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FATHER OF INDIAN HOTELIERING RAI BAHADUR M. S. OBEROI, PASSES AWAY
13 May 2002
3 May 2002, Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, a legend who worked tirelessly to put the Indian hotel industry on the world tourism map, passed away peacefully. He was 103. 

The father figure of the Indian hotel industry, Rai Bahadur M.S.Oberoi's name stands tall among the country's legendary heroes. He was among the first to recognize the potential of the tourism industry, its ability to contribute to India's economic growth and generate direct and indirect employment. 

"His passing away is an irreplaceable loss. He was my mentor, father and friend….always a pillar of strength for the family and members of The Oberoi Group. His presence will be sorely missed", said Mr. P.R.S. Oberoi on the passing away of his father, Rai Bahadur M. S. Oberoi. 

Born in the erstwhile undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan, Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi started his career in 1922 in Shimla, as a clerk. His life exemplified an inspirational success story of a self-made man. As Chairman, Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi, steered The Oberoi Group towards becoming one of the country's first and best-known international hospitality companies. Under his stewardship and visionary leadership, The Oberoi Group diversified into varied sectors of the tourism industry, including domestic and international travel and tour services, flight catering, corporate air charter services, airport restaurants, and project management. 

Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1962 and in 1972. He was also elected to the Lok Sabha in 1968. 

Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi was the first to employ women in the hospitality sector. He founded The Oberoi School of Hotel Management, now renamed The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, the only privately run institution recognised by the prestigious International Hotel Association. 

Rai Bahadur M.S.Oberoi was the recipient of many prestigious national and international awards and accolades. The most prestigious awards include admission to the Hall of Fame by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA); Man of The World by the International Hotel Association (IHA) New York; Order of The Republic -- First Class conferred by the President of Egypt; Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the International Management Centre, Buckingham, UK; named by Newsweek as one of the "Elite Winners of 1978" and the PHDCCI Millennium award in 2000. In 2001, the Government of India accorded him the Padma Bhushan.

A national icon, Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi's achievements and success never eroded his simplicity and old fashioned charm. He retained a unique humility and said - " I have been able to accept the challenge and make good -- there is comfort in knowing that whatever little I have achieved has also helped to raise the prestige of my country". 

Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi's demise leaves a void, which the country will find difficult to fill. The nation will miss his undeterred dedication though his vision will continue to serve as the guiding force for the Indian hospitality industry. 

PROFILE

Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi

Chairman, EIH Limited

Early Life

Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi was born on August 15, 1898, in the erstwhile undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan. Mohan Singh was only six months old when his father died. Success and fortune did not come easily or on a silver platter. Initiative, resourcefulness and hard work, combined with the capability to face and overcome the most overwhelming odds, can best characterise this phenomenal entrepreneur.

He completed his primary education in Rawalpindi, and moved on to Lahore where he obtained his Bachelor's degree. Shortly thereafter, to flee the ravages of a virulent plague, Mr. Oberoi went to seek his fortune in Shimla, the summer capital of British India. Arriving penniless, he found a job, at a salary of Rs 50 a month, as a front desk clerk, at The Cecil Hotel.

The diligence, enthusiasm and intelligence displayed by Mr. Oberoi greatly impressed Mr. Grove, the manager of the hotel. A quick learner, Mr. Oberoi did not restrict his efforts to fulfill the job description of a desk clerk but sought and shouldered many additional responsibilities. A few years later when Mr. Clarke acquired a small hotel, he requested that Mr. Oberoi assist him. It was here, at the Clarkes Hotel, that Mr. Oberoi gained first hand experience in all aspects of hotel operations.

The Budding Entrepreneur

In 1934, Mr. Oberoi acquired his first property -- The Clarkes Hotel -- from his mentor, by mortgaging his wife's jewelry and all his assets. Four years later he signed a lease to takeover operations of the five hundred room Grand Hotel in Calcutta which was up for sale following a cholera epidemic. With his customary confidence, attention to detail and sheer drive to succeed, he was able to convert this property into a highly profitable business venture.

It was in 1943 that Mr. Oberoi, in one grand sweep, acquired the controlling interest in the Associated Hotels of India (AHI) which owned the Cecil, and Corstophans in Shimla, the Maidens and the Imperial in Delhi, and a hotel each in Lahore, Murree, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. Mr. Oberoi thus became the first Indian to run the largest and finest hotel chain. In these tumultuous years just prior to Indian independence, Mr. Oberoi met and interacted closely with the would-be leaders of Free India, all of whom were, at one time or the other, guests at his hotels.

The International Pioneer

Having consolidated his earlier ventures, Mr. Oberoi was the first to enter into an agreement with an internationally renowned hotel chain, to open the first modern, five star international hotel in the country, The Oberoi Intercontinental, in Delhi, in 1965.

The "I-Con", as it was popularly known, offered facilities which no other hotel in the country could remotely match. This achievement was further enhanced by the opening of the 35 storey Oberoi Sheraton in Mumbai, in 1973. He was the first Indian to do business with international chains, with the intention of opening up the country to foreign travellers who would be able to access hotels in India through a worldwide reservation system. This led to a heavy influx of international travellers and foreign occupancy soared to an average of 85%, thus making the chain of Oberoi hotels a major contributor to India's foreign exchange earnings.

Another pioneering landmark was the establishment in 1966 of the prestigious Oberoi School of Hotel Management, recognized by the International Hotel Association in Paris. Considered India's premier institute, the school is now known as The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development which provides high quality professional training in hospitality management.

Other notable firsts were the decision to employ women in his hotels and to establish a chain of ancillary industries producing and supplying items like soap and stationery to ensure perfect quality.

The Oberoi Group was also the first to start flight catering operations in India, in 1959. The Oberoi Flight Services located at Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai provide in-flight meals of international quality to reputable airlines.

Mr. Oberoi realized that the hotel and hospitality business is greatly dependent on travel agents, a vital element in the distribution chain. He decided to establish his own travel agency, and was the first person to do so after Independence. Mercury Travels, a part of The Oberoi Group, ranks amongst the leading travel agencies in India. 

With a characteristic vision and imagination, he converted dilapidated palaces, historical monuments and buildings into the most magnificent hotels such as The Oberoi Grand in Calcutta, the historic Mena House in Cairo and The Windsor in Australia. It was in fact in the face of severe opposition that Mr. Oberoi was awarded the lease of The Windsor, a heritage building in Melbourne, by the State Government of Victoria. He personally supervised the restoration of the hotel to its original grandeur and later went on to acquire it. The Cecil in Shimla, built in the early 20th Century, reopened in April 1997, after an extensive and meticulous renovation.

Awards and Honors

In 1943 Mr. Oberoi was conferred the title of Rai Bahadur by the British Government in recognition of his services to the Crown. This was just the beginning. Since then, Mr. Oberoi has won much acclaim and received several national and international awards including among others, admission to the Hall of Fame by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA); Man of The World by the International Hotel Association (IHA) New York; Order of The Republic -- First Class conferred by the President of Egypt; Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the International Management Centre, Buckingham, UK; and named by Newsweek as one of the "Elite Winners of 1978" and the PHDCCI Millennium award in 2000. In 2001, the Government of India accorded him the Padma Bhushan.

Globalisation of The Oberoi Group

To place The Oberoi Group on the world map, Mr. Oberoi exported management expertise to Australia, Egypt and Singapore where the Group took on the management of existing luxury hotels. The success of the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts overseas in the face of global competition greatly enhanced the image of the Group.

Today, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in Bali and Lombok, The Mena House Oberoi in Cairo, The Lanka Oberoi in Colombo, The Windsor in Melbourne, Rajvilas in Jaipur, Amarvilas in Agra, Wildflower Hall in Mashobra, Vanyavilas The Oberoi Mauritius and The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh in Egypt add value and distinction to their host countries.

Amongst the World's Best

The tremendous success of The Oberoi Group can be gauged by the fact that thirteen Oberoi Hotels are members of the 'Leading Hotels of The World', a prestigious association to which hotels are admitted after a vigorous inspection. Twelve Oberoi Hotels are among 'The 300 best Hotels of The World' list published by Harpers and Queen magazine. 

The Group now employs 12,000 people worldwide and owns or manages 37 luxury and first class international hotels in seven countries.

The Foundations of the Future

Under Mr. Oberoi's dynamic leadership, The Oberoi Group introduced its second brand of first class international hotels in leisure and business destinations under the name of Trident Hotels. The first Trident opened in Chennai in 1988. Currently there are six Tridents in India -- Agra, Cochin ,Chennai, Jaipur ,Khajuraho and Udaipur-- and three in the Middle East. The Group plans are to open four more Trident Hotels in India by the year 2004 and new properties are under construction in Gurgaon, Pune, Mumbai and Delhi. 

In the luxury hotel category, the Group recently opened Vanyavilas, Ranthambhor Amarvilas, Agra, Wildflower Hall, Mashobra in the Himalayas, The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt and The Oberoi, Mauritius. Among the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts planned in India are: Udaivilas, Udaipur and Jaivilas, Jaisalmer. The new hotels planned overseas is in Ubud, Indonesia.

Mr. Oberoi's achievements and successes did not however, take away his simplicity and old fashioned charm. He retained a unique humility about himself and said, "I have been able to accept the challenge and make good -- there is comfort in knowing that whatever little I have achieved has also helped to raise the prestige of my country".

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