I read this book in 2001. It was Gifted to me by my Manager Mr.Veeryanta Bhide in 1999 but never got time to read. I recently picked up "Dare To Dream" from my collection whilst researching for a training programme. Surprisingly, I came across some of the’gems’ which I had highlighted. One of them read: "The idea was never merely to make money. The compulsion was to think big, and let it happen. The profits would automatically come in." Other thoughts of Mr Rai Bahadur, ".quality costs money but it also brings in more money.", ".We do it every time." and there are many more sprinkled throughout the book. Though my edition is nearly 14 years old, the business lessons are as current as yesterday. This book is more than a biography, it is a book in business management about the hotel industry in India. Ms Karkaria could update this book and re-launch the book not only as a biography but resource reading in business management!
The book is a fascinating read. It is the story of a young boy from the village of Bhaun who dared to dream and succeeded. Having no father he was raised by a mother who lovingly brought him up and with her meagre resources launched him into the world. The boy started his career as a clerk in Hotel Cecil in Simla is today the owner of over forty luxury hotels in the world. The man M S Oberoi is as respected as Hilton in the world of hotels and the book details his saga of grit, determination and dreams fulfilled. The book has great insights into the world of hotel management, business and also has moving references to his family. The Australian racists swore they would not hand over their national treasure besides the Parliament building to a foreigner to restore and manage. Today the Hotel Oberoi in Melbourne is more Australian than the Australians. And M S Oberoi a national hero for restoring the pride of Australia. That is the quiet courage of the man. A book to be read by all young men and women with ambition, by all management students and by anyone interested in a fascinating Business story.
One of them read: "The idea was never merely to make money. The compulsion was to think big, and let it happen. The profits would automatically come in." Other thoughts of Mr Rai Bahadur, ".quality costs money but it also brings in more money.", ".We do it every time." and there are many more sprinkled throughout the book. Though my edition is nearly 8 years old, the business lessons are as current as yesterday.
Commercilazation
Synopsis of what I gathered from this book:-
M.S. Oberoi
*Born: August 15, 1898
Achievement: Founder of the Oberoi Group of Hotels; Honored with Padma Bhushan in 2001.*
M.S. Oberoi can be aptly termed as the father of the Indian hotel industry. Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi was among the first to recognize the potential of the tourism industry, its ability to contribute to India’s economic growth and generate direct and indirect employment. He worked tirelessly to put Indian hotel industry on global tourism map.
M.S. Oberoi was born on August 15, 1898, in the erstwhile undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan. He did his early schooling in Rawalpindi and completed his graduation from Lahore. In 1922, to escape the epidemic of Plague, he came to Shimla, and got a job of front desk clerk, at The Cecil Hotel at a salary of Rs 50 per month.
M.S. Oberoi was a quick learner and shouldered many additional responsibilities along with the job of desk clerk. M. S. Oberoi’s diligence prompted Mr. Clarke to request Mohan Singh Oberoi to assist him when he acquired Clarkes Hotel. At the Clarkes Hotel, M.S. Oberoi gained first hand experience in all aspects of hotel operations.
In 1934, M.S. Oberoi acquired The Clarkes Hotel from his mentor, by mortgaging his wife’s jewelry and all his assets. In 1938, he signed a lease to takeover operations of the five hundred room Grand Hotel in Calcutta, which was up for sale following a cholera epidemic.
In 1943, Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, acquired the controlling interest in the Associated Hotels of India(AHI) which owned the Cecil, and Corstophans in Shimla, the Maidens and the Imperial in Delhi, and a hotel each in Lahore, Murree, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. He thus became the first Indian to run the largest and finest hotel chain.
In 1959, The Oberoi Group became the first group to start flight catering operations in India. In 1965, M.S. Oberoi opened the first modern, five star international hotel in the country, The Oberoi Intercontinental, in Delhi. In 1966 he established the prestigious Oberoi School of Hotel Management, recognized by the International Hotel Association in Paris. In 1973, The Oberoi Group opened the 35 storey Oberoi Sheraton in Mumbai. Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi was the first to employ women in the hospitality sector.
*Today, The Oberoi Group owns or manages 37 luxury and first class international hotels in seven countries.
M.S. Oberoi was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1962 and in 1972. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha in 1968.
M.S. Oberoi was recipient of many awards and honours. In 1943, he was conferred the title of Rai Bahadur by the British Government. Other honors include admission to the Hall of Fame by the American Society of Travel Agents(ASTA); Man of The World by the International Hotel Association(IHA) New York; named by Newsweek as one of the "Elite Winners of 1978" and the PHDCCI Millennium award in 2000. M.S. Oberoi was honored with Padma Bhushan in 2001.
M.S. Oberoi passed away on May 3, 2002 at the age of 103
Pls post your comments( actually in my earlier review about the movie Water I was thinking of posting review on Just Married & Hattrick but changed my mind after watching these flicks. I Didn’t want to bore you with useless filmy reviews)
:-)
HHM.*