HEROES FROM NORTH EAST INDIA ……10

  "BE PATIENT. HAVE A HEART TO SERVE"

                                               

One low cost airline rejected him saying that he is not tall enough. Another low cost airline rejected him stating that he is underweight. Nevertheless, aviation student Shivo Rongpi (21) was not dejected. He thought differently. He decided to try his luck in the Hotel Industry.

During the interview he was told that since he lacks F&B knowledge, to begin with, he should start working at the swimming pool area. Shivo agreed. Since April 2014, he is deputed to serve the guests at the Swimming pool at The Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad. At sharp 7 am in the morning, he will report for duty. He will sign off at 7pm. In case, his seniors request him to stay back,

he will willingly do so.

This North East Indian boy impressed everybody by his impeccable guest connect within a short span of time. The GSTS score went thru the roof… He scored 90 plus. Today, he is the second best in the entire country -  among  all Taj hotels !

His six year association with NCC has given him confidence aplenty. When he was in  class 9th  he had attended the "All India Adventure Trekking" program orchestrated by  NCC, and he bagged the trophy for "Best Physical Fitness". In this national level event, he was the youngest cadet. Patience is another thing that he had bequeathed from NCC.

Shivo is very confident. He can connect with any guest without any inhibitions.

"Most of the guests come to the pool only for relaxing and unwinding. What is important is that one should serve the guest from the heart; interact and understand the needs of the guests; pleasing and pampering the guests is not easy; one has to be very patient in the hospitality industry” says Shivo.

                            

"In Guest Service Shivo is very good. If trained properly he will be a great asset to the F&B department; as he is ready to learn" says Jithin Nizar, Restaurant Manager responsible for running all the three restaurants of this hotel, along with the Poolside .

Shivo’s family lives in Assam.  His dad is a School Teacher. Mom a homemaker. Elder brother is a degree student. He has two more younger brothers.

Singer Shivo is a guitarist also. He likes singing Hindi cinema songs.

Text and pictures:

 R Kesava Mallia in Hyderabad