Takeover tycoon R P Goenka dies at 83 in Kolkata

The business icon,regarded as a father figure in Kolkata’s business community was cremated at Keoratala burning ghat,where the last rites were performed by sons Harsh Vardhan and Sanjiv.

The baithak will ceremony will be held on April 15,2013.

Born in Kolkata on 1st March 1930,Rama Prasad Goenka studied in Presidency College. Later,he attended an advanced management programme of Harvard University in the USA.

The Goenka family traces its business origin back to 1820 when Ramdutt Goenka arrived from Dundlod in Rajasthan and started his business here.

After being associated with his family business for several years,Rama Prasad Goenka set up RPG Enterprises in 1979,which at that time had a modest turnover of Rs 100 crore. Braving choppy times R P Goenka expanded his industrial network across the country and beyond,with interests in tyres (CEAT),power generation and distribution (CESC),Infrastructure (KEC International),IT (Zensar),Retail (Spencer’s),Life Sciences,Chemicals (PCBL),Plantation (Harrisons Malayalam),as also Media & Entertainment (Saregama).

The turnover of the RPG Group,which for several years was among India’s fastest growing business houses,touched Rs 20,000 crore. The group expanded further in recent times under the leadership of his two sons,Harsha Vardhan and Sanjiv. Dr. Goenka remained till the time of his death Chairman Emeritus of RPG Enterprises and the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group.

Goenka also had been a Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2006). Along with his deep involvement in business,he was interested in education,especially business management,science and technology. He was chairman of the board of governors,IIT Kharagpur for two terms during which IIT Kharagpur made unprecedented progress. The institute also conferred on him a Doctor of Science in recognition of his contribution to Indian business and his deep commitment to spreading education,particularly in the field of technology and business management.

R P Goenka also founded,in collaboration with IMD-Switzerland,the International Management Institute (IMI),which now has three campuses in New Delhi,Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to management education and “towards promotion of the cause of industrialization in the country”,he recently received the Distinguished Management Fellowship Award,the highest honour of the Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management (IISWBM),University of Calcutta.

Rama Prasad Goenka is a past President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce & Industry. He was a Trustee of the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund,Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Amongst the other honours received by Goenka are ”The Order of the Sacred Treasure Gold and Silver Star” from the Emperor of Japan and the Lifetime Contribution Award from the All India Management Association (AIMA).

A legendary name in business,Goenka was a great believer in his country,and he inspired his companies to make their mark both in India and abroad. Until the time of his death,he was Chairman of CEAT,the tyre giant,CESC,one of India’s best known power companies with nearly 3 million consumers,as also the music company Saregama that has the largest repertoire of recorded Indian music from the beginning of the 20th century.

A deeply religious person,Goenka set up a number of temples,including the famed Mahalaxmi temple in Kolkata.

While chief minister Mamata Banerjee sent a wreath as her tribute,two of her cabinet colleagues Partha Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim visited the residence and expressed condolences. ”The legend is gone. We have lost a great friend and adviser,” Chatterjee said.