Narasimhan

V K Narasimhan: He is old but still retains the zest of a 20 year old. There is nothing subtle about him for he is the loudest in a group; his laughter the loudest and his jokes the earthiest. His 65+ years notwithstanding, he is the fittest too.

VKN towers over 6 ft; a balding plate that only leaves grey sideburns, an eagle like nose in length though it does not end in a peak, a long face, fair complexion, and the mouth curled in perpetual smile. He is a throaty character and his guffaws fill the entire room. He is a master salesman, long spiel with this ready rapport, all a “salesman” affliction. He stills cracks those teenagers’  kadi jokes and his punch lines still dramatic.

I first met in at the office; he was the GM then and I was the latest recruit. I was waiting in the reception when his booming voice wafted to where I was sitting after traveling quite a distance. He stuck me as one of those enthusiastic men ever willing to please; please the CEO and please the boss. He would bring in those orders with a stiff deadline; he would conspire with the factory in this smoothest note and ask them to work double shifts. There was something “theatrical” and “showmanship” about him. It looked as if he was playing to a hidden camera in his mind!

Next time, I had a longer view of VKN at a Mumbai conference. He is the livewire of the team and the first to adorn the office T-shirt or the first to sample the chocolates kept at the counter. Age had given him like statesman like gravity. He had worked for Cavinkare before and that had taken him to most parts of Far East Asia. VKN may not be elegant or correct in his form or even the knowledge of the product but he knows how to connect with customers and people around.  A quality for someone shy and reserved like me to be awestruck.    

We were put in a hotel in Chembur for Pop Asia, 2005. I still recollect VKN taking his morning walks just adjacent to our hotel at a nearby park with his monkey cap and a small handheld radio belting out old Hindi songs. VKN would be the harbinger of noise; either his motor mouth or the annoying radio.  

He was a devoted family man; cared his wife and was heartbroken when she died a couple of years later. His children had excellent education and worked in reputed MNCs in far corners of the globe. That gave him a lot of satisfaction and pride; besides an opportunity to talk about their feats to those around.  

The last time I saw him was at the office; he genuinely enquired about my welfare. He strongly felt that I was too independent by nature for a 9 to 5 office slavery and too lousy for a marketing profile. He opined that I would do much better in a writing capacity. “Sathya, the problem with you is there are too many films running simultaneously in your mind”. I can’t summon such perspicuity for myself!

He had just broken his bone in the shin and was recuperating in Kerala on Ayurvedic potions and massages. I walked him down the staircase more in honour of a man; he really had no malice for others and a well-wisher in his own garrulous ways. It did sadden me to see him hobbling around.

VKN made the worst possible first impression but then he was quite a man. My heart only feels good wishes for the man.  

Verdict: Rajas

Lesson to be learned: Learn to observe beyond the obvious and you just might see some character.