Thiruvananthapuram :

Capt Krishnan Nair, the founder chairman of the Leela Group of Hotels who passed away last Saturday, was remembered here on Friday as an enterprising businessman, a successful Malayali and a multi-faceted individual whose interests ranged from subjects as surprisingly diverse as gardening to international diplomacy.

‘’I see him as a amazing man who created a success story with his own labour. He is a model to the younger generation,’’ Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who inaugurated a commemoration organised by Global Kerala Initiative-Keraleeyam, said.

“He had a vision on Kerala’s development. And he was angry when it did not materliase. Age-wise he was older than many of us. But he interacted with everyone as a friend,’’ Chandy recalled.

Former Ambassador T P Sreenivasan’s first meet with the industrialist was in Fiji during his tenure there. He remembered Krishnan Nair’s avid interest in international matters. ‘’He was there for a week. He apparently had heard about the Regent Resort there and wanted his upcoming hotel in Goa to look like it. I don’t know how he had heard about the Regent,’’ Sreenivasan, who is vice-chairman of the State Higher Education Council and chairs the advisory committee of Keraleeyam, said.

‘’And his knowledge about that small nation was so extraordinary that a Fijian official asked whether he was ‘from your CIA?’’’

‘’In his book he has written how international diplomacy should be conducted. He had a global vision,’’ Sreenivasan said.  Chief Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan recalled Krishnan Nair’s tussle with the State Government over the Halcyon Castle, the industrialist’s interest in gardening and his early days promoting ‘Bleeding Madras,’ the handloom brand. ‘’He was also a keen admirer of V P Menon,’’ Bharat Bhushan said.

Journalist K P Mohanan related how Krishnan Nair, as a young school boy, surprised the then Chirackal ruler with a short verse who then promised to support his education.

E M Najeeb, chairman, Indian Association of Tour Operators, Kerala chapter, also spoke.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / May 24th, 2014