A 67-year-old Leading Lady' sees modern women as too quick-tempered'
When I was interviewing inspirational women who have emerged as post-independent India's most prominent professionals, entrepreneurs and corporate heads, for my book, 'Leading Ladies: Women Who Inspire India' not many had chosen to speak of their personal relationships.
Lila Poonawalla, 67, philanthropist and former chairperson and managing director of Alfa Laval India was one of the exceptions. She was quick to speak about the Significant Other in her life - Firoz Poonawalla whom she met almost by accident.
*The couple that parties together and has fun together, stays together, says Lila Poonawalla, seen here with her husband, Firoz. (Photos: WFS) |
A mechanical engineer by training, Lila always knew she wanted to be different. So she consciously chose to be a mechanical engineer, preferring to soil her hands "on the shop floor to being trapped in a laboratory, doing research... I wanted some action in life."
But that was easier said than done. She first went looking for a job to the large companies in Pune, including Bajaj Auto and Telco (now Tata Motors), that turned her away saying that they did not employ women!
Lila, with characteristic optimism, saw such rejections as a sign of destiny's kindness, since it had something even more important in store for her. As she put it, "I am glad I did not join the Tatas and Bajajs because, if I had, I would never have got the opportunities I did in this smaller company."
It was this quiet confidence that led her to the eventful first day at Ruston & Hornsby to meet with a senior engineer at the company, who was entrusted the job of escorting its first female junior apprentice engineer from the bus stop to its offices.
That young man, Firoze Poonawalla, was destined to be her husband and her closest companion. Said Lila, "I knew the moment I saw him that he was the one I would marry."
Firoz put Lila through the paces at work. Their marriage followed almost a year later, but it came with a fairly heavy price: The company had a policy that discouraged married couples from working together.
Since Lila had got her break here after a long search, Firoz decided to step down and look for employment elsewhere. He felt his young wife needed to fulfill her career aspirations. Not many spouses would have done this.
"That has been the nature of our relationship. We looked out for each other and cared and nurtured each other so that both had space to grow," Lila said. A few years ago, when Firoz decided to set up a floriculture unit to grow roses, the fond husband named the company Fila Roses (after their two names, Firoz-Lila). Incidentally, their home in the outskirts of Pune is called Fili Villa!
Being married to a woman like Lila must have had its share of challenges for Firoz. She headed corporate entities and was on the boards of many reputed companies in India; she is a recipient of many national and international awards, including the Padma Shri, from the President of India in 1989 and the Polar Star in 2003, from the King of Sweden.
She was constantly flying around the world to attend board meetings and sell dairy equipment in places like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Russia. She has been on the governing body of organisations like the Confederation of Indian Industries, besides being the chairperson for Agro Food Processing.
She also served as a member of the scientific advisory board of the Central Cabinet (SAC-C) and was chairperson of the Herbal and Floriculture Taskforce of SAC-C.
So how did Firoz cope? At a reading of 'Leading Ladies...' a few months ago, Firoz, himself an engineer of repute and one of the brains behind the Quality Circle Forum of India's Pune chapter, made some heart-warming revelations.
On a cherished vacation: Lila and Firoz Poonawalla. The couple shares a common love for travel and photography |
In the early days of their marriage, he said, when Lila's career graph was zooming and her work involved travelling, he would literally have to check her diary to keep track of her.
Once, when their wedding anniversary came around and Lila was again away from home, Firoz decided to check her diary and found that she would be in transit at an airport in Europe en route to another meeting.
He decided to surprise her: He still remembers with a chuckle her look of shock when she found him sitting patiently on an airport bench near the arrivals' gate of the airport.
While Lila remains one of the most sought after corporate consultants in India today, she continues to do what she has always done: Be there for Firoz.
Said she, "For years I would wake up at 5 am, cook lunch for Firoz and me and wake him up for our breakfast, before setting off for work. I love cooking for him even today and he loves the fact that I still find the time to do that for us.
"Women these days are too quick-tempered, too ready to walk out marriages. If you commit to a relationship, give it your everything, life will become so easy."
Lila's meteoric rise in the corporate world meant the couple had no children. Not for a moment does she regret that, instead thanking the almighty for the large family of daughters she now has.
Since 1996, the Lila Poonawalla Foundation has funded the education of almost a thousand girls, giving them scholarships to become doctors, surgeons, architects, designers - careers they probably would never have had if they had not come across this handsome woman with her flashing eyes and shock of curly hair.
When the Foundation is not keeping them occupied, Lila and Firoz love to socialise. Every year they take off on an overseas tour, exploring the countryside, eating in quaint restaurants, indulging in their hobby of photography and acquiring collectibles.
In fact, their collection of memorabilia grew so large that the couple actually moved out of one house and into Fili Villa, so that their cherished possessions had a proper home!
Said Lila, summing up this rich life of partnership, "The time we spend together over our shared hobbies and in travelling keeps our relationship strong and always interesting." Women's Feature Service
SHE TAUGHT ME TO GO FOR MY DREAMS'
Lila Poonawalla says the impact Manek Sunderji had on her continues to sustain even today
Success for a teacher means motivating students to believe that they can achieve what they have not dreamed of before. My teacher Ms Manek Sunderji did just that. She made a tremendous impact on my life.
I was not a very bright student. She made me believe that each one of us has a huge reservoir of untapped potential for achievement, success, and happiness. She made me realise that every step along the way to achieving a goal is just as important as the last step. It is not the achievement of a goal that is so important; it is what you become in the process.
Today, I am thankful to her for all the values that she taught me. Maybe she did not realise the influence she was having on me, but the impact that she made continues to sustain till today.
I was very fond of playing baseball. I felt great when I used to hit the ball and reach the first base. I felt that I had done my job and thought that it was up to the other players to hit so that I could move on till I reached the home base. She, through her unassuming ways, made me realise that making it to the first base gave you only a few points. But, it is with the support of the complete team that you are able to win and that just making it to the bases did not count.
She made me turn a new leaf in life. Her lessons have had a far-reaching impact on my role as a corporate head.
Ms Sunderji taught me to dream. She made me understand that people who can dream are the ones most likely to realise them. Every word of what she told me has made me what I am today. I still continue to dream and realise them one at a time. She also taught me about discipline, which I cherish even today.
She inculcated the thought in me that any day we wish to we can open the book that opens our mind to knowledge beyond boundaries. Any day we wish we can start a new activity. It is our own mind that makes things happen.
Often she used to speak wise words. One day she told me, "Lila, you have the ability to transform every area of your life and its all beings with your very own self-discipline. Remember, it is the power of your own choice. Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
Thank you, my teacher for contributing to the changes, the successes, and the joys of my life.
Lila Poonawalla is Padmashree award winner and chairperson of Lila Poonawalla Foundation
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