The travel titan

Died: Adi Jehangirji Katgara, 75, director of Travel Corporation (India) Limited (TCI), partner of Jeena and Company and a doyen of the travel and tourism industry, on March 5, 2004 in Lonavla following sudden cardiac arrest.

"He had a real commitment to tourism” and dedicated "his life­time to the success” of the industry, acknowledged Gour Kanji­lal, regional director of tourism, Government of India, western and central region in a condolence letter. As one of the mem­bers appointed on the board of tourism industry and trade consti­tuted by the government of India he was expected to advise on various policy matters relating to tourism and to oversee the implementation of the national strategy for tourism development and to guide the concerned ministries and depart­ments accordingly.

Chairman of the Tour Operators Councils of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) for over 15 years "his contribution to the Association has been very valuable,” noted the condolence resolution giving him credit for "spearheading the organization of Travelogue and (being) a founder director of the TAAI Tourism Fund.” Katgara had also served as chairman of the Tourism Sub-Committee of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry as also of a similar subcommittee of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) for several years. At a condolence meeting convened at the IMC on March 18, 2004 former TAAI president Asgar Ali referred to Katgara’s efforts over the years to get the travel trade rec­ognized as an industry. When others would get agitated he always calmed them with his sober influence. He was never aggressive, and at the same time he did not believe in soft peddling issues which needed a firm approach.

"Katgara has represented the finest of achievements in the Chamber and across India where TCI has under his stewardship managed 27 offices and provided employment to thousands of em­ployees,” noted a condolence letter from Jay Chauhan, deputy judge of the Superior Court of Ontario.

Speaking on behalf of those in the "old travel brigade” Ruberto Begg from South America who had worked with him on the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) commented how Katgara "pioneered, promoted and operated a great travel organization. His honest professionalism is an example to all in the travel industry.” Associated with TCI since its inception in 1961 Kat­gara used his international contacts to build up the image of the company and succeeded in making it one of India’s largest travel agencies and foreign exchange earners. Corroborated Subhash and Daksha Thaker of the Taj sales office, London, Katgara was "a legend in our indus­try with a huge vision and capacity to translate good ideas into action, build an enviable team of best managers in the country whose values transgress the space beyond the mundane.”

Many of TCI’s employees, past and present, have vouched for his leadership qualities. Katgara "came across as a great optimist who had a vision of seeing the tourism industry achieve its real potential,” stated Atul Dalakoti of TCI-China. Recalled Din and Feroza Vimadalal, who had worked "with and for him,” how they "immediately grew to respect his calm and soft-spoken demeanor. Very little seemed to ruffle his feathers.”

"He always had a smile on his face when he walked through the corridors, always responded when he was greeted by either a manager or a peon, always had the time to stop by people’s desk and enquire as to how they were. His doors were always open to one and all...As his secretary I was amazed with his fluent and unbroken chain of thought and his remarkable choice of words,” commented Katy Changkakoti. "He always had several new projects going through his head and his brain was always teeming with ideas for new business ventures and opportunities. He was never hesitant to step in and enter where no man had gone before and his eyes would light up at the thought of a new project,” she added.

"Look for new things, new ideas,” Katgara used to impress on his eldest daughter Meher Bhandara who remembers how he said, "Out of 100 things we attempt at least 10 will materialize.” Her cousin Jehangir Katgara who was inducted as director of TCI mentions, "Even at his age it was tough for us to keep up with his pace. Able to identify new opportunities, he ensured we never had a dull moment. He was possibly a decade or two ahead of his time. Valuing honesty and integrity he believed in straightforward dealings — ‘golgol vaat nahi karvani (don’t beat around the bush).’ In a business deal, both parties have to bene­fit, not only one. You cannot expect to corner the whole busi­ness. You just need to get the right share of the market,” was his conviction. "Fame or fortune is very fleeting, but honor is something that can never die,” he used to impress upon his children.

Looking forward to seeing the fifth and sixth generation of the Katgara family take the company "to greater heights” the patriarch was hopeful that his children and his late brother Nariman’s children "would jointly put their shoulder to the wheel” to steer the affairs of TCI as also of Jeena and Company, a leading freight clearing and forwarding company where he was director and Katgara Brothers, a family organization dealing in exports where he was a senior partner. Every year all members of the family were expected to contribute their share to the Katgara Foundation which donated money to deserving causes.

During the 56 years he was associated with the travel and tourism business Adi Katgara was rewarded with numerous appoint­ments and awards: chairmanship of one area of the international division of ASTA, directorship of the international division of ASTA, membership of the Grand Order of Euro­pean Travel Organizers (Adi and Nari were the only two Indians to be conferred this honor), and recognition like International Travel Agent of the Year at the ASTA World Travel Congress in 1997, Pioneer of the Pacific and Award of Merit from the Pacific Area Travel Association (the only Indian to receive both these awards), the Agastya Award at a TAAI con­vention, the Hall of Fame award at a convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.

Katgara joined his family’s travel agency business at the age of 18. After his schooling at St Xavier’s, he had joined Sydenham College but had to leave his studies incomplete on the demise of his father. For him "work was pleasure. ‘I will die with my boots on,’” he used to laughingly tell the family. And true to his word he breathed his last soon after playing a game of cards with his close friends on one of his weekend sojourns to Lonavla. Very fond of cricket since his younger days he enjoyed badminton, billiards and swimming too. Once the TCI Sports Club approached him with the idea of having an inter-department match which he thought would be fun. To the surprise of the organizers Katgara gave not only his verbal support but on the day of the match he came to the venue all dressed for the game! Founder member of the Skal Club of Bombay he was also the first member in India of the Young Presidents’ Organisation and was responsible for forming its India chapter.

The Katgara family (from left): Pallan, Meher, Adi, Jeroo, Hilla and Homi

A good sport, he was popular with all the children in the family as also their neighborhood friends. On weekends, the kids would look forward to a trip to Juhu beach when they would be ferried in his old Dodge car. During vacations, the family would converge at their bungalow at Gholvad to enjoy the simple joys of sleeping out on the verandah on rows of mattresses or enjoying the mangoes from the vadis, states Bhandara. Her first overseas holiday only came after she finished her schooling for her father did not believe in spoiling the children, she adds. Fridays were invariably GS (ghost story) nights when he delighted in regaling the children with spo­oky tales. His family was number one on his agenda, vouched the daughter, and son Pallan reminisced how they were the envy of all their neighbors because their father spared them so much time. He would never come home with any work or papers and never talked shop at home. Sing-along sessions were regular entertainment too during the weekends when Adi would play the piano, accordion or mouth organ, wife Jeroo would bring out her old song book, Meher would join in on the piano, younger daughter Hilla on the piano or guitar, Pallan, on the piano or organ, and younger son Homi providing the rhythm.

His love for music benefited the cause of jazz and as acknowledged by Jazz India, "He was a pillar of strength for Jazz India and his constant involvement and active support drove the organization especially during the past few years.” Just as he was helpful in organizing Jazz Yatras he also support­ed the Time and Talents Club by arranging for the transport for large groups of visiting musicians and their families.

A trustee of the Mithaiwalla Agiary at Grant Road, Katgara was conservative by nature believing that we should respect the "kaidas (rules) that govern the community” and hence was not in favor of accepting children of women who had married out of the community. "God is there to look after us,” he believed. "If you don’t harm anyone, no one can harm you.”

The intrepid traveler is survived by his wife Jeroo, daugh­ters Meher Bhan­dara and Hilla Mazda, sons Pallan and Homi, and sisters Dolly Eruch Kavarana and Frene Hoshang Nanavati.