Aroon Sharma
Jan 2012

 I, indeed, savoured, “Whatever The Odds' by K.P. Singh. Not sequentially, though ! My primary pick was the chapter 'Winning Life Back' ( he tending to his wife, the lone survivor of a helicopter crash ). Then, the chapter 'DLF: Growth and Transition' ( his double-dip into the stream of sub-conscious – reconciliation-rancour-reconciliation with Haryana chief ministers of 80-90s, Bansi Lal in particular – incidentally, whom the columnist too had known, once ). Onto 'Building Lives' ( the DLF Foundation, his philanthropic effort  ). And a flip back to the the chapter 'Mysteries of Fate' ( he cheated death five times). It was here that I came upon 'K.P Singh on K.P. Singh' in a confessional of sorts:

“My years in England taught me sophistication, self confidence and also the value of relationships. My nine years as a cavalry officer taught me discipline and courage, as well as ethical behaviour and values. In the early stages of my real estate career, it was my rural and army background that allowed me to be accepted by farmers whose land I was trying to buy. My involvement with horse-breeding and polo gave me access to the people of influence and social mobility in India and abroad. My corporate involvement provided key lessons in management, leadership and networking, while marriage led me, unexpectedly to the birth of a business empire.”

Thereafter, 314 pages in a single go are an informative read, easy on the eye. He winds up: 'Thank You, Life'. I shut the book, lined it up in my bookshelf, whispering: 'Thank you, K.P. Singh'. Before and after the autography-real are about 10 pages each – customary to all books. In the start-pages, a trend setting novel style stands out: 'K.P. Singh asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work'. However, in the end-pages, one style is with which I don't agree with. The family tree of the Singhs has been charted down-upwards ? The lineage of nobility of K.P. Singh should be have been up-downwards – as reverential ethos are, the columnist so thinks, earnestly ? Well !

Rare glimpses of K.P. Singh's resilience; reserves of patience, retreat-advance perseverance and masterly persuasive tactics are an educative treat. It reminded me of a quote, on what a good book should be, by late Le Gallienne Richard. Says the British scholar-writer in 'Prose Francies': “Books, those miraculous memories of high thoughts and golden moods; those magical shells, tremulous with the secrets of the ocean of life; those honeycombs of dreams; those orchards of knowledge; those still-beating hearts of the noble dead; prisms of beauty; urns stored with all the sweets of all the summers of time; immortal nightingales that sing forever to the rose of life…..”

Each chapter charms. K.P. Singh has been through motley experiences. Each experience ends with an observation. Each observation adds up to the adage 'Keep Marching' whatever the odds. In  the chapter 'Chasing Rainbows', he recalls how he played countryside games like tip cat, made merry astride buffaloes, caught fireflies after Sunset and was marvel-struck at the emergence of rainbows after the clouds had drained themselves of rains, and the Sun had taken charge again. Who wouldn't share his exhilaration ?

 

K.P. Singh's observation: “I sometimes feel that I have been chasing rainbows all my life.” ( Who amongst us wouldn't empathise with him ? )

In the chapter, 'Life in England', K.P. was invited by a lady, Julie – a heiress lady love – to the paddock, for a cross country horse ride. He turned up in his usual easy-go dress, not in the regimen of a riding gear. This, added to his being a 'Brown' ( Asian ) and Julie on his side, the man in charge of allotting horses, a green-with-envy John handed him the reins of a 'frisky' horse. When Julie failed to out argue John to give her inexperienced consort a safer horse, John retorted, “He can either ride the horse I have given him or he can drop out.” K.P Singh took the challenge and completed the course.

His observation: “Horses have an uncanny ability to sense a rider's confidence and skill.”

In the chapter, 'Marching to the Army Beat', K.P. Singh made an attempt to run away from regimented schedule as a cadet at the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun, missing Julie badly as he was, was caught by the guards, hauled up before the commander of the Academy who pulled him up for his un-officer like qualities though with an option: “You will be seen as a coward who ran away despite being from a family with a lot of highly decorated officers. If you do not mind this stigma, I will help you run away. If not, think it over.” A remorseful K.P. Singh retreated, mulled over. He was back in olives. Later, he excelled at the Academy, as well active service in the famed Deccan Horse.

His observation: “It was my real first lesson in brilliant man management…. He ( the commander ) used warmth and advice to get me to think the way he wanted me to.”

In the chapter 'Learning the Ropes', he was the managing director of his father-in-law's Universal Electrical India Ltd in 1963. K.P. Singh states with perfect honesty, “I was not serious about business, preferring to breed horses at the stud farm…we ( he and his wife, Indira ) used to be invited to parties...till the day Indira and I came home at 5 a.m. and met his parents-in-law going out for the morning walk.” The father in law Chaudhry Raghuvendra Singh was at his sarcastic best or worst: “Some time you might also get to want more serious about your work and the business ?”

The Observation: “It was a rude jolt...the wake-up call I needed…the turning point.”              

Limitations of space won't permit me to go beyond these few anecdotal reliefs. I am past my prime. But I do come across entrepreneurs, virtually from every walk of life – ho and heaving at the proverbial base camp, summit well in sight, but not knowing how to step on and scale. This is THE book for them. There are lessons galore in 'The Incredible Story Behind DLF'. And if one has the will to learn -- the micro and macro management skills of K. P. Singh are (can be)  not only his or her survival but a success-kit.  

After thought: A little lacuna in the book did pinch me ? K.P. Singh hasn't shared any 'quote' of his wife, Indira (she underwent surgeries for a fractured spine, pelvis, and a leg; a hip replacement; chemo and radiotherapies for bone staphylococcus, a fungal infection, septicemia, even the dreaded small cell lung cancer) in the  chapter 'Winning Life Back' - which he, indeed, won for her ! Will subsequent editions have some ? That is if the Padma Bhushan awardee is not too private a persona ?