TANDEM GOPALAKRISHNAN, the CHETTAN.
End of March 1993. The situation become very tensed in Corp. office - i.e. Charutha. There could be some sanctions or black-listing or similar action from the financial institutions unless we pay back the overdrawn Over draft!!!!.
Paul sir and other heavy-heads called Russia (Dr. Raji Menon was still settled at Moscow), but no positive response. The back-yard rumour is, Dr. told the local management to solve it by themselves.
The day we expected to be the D-Day, we entered Charutha with crossed fingers, but the mood inside was upbeat. It seems some magic happened overnight. M/s. Videocon had transfered enough cash to make us running. And the magician behind this was Mr. N.Gopalakrishnan, adoringly called Chettan by all of us, and commonly known as Tandem Gopalakrishnan.
End of March 1993. The situation become very tensed in Corp. office - i.e. Charutha. There could be some sanctions or black-listing or similar action from the financial institutions unless we pay back the overdrawn Over draft!!!!.
Paul sir and other heavy-heads called Russia (Dr. Raji Menon was still settled at Moscow), but no positive response. The back-yard rumour is, Dr. told the local management to solve it by themselves.
The day we expected to be the D-Day, we entered Charutha with crossed fingers, but the mood inside was upbeat. It seems some magic happened overnight. M/s. Videocon had transfered enough cash to make us running. And the magician behind this was Mr. N.Gopalakrishnan, adoringly called Chettan by all of us, and commonly known as Tandem Gopalakrishnan.
Jaya,
ReplyDeleteKudos to your terrific memory! Thanks for the history lessons. Keep it going, please.Some how mine ( i mean memory) is all fucked up with heavy booze:) But let me just try to connect some dots here.
My first official out of the city company travel around that period was to Thrissur. My mission was to go see Shobhana Parameshwaran nair. (That must had been one of those initiative handled by the Ernakulam office as per raji Menon's instruction, I suppose?) He will then, tell you what to do next.
I went, of course. Met with Mr. Nair (late?). He said, let go and meet with Videon (not videocon) owner John Chittilapally. I thought to myself "shit..shit..shit". My family business of TV selling, still owes his back payments for stabilizer purchases. But what can i do. I am a tiny engineer with no say. I then wonder why Asianet wanted to talk with John!. later I found that out.."runnning capital"!. I was in for few minutes to give an intro about the plans of Asianet ( not sure which one, the S-band or C-band or cable or satellite). Another TVM corporate guy ( a finance guy for sure) joined us in there too for the meeting. But nothing came out good from that whole ordeal, i suppose? And let me confess now publicly:) I might have a part in it with my bro's then existed business relationship with John. He didn't wanted to took a chance, you see:)
I wish one of those old VP's or MD's, even Sashi Kumar Sir or Raji Memon sir will one day care to join this platform and give us exactly how did it all played out in those turbulent but decisive time of Asianet. Let's hope so?
Up until 2005, i was just being an engineer and thought to myself, we are the rational one and the great one in the corporate world. But 2005 onward, i am totally involved in Finance and let me tell, that is the most important of all. It can not only just "break or make" a project but the entire company. So powerful.
When i hear or see about Gopalan chettan, i always think of John.
Good one Steve.
ReplyDeleteHope some one could throw light on the take-over discussions with Malayala Manorama, prior to Raheja bid. Mammen Mathew would be now regreting his decision to withdraw from that deal.Mazhavil Mano...j, any comments?