Cause for celebration

They were speakers of stature, narrating through prose and poetry how Adi Godrej, chairman of the Godrej Group, has earned for himself the real trophies of life! "I respect and admire Adi, as friend, colleague and former business competitor! Adi ran Godrej Soaps, I was with Hindustan Lever. Even at that time the company was catching up smartly with us. Today there is not much catching up to do!” smiled Keki Dadiseth, former chairman of Hindustan Lever. Dadiseth was speaking at the function organized by the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) at the Cusrow Baug grounds on April 24, 2013 to felicitate Godrej on being awarded the Padma Bhushan for trade and industry.

Adi Godrej (left) receiving golden salver from Dinshaw Mehta (Photo courtesy Afternoon Despatch and Courier)

Attentive audience

Godrej maintains a "punishing work routine” and travels extensively, noted Dadiseth. Yet he would always come "super prepared for a meeting, with all information regarding resources, markets… with meticulous homework.” Intelligent, soft-spoken, upright, Godrej is a true family man. His children can "rib and argue with him without fear” and he will sit back and listen happily, lapping it up! Dadiseth mentioned that both of them greatly valued the joys of being grandfathers, though he (Dadiseth) had but recently joined that club! "With Ratan Tata having retired, people ask ‘who is the community’s leading business personality?’ Speaking for myself I would say ‘Godrej fits the bill best.’”
Ardeshir Godrej, the founder, (Adi’s grand uncle) was a staunch nationalist. His brother Pirojsha was the real architect of the huge industrial conglomerate that is Godrej today, stated BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta. He was happy to note that the Group has continued the Parsi tradition of philanthropy. "Godrej is one of the major donors for the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress (organized by the BPP from December 27-30 this year), registration for which is now open,” he said.
"I have known and interacted with Adi Godrej for 40 years. He has admirable personal qualities. He is amiable, conducts himself with dignity and decorum, and is self-effacing. His demeanor is very pleasing,” noted former BPP chairman Minoo Shroff who is presently the international president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce. "He has grown as an industrialist and public figure. As CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) president, his was the voice of reason and moderation.” CSR (corporate social responsibility) is not a mere item on the agenda of the Godrej Group. It is part of its DNA, Shroff added.

Keki Mistry, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Housing Development Finance Corporation, though scheduled to speak, could not attend as he was out of India. "The Padma Bhushan is a true recognition of his contribution to Indian industry. He is a role model,” Mistry stated in a message read out by BPP public relations officer Godrej Dotivala who anchored the function.
"I congratulate you and your family,” stated eminent physician Dr Farokh Udwadia. "I must confess I do not know Adi very closely. We work in different fields, but I know him well enough. He is forthcoming, kind, considerate, attentive and, above all, modest. Not the kind of modesty the rich and famous wear as a badge on their sleeve, but real modesty from the heart. This can only come from upbringing. I pay tribute to his parents.” Qualities of head and heart, plain living and high thinking…has placed Godrej on the map of this country and the world. There must be foresight, Udwadia observed. "The future is now. (One must) live in the future and be keen enough and adept enough to reach those heights.” A man so blessed, how should he live? "He should live with duty to his family, society, community, environment, country and the world at large. In all these facets Adi has done admirably.”
Nadir Godrej’s poetic prowess (see "A brother’s tribute”) brought forth smiles and a hearty round of applause. "I have a close connection with the Parsi community. Several of our alumni and distinguished faculty are Parsis,” noted Rev Father (Dr) Frazer Mascarenhas, principal of St Xavier’s College. "Adi Godrej is one of our most eminent alumni. It’s been a double privilege as he had 11 years of schooling at St Xavier’s High School and two years (up to Inter Science) at St Xavier’s College. A successful businessman and integrity — these don’t go together very often. In the web of corruption that seems to surround us all the time, Adi has shown that it is possible to do business honestly.” The Godrej Group chairman was for three years on the advisory board of Xavier’s College and he was always on time for meetings. On one occasion, Mascarenhas recalled, the meeting was scheduled on a day when "there was some type of riot going on in the city, but on the dot Godrej was in college and ready for the meeting! We were astounded and grateful.” Mascarenhas also acknowledged that it was Godrej who encouraged them to apply for academic autonomy (St Xavier’s is the only autonomous college in Bombay University). "No college was ready to take this risky step, but he supported us. He also sponsored the first student exchange with Harvard University. This is the fifth year of the relationship you helped us to start.” He has also given a large endowment to St Xavier’s School to modernize its auditorium, the Jesuit priest informed the gathering.

"I was 23 when I was interviewed by Adi Godrej, then with Godrej Soaps. I have been so happy to work for Godrej,” stated UK-based Dorab Mistry, director of Godrej International Limited. His employers were kind and allowed him to use time to run the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe, of which he was the president. Adi Godrej is a wonderful person with great human qualities. If he had not been born into the Godrej family, he would have been a great investment guru, Mistry declared.
Saying that he was very touched by having so many of his good friends speaking at the function, Adi noted that many Parsis, including family and friends, have received the Padma Bhushan and that he was very proud of the community. Despite the general doom and gloom, he remained a great believer in the future of this country. Training, skilling of the youth was crucial as there can be "no unemployment, only unemployability.” Despite the setbacks India would march ahead, with democracy and demography our great assets.
"Most of us don’t know,” Dotivala colloquially mentioned, "that Adi prays in the atash behram (regularly).” Mehta presented Godrej a golden salver on behalf of the BPP. Several community associations also honored Godrej with shawls and mementos.