SIMPLY FLY -A DECCAN ODYSSEY by Capt.G.R.Gopinath is an Amazing Autobiography.
It is a Bare All - Down to earth honest biography of a Rags to Riches Entrepreneur somewhat similar to Sir Richard Bronson’s "Losing my Virginity"
The book gives you a first hand insight into the gradual progression and maturation of an entrepreneur.It talks at length about Identifying a Business Opportunity, Planning & Relentless pursuit of the project at a frenetic pace till it happens within a time frame.Handling the stubborn bureaucracy a stumbling block is another story within the story.
The book shows that Entrepreneurship is all about seizing the Opportunity and putting men and materials in place with speed to make it happen. As aptly said by Gopinath- "You must dream your own dreams, have courage to follow dreams",
Capt Gopinath is born poor in a remote village near Hubli.His father is a poor school teacher, but Rich in Values.He used to teach Gopinath for 2 hours before walking to his school and for two hours after walking back.Capt Gopi was exposed to the writings of all great Indian Leaders & most of the European & American leaders and thinkers.The book is heavily interspersed with timely quotes from all the above Leaders and is a great resource for quotes on motivation, leadership etc.
He gets into Sainik school Bijapur as a rustic village boy, gets into National defense academy & graduates as an officer.He gets commissioned as an officer in the Artillery wing of the Army.He shares vivid details of the 1971 Bangladesh war and the death and destruction, He also shares his experience in patrolling remote borders in harsh conditions.
He leaves the army as he didn’t enjoy it beyond an initial stint of 8 years.To the surprise of every one he chooses to farm the barren jungle land allotted to his family.He shares in depth about the travails of a poor farmer.he buys donkeys to water his field and bullock carts to move his produce.He struggles with his farm for a decade.When the farm takes shape, he starts sericulture; Practices bio farming and goes to great lengths explaining the ecological balance in bio farming.He goes on to win the ROLEX award for Excellence in sericulture.
After establishing the farm he moves to Hubli, establishes a motorcycle agency, runs a udipi hotel, further sets up a Agriculture consultancy and moves to Bangalore all the time learning from all the trials and tribulations.
In Bangalore Gopinath comes in touch with his Ex Army buddies, Capt Sam & Capt Vishnu both Helicopter pilots.They are not comfortable post retirement as there are no avenues for employment in the private sector.It is then the idea of a Helicopter charter company takes shape.Gopinath and his buddy Sam get into the nitty gritty of the project and run from pillar to post fighting the bureaucracy without paying bribes for more than two years when they get the NOC & license.Then begins the hunt with manufacturers, regional regulatory bodies & funding.
It has a nail biting start with permission to fly released just 30minutes before scheduled launch.He shares rare anecdotes of a village girl gifting a chopper lift for her retired father;A brother getting his sister’s marriage solemnized in the helicopter.and the heli tourism around bangalore and Vaishnodevi.
After establishing the Heli charter he successfully gets into charter of planes.This makes him think about starting an airline. Gopinath feels the need for a Udipi Hotel type model.No frills Low cost airline.He strongly feels that the common man must fly.It all starts with a press release about their intent to launch a low cost airline with airfares priced just above 3AC ticket.This time politicians & Bureaucrats give all possible help( they want air connectivity to their constituencies) and Deccan Airlines is born.
He shares intricate and innovative details for cutting costs like internet ticketing, single class, advertising, no in-flight refreshments etc.He sets a blistering pace for expansion -orders for Rs 12000 crore worth of airbus planes with just Rs 1 crore in the bank.
Due to entry of other low cost airlines, predatory pricing, poor airport infrastructure, long waiting in the airports to land wasting precious fuel, the profits of Deccan takes a downward spiral.Add to this poaching of manpower by rivals.The downward spiral intensifies.
Vijay Mallya is an eager prospective buyer.With a Heavy Heart Gopinath sells AirDeccan for saving jobs and keeping the airline afloat.
He sees an opportunity in Air Cargo & Logistics and once again gets going with his trusted buddies Sam & Vishnu to start Deccan 360
This book will surely charge up all budding Entrepreneurs& Enthusiasts.