If your dad owned a major Indian company, would you still travel by DTC bus to college? Well, Ranbaxy heirs Malvinder and Shivinder Singh did just that. Even when U special buses were stoned during the Mandal Commission protests, daddy didn't offer 'take the BMW instead.'
This, and more, was revealed in an interesting conversation with Shobha De on "Power Trip" aired on Sahara One - a channel I would normally not be caught dead watching.
The difference between a 'coat-tailer', as described in my previous post and inheritors who've taken the family legacy forward can be summed up in a single word: 'values'.
Those who had it too easy in life, and too comfortable, are doomed to remain dabblers. Those who were brought up to realise the value of money - despite having so much of it - are programmed to succeed.
'Modesty Blaze'
Take the example of Kumarmanglam Birla. I have, personally, experienced how lightly he wears his family name on his shoulders.
In college, I represented Sophia on the quiz circuit. One fine day, an organisation called 'Sangeet Kala Kendra' held an inter-collegiate quiz. After the elimination round I got a call from a 'Kumar' saying 'your team has qualified'. We stood second at quiz, losing by a narrow margin to St Xaviers :(
Much later, I figured Kumar - who had also been busy behind-the-scenes during the finals at Sophia Bhabha hall - was in fact Kumarmanglam. He could easily have come there as a chief guest and exerted himself only to distribute prizes ( Sangeet Kala Kendra being a Birla cultural trust) . Instead, he and his wife Neerja chose to be anonymously and actively involved.
The difference between Kumarmangalam and the son or daughter of a Johnny-come-lately is humility. When you've already arrived you don't have to throw your weight around. Or attract undue attention to yourself. You let your work speak for itself.
On the other hand, there's Yash of 'Yash and Avanti Birla' fame....
Takes all kinds - and hair colours - to make up the coat-tailer universe!
