Late Rama Prasad Goenka was the quintessential Bengali whose faith in Bengal withstood the test of time. RP’s friends and industry captains on Thursday described him as the “makeover king” for changing lives.
For former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, RPG was like a brother. Reliving his association during his Presidency College days, Chatterjee said RPG commanded immense respect from a cross-section of politicians during his days as a Rajya Sabha MP (RPG was elected a Congress MP in 2000).
“His (RPG) name should be written in gold in the history of Bengal,” was how Chatterjee described RPG’s contribution to the State .
Recalling his days as the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) Chairman, Chatterjee commented on how he sought RPG’s help in seeking a turnaround in the industrial scenario of the State.
“Although I cannot say I was very much successful as WBIDC chairman, RP was always there to extend his helping hand. His contribution to Bengal can never be repaid,” he said at the condolence meeting.
Before leaving, the veteran politician came ahead to bless RP’s younger son Sanjiv. “Bhalo theko (keep well),” he told the younger Goenka.
Apart from Sanjiv, other family members that include Yashodhara (daughter of younger brother JP Goenka), GP Goenka of Duncans and GP’s son Shrivardhan were present at the condolence meeting organised jointly by the Indian Chamber of Commerce, FICCI, CII and MCC Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
SK Birla was the other prominent industrialist present at the condolence meeting.
Harshvardhan Neotia, Chairman Ambuja Neotia, and an old friend of Sanjiv, brought in personal meetings with “Rama babu” and the role he had in shaping Neotia.
“My tauji (uncle) Suresh Neotia was a friend of Rama babu and I would often accompany him to the Goenka household. I befriended Sanjiv only during my college years,” he said. The warmth that RPG exuded every time Neotia met him, RPG’s ability to mix across all political ideologies with equal ease and his steadfast loyalty to Bengal made RPG somebody to look up.
Calling RPG a “great Indian of our times”, Gaurav Swarup Managing Director, Paharpur Cooling Towers Ltd, said that RPG’s death was an “irreparable loss”. The “takeover specialist had interest is vast sectors from tyres to music”, he recalled.