The day GMR’s eyes welled up

Hyderabad: How does a fan feel if he or she happens to meet his or her favourite star? He or she would be overjoyed as it would be one’s most cherished moment in the life. While this may be true for lesser mortals like us, we probably haven’t been a witness to such expressions of joy from heads of business empires, until Friday when the GMR group chief proved otherwise.

The occasion was an inaugural function of an online initiative to reduce malnutrition in the city on Friday evening. The talk about the malnutrition turned into a public expression of mutual appreciation between Tata Group chairman emeritus Ratan Tata and his admirer and GMR chairman Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao.

Lauding the humbleness of the head of Rs 25,000-crore group, Tata said in a tone tinged with joy: “Rao has been very modest... When you look around you and see what Rao and his company has done... the quality of which they have elevated in many things they had built... Rao, you should feel very satisfied. I feel very proud to be sitting here with you.”

Visually elated by words of praise by none other than his role model, Rao replied: “Sir, you are my role model. We have to build our group the way you did..” said a chipy GMR, who could not stop the tears of joy rolling down his eyes.

Understanding the emotions behind the words, the gleeful Tata said: “Maybe, we should just hug now” — a comment that took the audience by surprise while they remained spellbound watching the conversation between two giants who burst out in laughter.

The body language of Tata and Rao also expressed the reverence that the GMR Group chairman had for the architect of a nearly $100-billion group.