Harrish Bhatia Recollects Memories With Rajeev Karwal

In Rajeev’s going away, people lost a friend, a boss, a colleague but I lost my brother. We were not biological brothers but ever since I met him in May 1986 our bond was instant and brotherly. He was tough on performance but great support as a human being. And mind you, he was tough simply because he wanted me to excel and to succeed.

He was ahead of his time in his thinking and the ideas that he had and the knowledge he possessed made him way ahead of most of the senior colleagues We used to get completely taken aback and stunned by his analytical abilities and his thoughts. Rajeev was a true visionary.

Rajeev stood by me when the whole world turned its back and that included even some of my closest friends. He had complete faith in my integrity and abilities as much as my mother has in me. He had uncanny trait of reading people’s mind and understanding their real motives was something that used to surprise me. And when it came to me - he never asked me to explain things beyond a point and his trust in me was so great that at times I used to wonder as to how he knows me so well.

Rajeev was always upfront and never ever minced the words or hesitated in calling a spade - a spade. And he just didn’t bother about the consequences of being outspoken.
He loved people of high integrity and sincerity of purpose - a lesson he taught me very early. And that was in my formative days of being a professional – at the time of my joining him at Onida, Kanpur as a young executive.

Let me share some of his teachings, which at times he would also share on social media. He would always be thankful that God has made us all-powerful enough to be human. And that to be a good human should then be our main goal. He would tell everyone to start on the journey all by oneself by practicing to only allow pure thoughts come to your mind. I can easily list down my drill that I imbibed inside me – all thanks to Rajeev: 

1. Be fair in your actions. As far as possible do good
2. Don't react instantly. And most certainly not retaliate in anger
3. When negative thoughts come force yourself to change your thinking to positive thoughts
4. Empathize with others
5. Don't gossip about other people
6. Help physically weak or challenged, and the elders
7. Listen to the problems of others and workaround to help them out of their troubles
8. Be honest in your relationships
9. Don't lie. Start keeping a count where you did not tell the truth so that you can minimise this and get to becoming truthful always

10. Introspect at night daily

Define your own. Don't fall at the feet of imposters. Choose your guide carefully and remember that your inner voice never lies.

Dear Rajeev- rest in peace, you will be missed physically but you are with us and I know that.