HUMANE HERO.................4

"Greatest experience to maximum number of people in the shortest possible time" 

17 November 2007. Time is 03.55 pm. I was wrapping up my workshop. At Hyderabad International Convention Centre Novotel. I had a couple of minutes to go when I found a young man entering the hall. Very calm and composed he was. With full reverence he greeted me. He walked into the hall softly; and sat in the last row. That was Prashanth Kumar. The Resident Manager of the hotel.

Prashanth had an interactive feedback round with the participants of the class, soon after I wrapped up the session.  "Listen to your guests actively; that is the greatest gift you can offer to any guest" quipped Prashanth in his two minute speech. It was a short, meaningful and thought provoking speech.

That was my first encounter with Prashanth. But I have always known him for instigating deep meaningful interactions. When we met subsequently at Ibis Gurgaon (December 2008, March 2010) and then at the Courtyard Marriott Ahmedabad (May 2013) our conversations evolved further. We discussed many a things...we spoke about spirituality, the meaning of life and the joy of giving. Our meetings were short, but the experiences were long lasting.

By the way Prashanth has been a young achiever. He became a Hotel General Manager when he was just 29. This was at the first Ibis in India (in Gurgaon).  That was in 2008.

Today, he is a seasoned global hotelier with over 17 years of experience in the USA, New Zealand, Switzerland, Dubai and India. Currently he is the General Manager-India for Accor Plus, which is the esteemed loyalty program of Accor cutting across 17 countries, 600 hotels and 800 restaurants in the Asia Pacific region.

Before joining Accor, Prashanth was in Dubai. "The atmosphere in Dubai did not suit to the needs of my soul which is why I came back to India", he said when we met last week for breakfast at the Seasonal Tastes restaurant – The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi. We were meeting after a gap of more than 2 years but it felt like yesterday.  (Such is the connect we share).

Life has been a tough teacher for Prashanth(37). But I have always seen him emerge stronger from those knocks.  

In May 2014, he met with a crippling accident. While riding down the Jebel Hafeet Mountain in Dubai his bike failed to manoeuvre the sand....he rolled 20 times over, his gloves melted...and he lost a layer of skin on his palms. He suffered multiple fractures on his right leg as well as a ligament tear on his knees. This was on a Honda Shadow 750.

“This accident gave me lot of insights spiritually. I was on wheelchair for a month and on crutches for another two months. That was the time I reflected and introspected on the meaning of life. Well, maybe that is what my soul needed. Life will give you an experience which you need, not what you want" says Prashanth. (Profound- isn’t it?

I wonder how many people can think so clearly!)

An avid motor cycle rider, he always had the best of the breed throughout his life. In USA, he had a Suzuki and BMW K75. In Dubai, it was Honda Shadow 750, and presently in Gurgaon, he rides a Ducati Monster 795.

His mission and passion is to help and guide people. "Greatest experience to maximum number of people in the shortest possible time" is his goal in life.

On 04 September 2015 Prashanth joined me for breakfast at The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi. We were together for about 90 minutes. We were meeting after 2 years.

I can tell you that each minute was well spent.

(I wish Prashanth Grace and Godspeed…and I look forward to more meaningful interactions with him).

TAILPIECE:  Two years back Prashanth had once asked me “What is your biggest challenge in life?”

My answer was almost spontaneous. I had quipped:

“To be good every minute of my life is my challenge as well as my motivation”.

This simple question volleyed by Prashanth has expanded my thinking manifold since then. May God be with Prashanth always.

Text: R Kesava Mallia in Gurgaon