Godrej’s good man

The diminutive Keki Rustomji Hathi, who breathed his last on December 25, 2006 following a fall a couple of days earlier when he fractured his hip bone, was among the few trusted lieutenants of Naoroji Godrej. Hathi served Godrej and Boyce for 52 years.

Simple in his attire and ways, Hathi was a silent achiever. A man of few words, he nevertheless had a quick wit and hearty laugh. Having earned a PhD in History, he was fondly called ‘Doc’ by all in the Marketing Department which he headed. He was responsible for the dealer expansion network and for introducing professional management into the company. He visited management institutes at Ahmedabad, Calcutta and Lucknow to recruit candidates every year. Between 1977 and 1993 he increased the number of branches, which had stagnated at six for 38 years, to 28 branches in 16 years. This resulted in an increase in business from Rs 94 lakh in 1947 to Rs 23 crore in 1971 when he became general manager (marketing) and touched Rs 614 crore in 1995-96 when he retired.

No one can forget the annual All India Speed Typing Contest held at all the branches between 1982 and 1994 with help from the Shorthand Writers’ Association. Nearly three lakh typists participated during these 12 years, with Shamboo Anubhawane, a job typist from Bombay shattering the world record of continuous typing on a Godrej PRIMA typewriter for 123 hours, completing 8,06,000 strokes on August 23, 1986, thereby entering the Guinness Book of World Records. Hathi made it a point to personally sign thousands of merit certificates after these competitions. No wonder over three lakh PRIMA typewriters were sold between 1983 and 1996, an average of 46,600 per annum, way ahead of the competition.

The spirit of Rotary pervaded Hathi’s life and work. He attended Rotary meetings every Friday afternoon. Truth, fairness, friendship enabled him to do his best for the company and for one and all as he firmly believed in "service above self.”

While posted in Delhi he became a trustee of the Delhi Parsi Anjuman in 1961-62. He persuaded Pirojsha Godrej to donate the steel doors and windows for the dar-e-meher to be constructed there, which opened on December 31, 1961. Hathi also ensured that the Parsi staff of the Delhi branch contributed generously toward the building fund by way of monthly installments so that their families did not feel the pinch.

Hathi played a leading part in the successful nationwide Godrej centenary celebrations in 1997.

He never spoke about the woes and setbacks in his personal life. Though tragedy struck him twice in three months when he lost both his wife and his youngest son under tragic circumstances, he continued to work energetically. He remained busy, his desk always cluttered with papers.To young management trainees his advice was: "Roll up your sleeves and make your destiny. If a person’s going to do a good job, he’s got to like coming to work.” To us in marketing, he was our guru from whom we learnt a great deal.

PESI D. MUNCHERJI

Delhi

The editors note

Keki Hathi often made noteworthy recom­men­dations for the improvement of Parsiana. The graphs, pie charts, etc that feature in our Milestones column were suggested by him. Parsiana misses his caring and thoughtful inputs.