TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 | Page 38

S A LU T E T O S TA LWA RT S YOU NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE, YOU MUST BE A RISK TAKER AND OPTIMISTIC, ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY AND COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE TEAM MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES ARE THE BASIC TO EXCEL IN A HOSPITALITY CAREER. When did you start off your career in the hospitality industry and how did you come to choose this line of work ? It all started when I passed out from the school in Delhi 1982. My first dream was to get into a Cricket team but later focused on Modelling but my dad disagreed with my choices as he wasn’t fond of the glamorous industry. Leaving behind my dreams, I started working for a Charted Accountant as an Accountant in a Fabric exporting company. Once I was invited for a very rich man’s son’s wedding in one of the best 5 star hotels, ITDC Ashok in Delhi, with a Bollywood theme where the actual Bollywood stars like Mr. Rakesh Roshan, Mr. Jithendra etc were present and it made me realize that the hospitality industry also had a glamorous side to it and made me believe in myself to achieve my dream and I decided to apply for the IHMCT PUSA . I was not so fortunate on paying my college fees as my dad was clear to see that I did it on my own. Then as an oath to myself, I gave up distractions and leisure in life. Attending classes in the morning, evening at Bhagath Sing College and working in a hotel named Oberoi at night for three years without a break and I moved on with an eye for my goals, setting a clear schedule to achieve my dreams. Being a Tamil Brahmin it was an unbearable phase of my life, handling and cooking meat, making me even vomit. But through step by step, I mastered the lessons of cooking, even non- vegetarian. I am confident to cook any dishes under the sky deliciously, but being a man of principle, like my father, I have never consumed a non-vegetarian dish or even alcohol till date. “Chala the hero ban ne magar waiter ban gaye” – “Aimed to become a hero but became a waiter” is exactly the life I went through in the hotel industry at the initial stage. 38 Tourism India March 2019