Even though my face time with MD Pai was just for couple of hours ( a 30 min scheduled meeting which lasted some 135 minutes!!) or for a small duration some 6 years back ( I did meet him for a few minutes during a book publishing 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 ) a meeting invite from the reigning (now dethroned!) Tsar.
In spite of many colorful and captivating legendary stories about his deeds and notorious temper, I did not have much of trepidation (maybe due to the Communist chromosome in my DNA), as I walked to meet him and his team thru the squeaky clean floors and corridors. (Btw it is 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 what I expected, he came out as someone who is absolutley honest, 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 is not that easy to verbally spar with someone with razor sharp intelligence and clear articulation. Even though there was an amount of ruthlessness like Gary Kasparov ( especially when playing mind games against some one as gentle as Viswanathan Anand), in a sense he did have a compassionate and fair side, especially when he shared his own career experience in his previous organization and how it had shaped his own career.
Many Infoscions, did share with me that he was quite instrumental along with Phaneesh Murthy in the success of that iconic organization, and he was always looked as a Future CEO of Infosys. Especially his own success stories on the business side of having led Infosys BPO, financial wizardry (hails from South Canara) as CFO and the director with widest span of responsibility) added to that myth. So it was a bit tragic that when he was perceived to have lost out to someone who had left the org to work for another MNC for quite a long time , when the goings was not that great. Then such is the nature of life, George Best, probably the best footballer ever lived, never ever could get a chance to play in FIFA cup leave alone win it, when someone like Maseratti could touch and hoist the coveted trophy.
But what really stuck to my heart was his own uttering in those endless interviews he gave to those teeming journalists after his 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 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.
Did not Gandhi take time out to listen to a M. S. Subbalakshmi keerthan, even when he was racing against time to get India independence? How many know that Einstien was a gifted violinist and Richard Feynman learned to paint and play drums? Ratan Tata enjoys flying planes and sketching? And a Jack Welch truly worried about his Golf scores and diligently worked on it? Did they have a lesser productivity 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.”
As we ourselves start behaving like machines losing the humaneness (while the world spends billions of dollars o make machines behave like men) , it is very important to know /search the meaning of one’s life early in life than very late.
Probably that is what drives those who are truly successful and last that way for a very long time.
The country’s longest serving lawyer, 100-year-old YG Krishna Murthy, who has been in action in different courts for 75 years said to The Hindu a few months back. “I am still appearing in three to four cases. But I want to stop this summer”. He turned 100 on January 2 and argued a case in the Andhra Pradesh high court on January 25. The centenarian, however, will keep in touch with legal developments. “I will keep going to the high court to meet friends,” he said.
Murthy unflagging spirit evokes awe in his fraternity. Murthy has no health problems, ‘barring a little blurring of vision’. The vegetarian walks two miles a day and spends time reading. Till recently he cycled to work, but stopped on doctor’s advice.
In my own humble view, “Life is not what happens tomorrow” as Mr. Pai believes. Life is what happens to you here and now, because tomorrow never comes. And Chances are better, for the wheel of life to roll without much hindrance , when all spokes are taken care of.
End note: The non-aspiring Taoist non-writer earns his living working for IT industry. “The Way I See that” is absolutely his personal perception (or lack of IT) and relatively nothing official about IT.