Ghoshal: Change manager and avid art collector

He had also done a case study on Nicholas Piramal. That was even before we believed that we could become a global company. But he would encourage us, and other Indian companies, to go global.

We learnt a lot from him personally, and used several of his inputs on the company.

His book Managing Radical Changes was a path-breaking one at that time. Instead of focussing on a particular sector, he talked about how in any sector, companies can restructure and become successful.

We gained immensely from his insights.

His knowledge of companies was profound. He was advising many European and American companies on how transformation should be managed. Many Indian firms also gained from his strategies.

Once he related a story about when he was teaching at INSEAD (an institute for management studies) in Europe. Near his house was the Fontainebleau forest, and he said that everytime he went there he felt very energetic.

He said a company should be like that—where people are joyful and enthusiastic. He said each leader’s goal should be to get such energy levels in his company.

As a person, Sumantra was friendly, and very down-to-earth. Whenever he would come over for dinner, it was sure to be an entertaining evening. He would be always questioning, challenging your mind. It was a great pleasure having him for dinner. You always came out learning something new.

What many people don’t know about him is that he loved art. He was a great collector of contemporary Indian art.

Sometimes he would take our two nieces and go to Mumbai’s Chor Bazaar. To pick up some antiques.

He was also very fond of good food. We would go to try out restaurants sometimes. He might be a writer acclaimed by The Economist, but at home he was happy with just a few samosas.

His death is a personal loss to us.

(As told to Shefali Anand)