Guest- Centric Sarkarji

Guest- Centric  Sarkarji

56 year old Amitava Sarkar, is  popularly known as Sarkarji. This graduate in English Honours has been serving the guests in Grand Oberoi Kolkata for the last 32 years. He is simply indefatiguable. His inimitable attribute is this: He connects with the guests sensitively and sensibly so that he could develop a  warm  and healthy relationship with every one of them.

Listen to George Kuruvilla, General Manager, Grand Oberoi, Kolkate: ” I am really privileged to work with  Sarkarji  as he is a like “one-single-master key” to all types of locks…handling requests of medicines, shopping , markets, paintings, delightful dining options to finding epitaphs and graves requested by the guests who are here to discover their roots in this historic city”

Sarkar started as a receptionist 32 years back and today he is the Head Concierge. I have been in touch with Sarkarji since 2006. Every year, since 2006, I have been  staying in this hotel twice; sometimes thrice also. He has impressed me with his guest centric attitudes. He is ready-to-help all the time; he is full of energy while at work; the good thing in him is that he can connect with the guests without any inhibitions.

“Sarkarji can”, quips Karan Talwar, Front Office Manager, Grand Oberoi, Kolkata, “organize anything and everything for the guests. They all love and respect him so much”.  What Karan has endorsed is fully correct. I have experienced this myself. Everytime, he will ensure airport assistance to me; on arrival in Kolkata  and also on my departure. Believe you me, even when I stay in other hotels in Kolkata  he is ready to help me in terms of airport assistance. Thanks to his initial days in hospitality; he has been deputed to handle the guests at the airports for six years. Even today, he handles the team of airport representatives.

He is a networker extraordinaire. Talks genuinely to guests; provides the right help at the right time; selflessly; smilingly.

Married to Sanchita Sarkar, he is blessed with a son Arthik Sarkar, an employee at a leading software company.

On Sundays, many a times, during my stay in Oberoi Grand  in the last eight years, I have observed an emptiness-because that is the day Sarkarji will opt for his weekly off.

Jovial, open hearted Sarkarji once answered   to one my queries, with a chuckle: “On Sundays, I do serve my wife at my home”. Case in point: He respects his wife, Sanchita, the most.

Sarkarji is the pillar of Oberoi Grand, Kolkata. Lot of guests recognize the hotel because of his august presence. He promptly and proactively  ensures that all their requests are attended to with warmth and care. Flawlessly he executes things. The team at his hotel look up to him for his immense knowledge and  experience . Willingly he shares  his general fund of knowledge with his juniors as well as the peer group. Undoubtedly, Sarkarji is an asset to the organization.

Touch, presence and comfort can be provided  only by human beings;  Machines cannot. Sarkar provides these three things effectively; efficaciously.  To every guests.  Every day. Day after day. May God bless Sarkarji in abundance.

R Kesava Mallia in Kolkata