The
news of the passing away of Dr.A.R.K.Pillai, at the age of 97, due to old
age-related problems, brought back memories of my long association with him,
going back over 60 years.I first met him at the College where I was doing a
2-year PG Diploma in Advertising and PR. He was one Year junior to me in
college, but was senior to me in terms of age. He was employed in the Railways
then. He wanted to give up his job to move into the private sector. However, I
did not expect to meet him a year later, in Clarion McCann
advertising, where I was a Junior Account Executive. Because of his background,
he was hired as the Manager of Administration in Clarion, Bombay.. That was the
beginning of a long friendship between us in which our paths would cross many
times. While in Clarion, he became my mentor, keenly interested in my progress.
He also became close to my family.
While
many well-wishers, because I was doing well in my job, wanted me to
move out of the chawl where I was staying, he was the person who located an
apartment for me in Santacruz. While my father refused to move the family
with me, it was Pillai who convinced me and later my father to move to the
flat. It was an important move in my life.
Our
paths crossed again when I joined ACIL, a subsidiary of Clarion in Delhi,
where the legendary Tara Sinha was the Chief Executive, who pulled Pillai from
Bombay to Delhi to be in charge of the administration in ACIL. In Delhi, our
families became close. When the force of circumstances made me occupy the
larger-than-life shoes of Tara Sinha as GM and Acting CEO, I went through a
very turbulent time facing all kinds of challenges. It was Pillai who was a
Pillar of strength to me during those years. He helped me face the challenges
with confidence through his mature advice.
When
both of us quit our jobs and he decided to move back to Bombay, I was to help
him connect with R.Desikan, another good friend who was running Speciality
publications, which was publishing a few magazines. He became the Bombay
representative of the group, promoting the magazines among potential clients
and ad agencies. From administration to media selling was an important turning
point in Pillai`s life. It was during this association with Desikan that he was
introduced to an NGO running the India Leprosy Foundation. Soon, he quit his
job with Speciality and got involved with the activities of the India Leprosy
Foundation. When the incidence of Leprosy was coming down in India, he decided
to convert it into the India Development Foundation (IDF). Somewhere along the
way, he acquired a PHD, and became Dr A R K Pillai.
IDF
is a non-profit NGO run by a trust established in 1985, with Dr A.R.K Pillai as
the Founder President. IDF has been working in the education, healthcare and
women empowerment sectors since its inception. Dr Pillai became well known as
the champion of the underprivileged, working tirelessly for their upliftment.
He was supported by a dedicated team of equally committed staff. His
belief in the power of youth saw him conduct several programmes involving
school children. Whenever any programme was held in Chennai, he would invite
me. Time permitting, he would also visit my home in Sastri Nagar, Chennai. Whenever
I was in Mumbai, I would make it a point to see him.
Pillai
was a philosopher, guide and mentor to many who had the privilege of
being associated with him. More than that, his contribution to society at large
through the several philanthropic acts that he undertook made him a towering
personality as a social worker.
I can
never forget the role he played at various stages in my life. While conveying
my heartfelt condolences to his only son Girish, daughter-in-law Indu,
granddaughter Sreelakshmi and IDF family, I pray for his soul to attain
Satgati.
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