Many management trainees join a company of their choice. How many of them go on to become its director? Subir Raha did that at Indian Oil. And this is one of his humblest achievements in comparison.
Subir Raha is a legend in the PSUs management now. As the Chairman and MD of ONGC, Mr. Raha wrote a turnaround story which was never thought of before. His leadership qualities which tested and surpassed all expectations were subject matter of case studies in b-schools. We also remember him for his frequent conflicts with politician bosses. In the UPA government, the former Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and Petroleum Secretary S C Tripathi tried hard to clip his wings, but the efforts went in vain. In the end, the government had to deny him an extension at ONGC and thus ended one of the greatest turnaround stories in Indian PSUs. (During his tenure, ONGC’s market capitalization became 10 times larger)
Subir Raha, the man and the leader, died last Monday (Feb 1st, 2010). Here are two very good articles some Indian newspapers wrote in his memory.
Subir Raha was ONGC’s zest: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/subir-raha-was-ongc%5Cs-zest/384381/
ONGC became behemoth under Subir Raha http://www.dailypioneer.com/233262/ONGC-became-behemoth-under-Subir-Raha.html
On personal front, Subir Raha was a chain smoker. The press also covered his smoking habits. He suffered from Lung Cancer and after more than a year’s battle with cancer, Mr. Raha breathed his last three days back. It was a huge loss for the business world (and for fans like me). But it was just another victory for the disease.
Today is World Cancer Day (February 4th). Let his demise be remembered more in the light of its cause. Let us stop smoking. Let us stop cancer.
- Rahul
