This autobiography is an incredible journey of a person’s ever happening life. There are so many real life stories that he depicts in the book that you will not feel like keeping the book down. Am a slow reader and this book kept me away from my sleep for a few straight nights. In few of the incidents described, it almost feels like an intense bollywood (even Hollywood at times) thriller which makes it a real page turner. One of the best Indian autobiographies I have read, for sure. Actually, the next best action packed autobiography that comes any closer is Sir Richard Branson’s ‘Losing My Virginity‘! (Am yet to read ‘NUTS‘, am told that’s the best one!)
Capitan Gopinath’s life story is like a Bollywood masala movie where the hero grows up from a poor family and builds many large profitable companies through his 100% dedication, commitment and focus towards his final goal. Only difference, this one’s for real! I never knew that he did farming for more than 10 years (even won the prestigious Rolex award for it) and founded India’s first helicopter company with so much difficulty. When I say so many difficulties, you got to read the book to understand the hurdles he faced to start. The first helicopter was given the needed approval just minutes before the inauguration!
His life has been so eventful, be it his schooldays, Defence Academy times or the farming days. The first ever crop that he sown got washed off due to a heavy rainfall that looked like it will never stop. The number of posts and pillars he was asked to roam around for getting all kinds of legal and bureaucratic approval (for his helicopter company) might even numb your eyes. The learning from each and every incident from his life feels so close to your heart because at one point in time or other you would have had seen such things happen to people near and dear to you, but reading it first hand just overwhelms you. What will also interest you is his commitment toward not giving bribe to anyone AT ALL. There were many situations where he was put in a fix to bribe the next person or department but his commitment and will power for not given any bribe ever to anyone just shows how things CAN be done, if you really go for it.
His experiences in the helicopter business is incredible, the kind of customers who asked for his services, his personal favourite trip from Singapore to India in the new helicopter is worth the mention. And his story of John Gary (author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus) and Swami Kaleshwar is just hilarious.
Then comes his best venture – Air Deccan. What an inspiring journey. I have travelled this Airline and it truly touched everyone’s imagination. The idea that every common man can fly and not just dream, became a reality. It scaled new heights and Indian Aviation Industry changed for the good. Jet Airways and Indian Airlines tried all kinds of tricks on them but failed. Later unfortunate things started happening when Kingfisher Airlines and Spicejet came into business. Another sad incident happened in the technology side of Air Deccan, the company that built the Information Technology infrastructure for Air Deccan secretly started building its own Airlines. That Airline is Indigo!
By the time you reach the Kingfisher story, you would have become a fan of this person (like I) but when you read the full story of Mr. Vijay Mallya and how his misdirected leadership lead Air Deccan to die its unnatural death, you will realize how a person who has multiple business interests cannot live a dream like a person who’s only dream was to take every Indian to the skies.
Rough times in the industry, bad infrastructure and back stabbing lead Captain Gopinath to shake hands with Kingfisher and rest as they say is history.
You can buy it on amazon or flipkart. If you have already read it, do share your thoughts by putting your comments here.
This is one of the best books I have read already. This book really taught me so many things about airline industry and breaks a lot of myths we have ourself (why cant they provide free meal on air?) .. You should also read "I too have a dream" by Verghese Kurien. That book too is an incredible journey like this book .
Manish
Thankyou so much for the comment here Manish. Yes, I too was very inspired by this book. Will surely read 'I too have a dream'. If you are interested in knowing more about low cost airlines, do read NUTS, have started that one now, it's a must. Like Richard Branson's book, this one is also is a must or I have heard! Thanks again. Keep Reading! 🙂
Very nicely expressed..Wanna read this book, now 🙂
Hey Dipa, hope you got the time to read this book! 🙂