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Journalism of Courage
Last week,friend and trade partner Shailesh Joshi called Lalit Sheth to wish him on a gushing full page interview in a Gujarati daily. The article described his business history,rise and even had a full profile shot. The photo was very good. He looked dynamic. I told him he looked like Dhirubhai Ambani, said Joshi. Sheth sounded casual and replied: Dhirubhai yes,but without the money.
The news of his death came as a shock to Joshi who spoke to him last around 10.30 am on Wednesday,just a little over two hours before Sheth jumped off Bandra-Worli Sea Link. For the past few days,he had been enquiring about some corporates as he was looking to make new business deals. He had been positive and even told me that things were taking a good turn. This is very confusing and came as a shock. He had also sent some documents and wanted an opinion on a business deal, he said.
Though a few round of notices from banks had depressed him,the indications were far and few. He was jovial. We saw the news on television and are wondering if this is the same person we knew for five years, said a neighbour at Gandhi Building,the Sheth family residence. Even in his death,like in his lifetime,Joshi said he never let anyone know if he was suffering from any problems.
Considered to be a big name in the industry,even his business rivals spoke of many innovations he brought about. From blankets and tissues in his bus service,to a personalised cook in foreign tours,Sheth knew the idea of travel,according to friends. He was also the first to introduce the concept of advertising travel through creative media packages.
He had started making profits and we would speak often. He had begun to streamline the debt and things were looking up for him. His ideas on new business and his frequent calls talking of fresh profits had been recent. And then this, added Joshi.
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