The year 2010. My wife Prabha`s first book `Kadambam`, a collection of her short stories in Tamil was being released at a function. The Chief guest was Dr.Rekha Shetty. A person who could not read Tamil presiding over a launch of a book in Tamil. No issues. Rekha made her secretary read all the stories to her, made notes, and gave an inspiring speech. That was quintessential Rekha for you. Whatever job was assigned to her she would execute it with full involvement and commitment.
I first
met Rekha as the spouse of Tabler Jai Shetty of Table 39, at
the Round Table India AGM in Chennai in 1977. She was at
that point working with United India Insurance, making waves with a very
creative advertising campaign that she had conceived for UI. (At United India,
It`s always `U` before `I`). The incoming President Viji Iyengar of
Calcutta was taking over the mantle of Presidentship from my good friend and
mentor in Round Table N. Krishnan. Viji wanted a News Bulletin to be
brought out every morning for three days covering the previous day's
proceedings. A tough job those days when there was no technology available
and everything had to be done manually. A small committee was formed
with Rekha as the editor, another Tabler who was a printer, and me
as the coordinator. Working with her, what impressed me most, apart from her
beauty and charisma, was her enthusiasm. She was full of ideas. While she put
together the issues the printer worked
the whole night to bring out the issues the next morning. There was all-around
appreciation for the first such experiment at a Round Table India AGM.
A Ph.D.
from Madras University, on the subject of innovation, Rekha Shetty began
her life with a brilliant academic
record with two university ranks. Her thoughts come from a deep study of many
disciplines: Management, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, History, and
Spirituality.
Rekha went on to make waves with many innovative ideas as a
professional. After
her stint with UI, as Group Vice President of the Apollo Hospitals she
pioneered the concept of hospital marketing and health insurance.
She was
the founder and Managing Director of her company Farstar Distribution Network,
a unique consultancy company devoted exclusively to innovation and creativity.
Popularly known as the ‘Corporate Doctor’, Rekha Shetty had created a new tool
for Indian Managers to develop a competitive edge: Innovation and Creativity
through Minds power. Some of the region’s major corporates were her clients for
whom she consulted on long-term Innovation Initiatives involving everyone
from the doorman to the chairman.
Her
contribution in the area of academics is also impressive. As a member of the
Syndicate of Anna University, she helped introduce a 40-week
programme on innovation for budding engineers. She was on the board of studies
of the Psychology Department at Madras University. She was a visiting faculty
in many leading business schools across India and had conducted
Minds Power programmes worldwide. She was invited by the U.S. State Department
to be part of an expert team from 10 countries to study the problems and
solutions to drug addiction.
Apart
from all her other achievements she is best known as a trailblazer in the
world of Rotary International, a bastion of men for several decades which opened
the membership to women only in 1989. Persuaded by her father
Rtn. Bhoja Shetty, a popular Past District Governor of RI Dist. 323,
she became one of the first lady members and Charter President of the Rotary
Club of Madras Temple City, in 1989.It was a club with an equal number of women and
men. It is not surprising that, within ten years, with her enthusiasm and
energy she rose to become the first lady Rotary District Governor of
RI District 3230 in the year 1999-2000. Probably the only father and
daughter duo to become District Governors of the same District in Rotary
International. Rekha was also one of Asia’s first women District
Governors in Rotary International and a much sought-after Rotary
leader in India and abroad. She was well known for her work done through Rotary Leadership Institute
program. One of the challenging assignments, among many others
she got from RI was to be the Chairperson of the Rotary Action Group For
Population and Development (RFPD), the largest action group in Rotary
(2012-2015). She was the Chairperson of the Child Development Committee for
Rotary India Literacy Mission (RILM). Also on the Board of WASRAG, a water and
Sanitation initiative of Rotary International.
Among
the many recognitions she got in life, she received the Rotary’s
highest, `Service above Self Award`, in 2004-05 from Rotary District
3230. Getting this award within five years of her becoming a District Governor
was a remarkable achievement!
She was the
author of several books on personality development, self-confidence, health,
and wellness. So far she has published 11 books. When I met her at
a get-together of 41 club no 7 (consisting of ex-Round Tablers) just
four days before she passed away, she was talking enthusiastically about four
more books she was planning to bring out including a novel.
It
is destiny that the author of the book titled “The Zero Heart Attack Path” which
she wrote while working with Apollo Hospitals, died of a massive
cardiac arrest at a private hospital where she had gone for a check-up when she felt uneasy on the
morning of 28th March 2023.
Married
to Rtn. PP. Jai Shetty, she was a part of the Rotary family for over
50 years as Rotaractor, Annette, Anne, and Rotarian. Her two sons Adhil and
Arjun are entrepreneurs and founders of
Bank Bazaar.com. Rekha and Jai were excellent hosts. I fondly remember the many
get-togethers that I have attended at their spacious house in Anna
Nagar.
A
gracious and vibrant person with a smile whose presence in any
meeting would light up the room. A favourite daughter,
a brilliant student, a caring wife, a loving mother and a fond grandmother, a successful author/orator, and a
great friend- she performed with perfection every role that she was
called upon to play in life. She touched the lives of everyone she met and left
an indelible impression with her positivity and never say die attitude. She was
indeed a role model not only for the new generation of women but also men.
( An edited version of this
article has appeared in the Madras
Musings issue dated April16-30)
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