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One evening when I was 16, my father sat with me for a post-dinner
conversation. He said that according to Indian tradition, when a son
turns 16, the father should start treating him as a friend. And so, he
was speaking to me both as father and as friend. He made it very clear
that though I was born in a business family, there was no compulsion
for me to take on the reins later. I was free to pursue whatever career
my heart desired. I specifically remember him telling me that it was
absolutely fine if I wanted to be a tennis player or a mountaineer.
But, he added, I must always aim at being the best. There should be no
compromise on this. If I chose tennis, I should aim at winning at
Wimbledon, or if I climbed mountains, I should aim to climb Mount
Everest. Even if I wanted to be a cook, he said, there was no harm in
it as long as I aimed to become a top chef. It was my choice to stay
with the family business. But his emphasis on excellence has always
inspired me to push boundaries.
- As told to SHANKKAR AIYAR |
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