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People
This was no ordinary Grand Prix. On February 8, 1998, Vijay Mallya, 44, the CEO of the Rs 2,486.30-crore UB Group, organised a racing event to commemorate the centenary of UB's flagship, McDowell & Co.. The six racers--five CEOs and one pro in colourful driving suits--revved up to a flag-off at the Irrungattukotai (Tamil Nadu) dirt track, as a crowd of 700 watched. The participants included--apart from Mallya--Gautam Singhania (Raymond), T.T. Raghunathan (ttk Industries), A.V. Thomas (from the eponymous group), Nick Willman (Elf Lubricants), and K.D. Madan (former president, Federation of Motor Sports). Initially, Vijay led the pack, but a troublesome engine soon acted up, and Singhania zoomed ahead. In the final lap, it seemed like Vijay would drive away with the McDowell Trophy. But he slowed a wee bit--maybe out of courtesy--and Singhania hit the finishing line first. Gentlemen-hosts prefer finishing second, right? |
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He's the Indian babu who made it big on the Net. Sabeer
Bhatia, 29, the smart software cookie who began Hotmail, the free e-mail service
in January, 1996, with an investment of $300,000 (Rs 1.20 crore)--from venture capital
fund, David & Fisher--has arrived in the world of Bill Gates. On December 30, 1997, he
sold his company, Hotmail Corporation--the second-largest Internet based e-mail service in
the world, with 12 million subscribers----to Microsoft for $400 million (Rs 1,600 crore).
The Bangalore-born multi-millionaire is now redesignated general manager of Microsoft's
Hotmail division. Unfazed, Sabeer views it as the best alternative for the
financially-stretched Hotmail, and is busy adding more features, including instant
messaging services and on-line chats. Asked how he feels about Microsoft approaching him,
he says: "Usually, Indians have to go to the West for help and guidanceHere, we got
the better of them." Now, that's the best business quote since liberalisation 
He's righteous. And gutsy. Rajju
D. Shroff, 63, chairman, United Phosphorous Ltd (UPL)--a pesticides, chemicals,
and fertilisers manufacturer---won a $2.80-million (Rs 11.2 crore) suit in the Federal
Court of Illinois, US, against the Kansas-based Midlands Fumigant Company (MFC).
Apparently, the Rs 556-crore UPL was supplying a grain fumigant, sold under the brandname,
Quickphos, to MFC. To cut costs, the company asked Rajju to reduce the price of fumigant,
but he refused. So, MFC began selling a Chinese fumigant--of inferior quality--as
Quickphos. The product's reputation suffered, and, so, Rajju filed a suit. Two years
later, says a triumphant Rajju, who finds Indian products comparable to the best in the
world: "When we filed the suit, we were sure of winning." A case of and justice
for all? 