Page 20 - Sands of Time Special Issue on Tata Motors Diamond Jubilee

20 VOL. XVII, ISSUE 2, 2020

do. Perhaps Mr. Palkhivala and I traffic island with the signboard
will both go and meet someone in - Sumant Moolgaokar Chowk.
the government”. These two great Mr. Moolgaokar lived a few yards
men - so unlike each other, shared away from here. I am reminded of
a great bond. At the time of the him every time I pass by. I need
incident I mention they were both no reminder of him. But perhaps
Vice Chairmen of TISCO. They met in this world where the small are
‘the right person’. My assistant was remembered and the great are often
released a few days later on giving forgotten, some child being dropped
an undertaking that he would not by his father in the prestigious infant
engage in ‘anti-national activities’. school close by may ask him “who
was Mr. Sumant Moolgaokar dad?”.
After I left TISCO I did not maintain And the father may reply, “Oh let
contact with him. My energies were me think. Yes, if I recall he was the
spent in simultaneously trying to w the plaque of the Sumant Moolgaokar man who built TELCO, a well-known
build up my legal practice and writing Chowk on B.g. Kher Marg, Mumbai. company that we now call Tata
my books on law. I was also on the Motors. He lived close by”. Others
Board of several companies including I would always associate TELCO with wishing to learn about him may turn
Citibank, and all this took up my him, whether he was its Chairman to the several avenues available
time. However, I kept track of the or not. His reply was equally warm, today - chief among them Google.
developments in Bombay House. especially coming from a reticent And their search may lead them
person like him. He said something to visit the monuments dedicated
I wrote to Mr. Moolgaokar when I to the effect “the beautiful words in to his technological genius - the
heard that he was stepping down as which you have chosen to express TELCO factories in Jamshedpur and
Chairman of TELCO. Knowing his love yourself have touched me deeply”. My Poona. Those who knew him - old -
for that company I could understand greatest regret today is that I cannot timers of TELCO and others like me,
FROM THE
the emotional turmoil he must have find this letter which I thought I had will reminisce about his wonderful
been experiencing at that point in preserved very carefully. qualities of head and heart whenever
time. A fond father parting with his the occasion arises, or write about
only child! In my letter I tried to In one of the few still beautiful areas him as I do today.
of Bombay Hanging Gardens - where
express the great respect and regard COLLECTION
I had always felt for him. I said that I am fortunate to live, is a small And so, the Legend will live on.
OF THE

TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES

w Sumant Moolgaokar was an avid photographer.

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