At that time HMV was there, so they came to Kolkata to shut down the company. So Papa went to them and bought HMV. Yes, bought it for one rupee. He said they were shutting it down, so I said, 'Will you give it to me for one rupee?' They said, 'Yes, take it.'
However, your father's vision had a very strong influence. I was talking to someone; people called him the takeover king. In the eighties, he bought many such companies. Just as people buy vegetables, he was continuously taking over companies, including Dunlop, Ceat... Is there any interesting story about a takeover that you have seen, heard, understood or known about your father?
That was his addiction, buying companies. Buying companies. So this, when HMV, at that time Sa Re Ga Ma was HMV, the Gramophone Company of India. Its global CEO was an Indian, Bhaskar Menon, with whom he was very good friends. So they came to Kolkata to shut down the company and were staying at the Grand Hotel. So Papa went to him for coffee. After coffee he came back and said, 'I've bought it.' 'What have you bought?' 'I've bought the company.' 'Which company did you buy?' 'HMV.' 'You bought HMV?' 'Yes, bought it for one rupee.' He said they were shutting it down, so I said, 'Will you give it to me for one rupee?' They said, 'Yes, take it.' So I bought it for one rupee. We didn't even look at the balance sheet. I don't know whether there was profit or loss, I have no idea. It was a decision of the heart. I bought it. So there were things like that too.
Approximately how many companies did he acquire?
I don't know, fifteen, twenty. I never counted, but there must be fifteen, twenty.
But this is also a different kind of passion.
It was a different passion, and he had a certain confidence. And what was his confidence based on? Understand this. He himself was an astrologer, an amateur astrologer, and he had great faith in astrology.
You also have a great deal of faith.
I have a great deal too. But he had it as well, and from him I received this belief. So his astrologer was very renowned, Kedarnath Joshi of Banaras. He had told him that right now your time is so good, for eight years whatever you do will turn to gold. That gave him the assurance, and then dhanadhan dhanadhan dhanadhan, he kept taking them, kept buying them. So there was this courage that whatever happens, we'll see.
So did you consult an astrologer about when Lucknow will lift the trophy?
I did. I did. Beyond that I can't say, but I did.
In your generation, from Sir Hariram Goenka ji to now Shashwat Goenka, there are certain things that are passed down from generation to generation in every legacy. What has been passed down in your family, something that has come down from your great-grandfather?
First, the value systems. We must not take anyone's money. We must not cheat anyone. And this is taught from childhood that if you do wrong to someone, it will come back to you twofold. So this must never be done. So let me give you an example. I had someone very close to me. He was doing a lot of harm to me. This is a matter of seven, eight, ten, twelve years ago. I was helping him at that time. Some unfortunate incidents happened with him. I said, 'Good, he deserved it,' and I was happy. Three or four months later, the same thing happened with me. I got a slap, and I learned the lesson too. Although I hadn't done anything wrong, I had enjoyed that moment, I had relished it. This is what they always used to say. But that day, first you followed it because you were told; that day that lesson became a conviction. Value systems, transparency, honesty, these things have been carried forward. Belief in karma is very important, very important. You will get both good and bad. It may come in this very birth. Now, I believe in past births and I believe in rebirth too. So I don't know whether in this birth or the next. But there are many people I know who keep doing wrong to others, yet nothing bad has happened to them so far. So who knows, maybe something will happen in the next birth.
Sir, I interviewed Arjun Tendulkar, and it was a much-discussed interview. A lot was talked about it. I asked Arjun this question too, and I ask you the same. When your father creates a very big legacy, then carrying that name and surname, does it become strength on your shoulders or a burden? And does it ever cross your mind that if there were no comparison and you had your own individual identity, the path might have been easier, or was this itself a blessing?
