Page 9 - sands of time

VOL. XVI, ISSUE 3, 2020 SANDS OF TIME 9

REMINIsCENCEs Of NANI PAlkhIvAlA
BY T.R. DOONGAJI, hONORARY ADvIsOR, TATA CENTRAl ARChIvEs

In the mid seventies, as a member of J.R.D.’s office, I humility and fairness
occupied a small place in the haloed fourth floor of We in the late eighties had barely turned around
Bombay House, the Head Quarters of the Tata Group.
Apart from J.R.D., the other luminaries who had their the operations at Navsari. One day, prompted by
offices on this floor were Nani Palkhivala, J.J. Bhabha, her driver, Palkhivala’s wife, Nargesh phoned and
Ratan Tata and S.A. Sabavala. I had the honour of requested me to employ their driver’s brother who
interacting with these great personalities, in varying was looking for a job and lived in a village close
degrees, from time to time. to Navsari. I requested her to send me the resume
of the person which promptly arrived the following
My work did not require me to interact with day. Other than his name and address, the resume
FROM THE
Mr. Palkhivala very often and, for most of the time, received had no more details. Such a person had
I was just his silent admirer. A couple of incidents, no place in Navsari, not to mention we needed no
nevertheless, helped me to get a glimpse of him as additional hands in the first place. So, I just let it be.
a person and the experience taught me lessons in A month or so later, pestered by her driver, Nargesh
empathy and humility which remain
deeply etched in my memory. phoned to inquire what I had done
about employing her driver’s brother.
I made some excuse to tide over the
Empathy COLLECTION
I was sitting in his office discussing question hoping she would not raise
some matter. It was around 4 in the it again. Over the next few months,
afternoon when the Directors and, this would happen repeatedly. She
occasionally, lesser mortals like me, would phone and I would make some
were served the Taj Tea Tray covered excuse or the other until, annoyed by
mat and embellished with a glittering OF THE
my reluctance, she asked her husband
with a freshly starched white cotton
to speak with me. Caught unawares,
silver kettle, jug of milk and pot of I got a call from Palkhivala and the
sugar and, most delightfully, two conversation can be best narrated in
pastries from the Taj. In the course of the way it happened: “Doongaji, this
our meeting Mr. Palkhivala ordered is Nani. My wife, Nargesh, had sent
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
three trays which promptly arrived. I The Empathic and Humane Nani. you the papers of our driver’s brother
waited for a while and overcome by who is looking for employment in
curiosity I enquired if he was expecting some other your Navsari plant. What have you done about
person to join our deliberations. As he was only it?” Finding myself in a dilemma I was yet able to
sipping tea and scrupulously avoiding the pastries, muster enough courage to say: “Sir, your wish is my
I had no option but to follow suit in spite of the command. But if you ask me do I need this man, my
ballooning saliva I had to contend with. Palkhivala answer is ‘no’ and when six months later people at
then shared with me the daily practice he followed your level will ask me why do I have ten percent
at tea time. He said: “You know Doongaji, every day
I order two of these fancy trays even if it’s just me in extra to standard force, everyone will conveniently
the room. Today, I requested for three trays, one being forget such appointees are the reason for the extra
for you. I just have my cup of tea and leave the pastries numbers. Please tell me what would you have me
untouched in the trays. Our office boys then pick up do?” Palkhivala’s replied: “Oh! Forget we had this
the pastries, pack them in their lunch boxes and carry conversation. Forget Nargesh. Forget the driver.
them home to their little children. How else do you Just do what is good and right for your company.”
think can such families partake of these delicious but Anyone else would have felt his ego rubbed the
prohibitively expensive goodies from the La Patisserie wrong way. Humility and fairness came naturally
of the Taj?”…..Greatness is made of such stuff! to Mr. NAP!!

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