It is not quite unusual for leading businessmen, politicians, actors, artists and men in public life to stay close to journalists. Although, these same people thrash out at scribes for 'misquoting' and spreading misleading news.The Late GA Menon, former Chairman of Toonz Animation India Ltd, and US Software Ltd belonged to a different category. Most often he seemed not too eager to get his 'byte' telecast or his quote to appear in the newspaper. Nevertheless, the US-based businessman who managed the affairs of the Comcraft Group would never miss an opportunity to meet up with key journos during each of his visits.
Most often he talked about his 'mistakes' and how he climbed the corporate ladder after working in a textile firm as statistician in Mumbai at a very low wage before migrating to USA. His tragic death a few years back while travelling in a flight along with his family was indeed a major loss for the companies that he managed but in his loss, perhaps, the media fraternity lost a 'unique' friend.
He was interested in 'lecturing' on business ethics and strategy even while holding press meets. A senior colleague of mine pointed this out during a press meet and Mr Menon felt offended. But later on they became good friends and used to call him up during each of his India visits until his tragic death.
I got reminded of Mr G A Menon when I recently met a senior employee of US Software. I told him briefly of the association of Kerala's business journalists with this business magnate.
I personally feel, most businessmen want to hog the limelight and want to tell the world how important it is to make value and money for the shareholder. But Late G A Menon talked in a different language, and that made all the difference.
