It was only a few days ago that I had dinner at The Leela on Bengaluru’s Old Airport Road. We enjoyed the drinks at the tastefully furnished Library Bar followed by a delicious dinner at Jamavar, the Indian restaurant there. As we savoured the food and the overall ambience, my mind went to the book I recently read about the man who founded the Leela Group of Hotels in India.
Sadly, the Leela at Bengaluru no longer belongs to the Leela Group as we know it. But therein lies the story of a truly remarkable man. He came from a very under privileged background to become -in his heyday- one of India’s biggest hoteliers: Capt. C P Krishnan Nair.
Bachi Karkaria’s book ” Capture The Dream: The Many Lives of Capt. C P Krishnan Nair” (Juggernaut, 2020) portrays the man as he was- larger than life, generous to a fault, a stickler for detail, and one who always strove for excellence. He dared to dream big and perhaps became over ambitious at one stage of his life. He set new standards in hoteliering ensuring that his chain of luxury hotels -named after his wife, Leela- grew at a scorching pace.
Capt Nair served in the Indian Army in the days before Independence. He had no prior experience of running a hotel when he ventured into the very demanding hospitality industry when in his 60s! From a humble background, he first gained fame in the textile export business, pioneering “Bleeding Madras” which became a rage in the 1970s.
Reading the book makes you feel you have met the man himself. He was a man who lived life to the full, always optimistic, always looking for an opportunity to further the interest of his business empire. A true bon vivant – who lived life to the full- and on his own terms. He had the human touch and could mingle comfortably across the spectrum of society. He was as much as ease with Kings and Heads of State as he was with the doormen and gardeners at his hotels.
Overall, a well- narrated story of an extraordinary nationalist who was immensely proud of being an Indian. Highly recommended.
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