The recently deceased KP Singh of Mawana Sugars combined a ready wit with extraordinary relationship building, based on integrity, openness and logic, to become the most respected Corporate Affairs Director in Delhi. He had uncomplicated, easy and comfortable access to politicians, bureaucrats and media. He had worked extensively with the Birlas, ITC and Mawana Sugars.
About 40 years ago, the all powerful Congress party had no need of any, leave aside the present twenty or so, coalition partners to form a Government. Even then, Uma Shankar Dikshit, the then Home Minister and some time Treasurer of the party, discussing an abstruse political economy issue prefaced his remarks with “I have a friend called KP…”
This was the claim that many of his friends ranging from political bosses of all hues, civil servants at various levels of seniority, businessmen, rajas and nawabs, newspaper editors and journalists, film actors and family and others often made because they had received useful advice, guidance or solace in their personal or public domain. So, how come?
Character, which is basically moulded in the crucible of family upbringing and early schooling, coupled with a basic intellect and a deeply inquiring mind, enabled him to harness the opportunity provided to him by working closely with the Birla family (including the late GD Birla, BM Birla, and KK Birla), which was one of the two most influential business houses in India through the second half of the 20th century. His work in dealing with politicians and officers of the Indian Administrative Service at every level honed his political skills and antennae while being able to critically observe and analyse human nature at its worst and best. This, added to his natural endowment of wisdom and made him kind of unique.
He knew he was good but he carried his talents lightly. Owing to his complete lack of political or business ambition, he could cock a snook at opportunities and oversized egos with complete facility and without causing hurt.
Over the years, a loose bunch of IAS officers, journalists,occasional ministers, economists of note, businessmen and others started regularly meeting at KP’s house. This group morphed into what came to be called the “Politburo”. Each one of these eminent persons was better than KP in their own way (economics/history/politics/business/media/human relations, etc), but as a composite of all of these and as a balancer of various facets of life and society, he was unmatched. He could puncture any overly specious argument by throwing out a seemingly innocuous barb to have the Politburo subsequently reconstruct the thesis. Some of these arguments no doubt influenced policy at the highest level as some members of the Politburo held critical positions in the Government. All the members of the Politburo became his best friends to whom he could reach out and who could reach out to him in times of need.
He virtually single handedly carried his ancestral family from rural zamindari into the modern and international world. Did some of his family suffer? One must presume that they must have as when the leader is shared by many, some times one’s own family suffers (think Gandhi!)
More From This Section
He resided mainly in Delhi’s Golf Links and Jor Bagh within the comfortable distance from the Government of India offices. His hospitality was always cheerful with no pretensions. Small or large problems were treated with the same acute analysis duly seasoned with a sense of humour, a cheesy grin and an abiding belief that this too will pass.
In the end, the ravages of an incurable sickness laid him low. He could no longer participate in his beloved sport of riding and his social interactions gradually dwindled to virtually nil; still the loyal Politburo met at his house. They will surely miss him, as will his other friends and family, and with his passing so will an era since the mould in which he was cast is broken. Here is hoping that these guys chat more often.
The author is chairman, Honda Siel Cars India and Usha International