Mittals metal … n mettle
I had gone out for a family function last week. Met two bhaiyas of mine there, both big-shot industrialists. As we chatted about studies, family, jokes etc etc, conversation somehow led me to ask them a simple question; who was the best Indian businessman according to them. Didn’t get a unanimous answer though. They basically listed out the positives n negatives of each industrialist. (But one thing was definite n undebated – the Ambanis are chors). Mittal somehow never entered the discussion.
Now, after following all the news about the Arcelor developments, I don’t think there is anything left to debate. Laxmi Mittal is probably the definition of a self-made man. No inherited fortunes, no government backing, a late start in a traditional industry, and all the racism to deal with. N the man comes out trumps, creating the biggest steel group in the world in such a short time!! Bravo. Undoubtedly a brilliant man.
N whats more, he strikes the perfect balance about how to spend his money. He spent 30 million for his daughters wedding, probably has many other expensive tastes, but still does not have a playboy image. That’s because he keeps all this low-key. He is rich, he enjoys it, but he doesn’t flaunt it in front of the media. Media-friendly businessman, but not a media-savvy image.
Which made me watch his entire interview today on NDTV. I was expecting a suave smooth-talking typical English businessman. But no. Mittal is a person who holds his Indianness up his sleeve. He speaks totally non-accented English, with quite a few typical Indian errors creeping in (slightly Kapil Devish). Holds on to his Indian passport. When asked about the bid, he just gives a confident nonchalant shrug. No big words, no big self-righteous statements about all the injustice, no harps on racism. Just that shrug which says it all. Leave it to the share holders, he says. I will acquire it soon, u hear. He tells how he talked about the deal with the not-very-keen Arcelor CEO n gave him time to think. N how he was stalled by him for further discussions n that when he finally phoned him, the CEO hung up on him. ‘Line is bad’ was the excuse, he says with that typical smile of his. N what did he do. He put the entire proposal of the deal on the CEOs answering machine!!! Talk about brazen confidence n attitude. Boy, this guy deserves all our applause n support n more. Three cheers to Mittal metal. N Mittals mettle. N his Indianness.
N ya. He is a maru!
Now, after following all the news about the Arcelor developments, I don’t think there is anything left to debate. Laxmi Mittal is probably the definition of a self-made man. No inherited fortunes, no government backing, a late start in a traditional industry, and all the racism to deal with. N the man comes out trumps, creating the biggest steel group in the world in such a short time!! Bravo. Undoubtedly a brilliant man.
N whats more, he strikes the perfect balance about how to spend his money. He spent 30 million for his daughters wedding, probably has many other expensive tastes, but still does not have a playboy image. That’s because he keeps all this low-key. He is rich, he enjoys it, but he doesn’t flaunt it in front of the media. Media-friendly businessman, but not a media-savvy image.
Which made me watch his entire interview today on NDTV. I was expecting a suave smooth-talking typical English businessman. But no. Mittal is a person who holds his Indianness up his sleeve. He speaks totally non-accented English, with quite a few typical Indian errors creeping in (slightly Kapil Devish). Holds on to his Indian passport. When asked about the bid, he just gives a confident nonchalant shrug. No big words, no big self-righteous statements about all the injustice, no harps on racism. Just that shrug which says it all. Leave it to the share holders, he says. I will acquire it soon, u hear. He tells how he talked about the deal with the not-very-keen Arcelor CEO n gave him time to think. N how he was stalled by him for further discussions n that when he finally phoned him, the CEO hung up on him. ‘Line is bad’ was the excuse, he says with that typical smile of his. N what did he do. He put the entire proposal of the deal on the CEOs answering machine!!! Talk about brazen confidence n attitude. Boy, this guy deserves all our applause n support n more. Three cheers to Mittal metal. N Mittals mettle. N his Indianness.
N ya. He is a maru!
posted by Akshay at 1:22 PM
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