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 Sixty
glorious years! 2nd October, 2005 is another landmark
year for our company. Mahindra & Mahindra will complete
sixty years as one of India's largest corporations.
Sixty growth years in which the company accelerated
from a nuts and bolts vehicle assembler to a large conglomerate.
Being associated with the company for more than half
of those years (I complete 32 years of service to the
company this year) I have only one realisation - that
it's more than the time I have spent with my family.
People have often asked me why
I never looked for other opportunities, specially the
younger generation of restless professionals. I was
very clear what I wanted from my working life. To be
respected as an individual and to take home a safe and
clean conscience. Today, after 32 years in the company,
I can boast to anyone willing to listen that I have
never been asked to, or never had to do anything that
would compromise these two values I consider sacrosanct.
And I know today that this applies not only to me but
to each and every one of my colleagues. This is the
kind of respect and professionalism that makes you heave
your chest and say, "I work for Mahindra &
Mahindra."
Another aspect of this company
culture is the fact that although I come from a Finance
and Accounting background, I was given ample opportunity
to be an entrepreneur. How many companies give you that
kind of performance independence? To be an entrepreneur
is an adrenalin-charged challenge but start-ups are
riddled with risks and problems - much more than running
businesses. For example, Mahindra World City had a very
long gestation period. There was a lot of pressure and
advice on what to do with the project, but both the
Group Chairman and Vice Chairman believed in my vision,
supported me and gave me a free hand.
Today Mahindra World City is
being recognised the world over as the most appropriate
and successful model for an integrated city. The same
can be said of Mahindra Holidays. I don't know of many
managements who would support professionals to such
an extent.
A small incident, years ago,
not only changed the course of my life but also demonstrated
to me the company's attitude and values. I was two years
old in the company, a green-behind-the-ears Chartered
Accountant, and the budget was to be presented to Mr.
I. Chatterji who was then the Chairman of MMC (a Mahindra
group company in Calcutta) and the Executive Director
of Mahindra & Mahindra.
The CFO suddenly took ill and
although I was the youngest in the team, I was given
the opportunity to make the presentation to Mr. Chatterji.
Within two months I got my marching orders - as CFO
of Mahindra Sintered Products Ltd., Pune, one of our
most profitable subsidiaries. Age was no bar. At 26,
I was promoted based on my abilities.
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| Congratulations
from Chairman Keshub Mahindra on 25 years of service. |
The opportunities and growth
continued. I have had a very satisfying career with
the company. I joined as a young accountant at Calcutta
in 1973 and the thought of becoming a Director of the
parent company in less than 20 years had not even remotely
crossed my mind. Both Bharat and I, at 43 years of age,
were on the board of the parent company, a much coveted
position for that age group. I am sure that both of
us had, in our own ways, contributed to the company
but what is important is the fact that the company recognised
talent and rewarded it purely on merit. I can assure
you that I had no godfathers to whom my promotions can
be credited. What
I'm trying to emphasise to my
younger colleagues is the fact that M&M is one company
where hard work, talent, and enterprise does not go
unnoticed. If you work with sincerity and contribute
to the growth of the company, you will be commended
and rewarded.
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| Dr.
J. Jayalalithaa, CM, Tamil Nadu, was present to
lay the foundation stone of the Infosys campus at
Mahindra World City. |
The
past thirty-two years are filled with memorable moments
- the highs and lows, the landmarks and the celebrations.
And a lot of learning! There is one message in particular
which has stayed with me always. It was the first time
I met the Group Chairman, Mr.
Keshub Mahindra, before my promotion to the Senior Management
level. He gave me just one piece of advice. He said,
"Arun, in life always be fair and more importantly
be perceived to be fair." This has been my guiding
principle in my entire working life.
I would like to take this opportunity
to thank all my colleagues for their support and wish
them and their families all the very best. I hope all
of you enjoy working with the Mahindra Group as much
as I have.
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