoked wheel? Is it a wrong notion in our circles that Life has to be single dimensional.
lesser contribution to the society and their chosen fields compared to others?
It would be interesting to read a story about one of the successful Generals Indian Army ever had, “So innovative was his operational planning and so meticulous its execution that Lt-Gen J.S. Aurora did not forsake his daily round of golf even once during the 12-day battle to “liberate” East Pakistan, which emerged as Bangladesh in 1971. As India’s Eastern Army commander tasked with evicting the tyrannical Pakistani military from East Pakistan, the Sikh soldier even played a relaxed 18-hole round inside his Fort William headquarters at Calcutta, before leaving for Dacca to accept the surrender of Lt-Gen A.A.K. Niazi and 93,000 soldiers.”
These are all pointes to the fact, there are many good examples of great souls who did excel in their chosen field, without depriving themselves the good moments life offered them moment
to moment. One common denominator in all of them is a multi dimensional approah to life. A single minded focus on any goal, even if the goal is enligtenment, being a Prime Minister or even a CEO, oblivious to other finer aspects of this wonderful life, may not necessarily be a better choice. Considering a finished painting as a metaphor for one’s life, if one stops insisting on being the sole creator of the painting and let life paint a few brushstrokes, then we may have a master piece. That happens only when one accepts the Truth that Life is what happens to you
here and now. “Life is not necessarily what happens tomorrow” as he seems to believe.
Because tomorrow never comes.
End note: The non-aspiring Taoist non-writer earns his living working for IT industry.
about IT. J
kokoroZendo 
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