Shri L.M.S. Rajwar: Remembering A Legend
VK Sharma
Shri L.M.S. Rajwar: Remembering A Legend
It is important to have a role model in our life. Role models motivate and act as a beckon for an individual, society or an organisation. They teach us to uncover our true potential and overcome our obstructions. They help us to grow and remain integral part of our life. In the current times also, the society that we live in and organisations that we work for needs a role model, as eminent as Late Shri. L. M.S. Rajwar.
Shri L.M.S. Rajwar, former Chairman & Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) passed away on Saturday, 28th November, 2015 at Bangalore at the age of 86 years. He served as the Chairman & Managing Director of SCI from 23rd October 1985 to 21st December 1989. His contribution is not only significant to the shipping industry but also to the nation. Many stalwarts in the Shipping Industry today were groomed under his leadership. An officer and leader of very high integrity, Shri. Rajwar played a very important role in building and shaping the course of shipping industry in India and continues to guide same while in heaven.
Not many people may be aware that in 1988, during the peak of the Iran-Iraq war, Shri. Rajwar (He was CMD of SCI at that time) sailed on a vessel for a return voyage from Dubai to several ports in middle east to raise the morale of the officers and crew. One of the SCI tankers was hit by a missile which (fortunately) did not explode but it created huge fear among the seafarers. Shri. Rajwar led by example and decided to sail for one complete voyage. Our oil tankers were the only source to import crude oil from middle east and what a disaster it could have been if our refineries did not have these necessary imports.
Shri. Rajwar was born on 22nd December 1928 in Gadhwal. He was an outstanding student. In 1952 he joined UP Provincial Services and In 1953 he joined, the most sought after and prestigious, Indian Civil Services. He was deputed on various important assignments till 1964.
In 1964, he joined Prime Minister’s Office( PMO). Late Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the then Prime Minister. He worked very closely with the Prime Minister Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri. Some close and reliable sources say that the famous slogan of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” was creation of Shri. L.M.S. Rajwar. He was an outstanding writer with high proficiency in Hindi and English. He wrote speeches for the then prime minister Shri. Lal Bahadur Shastri.
His journey into Shipping Industry started in 1966, when he joined The Shipping Corporation of India as Deputy Manager. He represented India in several UNCTAD conferences.
Major Achievements
One of the incredible achievements of getting World Bank loan for 6 tankers( World Bank does not finance commercial shipping). He was instrumental in structuring the loan and arranging long term charter with Indian Oil Corporation.
In September 1977, he was appointed Managing Director of Irano Hind. These were difficult times for Iran due to war. Shri. Rajwar was there for 5 years.
In early 1984 he was appointed on the board of Shipping Corporation of India.
On 22nd Oct 1985 he was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of The Shipping Corporation of India.
He improved the profitability of SCI. He had to take some tough decisions which involved scrapping of old general cargo ships. Running of these vessels was no more profitable and as a matter of fact they caused losses to the company.
Planned acquisition of LPG tankers and Chemical tankers in the SCI fleet which have become since then the backbone of Indian LPG FOB imports as well imports of Phospheric acid.
In 1986, he was appointed chairman of Prospective Planning Group whose task was to prepare prospective plan for shipping with time frame 2000 AD. This report was very highly rated and was praised in writing by World Bank. This report also received high accolades from Asian Development Bank. Some of the technological innovations predicted in the report are still happening. Computerised Command and Control system is one such prediction which deserves mention here.
Shri. Rajwar retired from The Shipping Corporation of India on 22nd December 1989.
Shri. Rajwar is also accredited for reviving India Steamship. He remained Managing Director of India Steamship for 12 years.
“The first thing that comes to my mind is his ready smile whenever you met him, extremely amiable person, very soft spoken, he is one of the most knowledgeable and well-read person that I have come across. For every problem, he used to have not one but alternate solutions. He would never trumpet his achievements” remembers Mr. S. Hajara, Chief advisor, Elektrans Global Group, former Chairman of The Shipping Corporation of India (2005-2013).
“He was an officer of very very high integrity. He had the courage to take bold steps to protect the interests of SCI” says Mr. Kamal Kant Kothari, Former Director Finance, The Shipping Corporation of India. Mr. Kothari remembers him as a very humble and helpful person.
“He was very simple in his approach in tackling problems. He will also be remembered for his deep concern about well-being of persons working in his team.
He would explain to his team the reasons for taking a particular decision thereby mentoring them for their future decision making.” remembers Mr. Vijay Handa, Senior Vice President, Shipping, Reliance Industries Ltd.
As Terry Pratchett( Going Postal) once said “Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”
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A Tribute by Capt. Virendra N Mishra.
We would like to thank following eminent personalities without their contribution this tribute would not have been possible:
Mr. Sabyasachi Hajara, former Chairman & Managing Director, SCI
Mr. Kamal Kant Kothari, Former Director Finance, SCI
Mr. Vijay Handa, Sr. Vice President, Shipping, Reliance Industries.