Thursday, October 4, 2012

RIP Ramnath Goenkaji

I want to take a moment from this chaotic Friday morning and pay my respect to Ramnath Goenkaji (April 18, 1904 - October 5, 1991).

Anyone who has worked with The Express Group will know that it is not just a media house, it is not an employer, it is not a company you work for; it is an institution - like Janta in Bandra.

No, but seriously, it is like school - you hate it every time you have to attend it but as soon as you pass out, you wish you hadn't. The Indian Express is a place where you get your formative education in media. And even though you dislike it (because hey, hating your employer is your birthright), you miss it once you've left it and realise that it was probably the one place where you've had the best education. 

Anyone who has worked with the group will tell you that they are always happy to meet another ex-Express person. Whether a journalist or a sales manager, they will bond immediately. Because it is the common thread that binds you together. Then it doesn't matter if you got the stories out or the money in.

Every ex-employee of Express I have known and met remembers it fondly. And when they talk of their old company, you see the light return to their eyes.  

That is what The Indian Express does to you. And let's not even talk about a firebrand of a logo that it has. I love it! I think it captures the soul of a journalist.

So thank you, Goenkaji for founding this great media house (although I was very sad to see the iconic Express Towers pass into the hands of ICICI). I am forever grateful to you and I am sure I speak for all the ex-Indian Express employees.