Tribute to Ranjan Acharya

Last week after attending the funeral of one of my close relatives, I sat down to write on blog about the people who had made an impact on me.. The names came to my mind quite effortlessly and I chose to write only about the souls who are no more. Who was visible only to my mind’s eye? Funnily enough it was because of Ranjan, I started writing a blog.. Long time back after reading one of his articles published in Wipro Corp website ( I think after Dileep left , he had taken that mantle), when I asked him from where can I learn to write , he had replied that we can learn writing only by writing and asked me to start writing a journal everyday.. The reply mail also came with an anecdote on Bernard Shaw, who seemed to have written for more than 10 years before his first work was published.. I did take that advice and wrote for a few years in my journal. But I kept them hidden away from critiques, like kids hide peacock feathers in their notebooks.. After I had rejoined Wipro, I had shared my first blog with him and I had reminded him about his advice and Bernard Shaw anecdote.. Pat came the reply, Bernard Shaw can’t get it wrong, rite ?.
That was just one of the very few encounters (which were few and far between in last 13 years ) I had with Ranjan , after the really memorable first one in 1996 when I went to Lavelle road office for my HR interview to join erstwhile Wipro systems. I was supposed to meet one Gautam Sircar @ 10: 30 am.. But I was stuck in that famous lift and was saved well after 10: 30 am.. I came out blazing to meet my interviewer, tie in my hand, crumpled shirt in sweat and tears in my eyes. I think “Compassionate one “ was coming out of VC’s cabin and even though he was hurrying he did have time to spot me and help me out.. He took me to Gautam and asked him to take the interview after I had cooled down.. Maybe the compassion was contagious and Gautam just had a friendly chat with me for some time.. As I was walking out, I met him again. To his question of “whether I was selected or not”, I just replied I don’t know.. He just asked me to wait , went and asked that same question to Gautam and announced with that gracious smile, that I can collect my appt. order that day evening, from same office. As per his suggestion, I had my lunch @ Oasis, the mallu restaurant @ Church street and after the movie @ Galaxy, went and collected my appt. order. There it was signed Ranjan Acharya, General Manager. That was when I knew his name.
Much later, I had met him regarding Toastmaster club, NLP club@ Wipro etc.. But the best quote I remember was , when I went to him with a request to have my NLP Training session @ Wipro. Immly, he had called Kayo and Uma Sundaram and asked them to arrange one. When one of them was very subtlety expressing their doubt in my expertise in leading a session, he told them in his characteristic style that even a Govt. organization like IAF trusts their rookie pilots with those costly planes.. In Vishy’s case at least he has a safe copilot (Daniel Pacheco) to guide him.. And that was my first training session @ Wipro..
When I rejoined Wipro and went to meet him. He did not remember my name.. But did recognize me as the Toastmaster and exclaimed, “we Could start that club again”… I could sense that he was not doing well Health wise, but his Spirit was intact..
Last Saturday when I had met Joseph during the Mitr anniversary, I asked him about Ranjan. When he told me that he is not well, I never thought the end will come so fast.. May be the God wanted someone to start Leadership courses in Heaven.
In his stint he did live up to his name Ranjan - one who gladdens others heart and Acharya - One who practices what he preaches.