Tag Archives: opinion
Remembering Gangu
Remembering Gangu Patrick Michael / 19 July 2013 The death of Gangu Batra in Long Island, New York, on Tuesday has shocked those who knew and worked with him during his long years in the UAE as the CEO of Jashanmals. “He was an amazing human being, a legend in his own right and he had a tremendous impact on us. We as a family owe so much to him,” said Suhail Jashanmal. Batra, 83, leaves behind three children — Meena, Kavita and Shashi — and five grandchildren. He will be cremated early next week in Long Island. Gangu, as he was affectionately known, was a disciplined leader who rose from the ranks to head Jashanmals as its Group CEO. He retreated from corporate life in Dubai about 18 months ago and left for his family home in Long Island to be with his children and grandchildren. Time — and those who worked with him and knew him in the UAE and around the world — will judge him as talented businessman, a gifted leader and a visionary CEO who served Jashanmals for 57 long years. Batra knew his market, knew his business and he knew his cash register. And he always got the job done. “He was a great leader, a great friend and mentor not only to us but to all those who worked with him and the companies he dealt with around the globe,” said Tony Jashanmal over the phone as he waited to catch his flight to New York to attend Batra’s funeral. “I have received tributes from friends and business houses that Batra worked with praising his business acumen and mentoring. He was the ideal businessman and a thorough professional. He was a father figure to all of us and the staff enjoyed working with him because they knew he would walk that extra mile for them,” he added. Even in his late seventies Batra loved what he did. Despite all that he accomplished he still felt he was only just starting. It was so characteristic of the man who turned around a troubled company into one of the most recognised and successful ones in the Gulf. “Once in every while you meet an individual who not only leaves a lasting impression on you, but also changes your outlook on life, work and values. Gangu had that unexplainable charismatic quality. I have lost my elder brother,” said Tanvir Kanji of Inca Advertising. This writer had the privilege of meeting Gangu on several occasions. It was the force of his intellect and his dedication to Jashanmals that always struck me. His piercing eyes and gravelly voice had a certain authority about it. When he walked into a room you could hear a pin drop. Such was the presence he commanded. He was not feared or trifled with. He was known for his repartee and he could crack a joke at the drop of a hat and have everyone in splits. “I knew Gangu Batra when I was a student, studying in India. It goes back to the early 50s in Kuwait, when I came on holidays. It was always extraordinary to watch how delicately he managed the family members of our company, in those days known as Jashanmal & Sons. It was because of his professionalism that today the same Company is a limited liability one. We doff our hats to this young man who started as salesman and became the CEO of Jashanmal Group of companies,” said Mohan Jashanmal. There will be many who will miss Batra’s smiling face around the dinner table at the Sebastian Restaurant at Intercontinental (now Raddisson). where he would often break into fluent Arabic leaving many of us who had been around long enough to have learned the language, embarrassed. “I will miss his quarterly roundtable dinners with Hisham Al Shirawi, Ahmed Ramdan, Ahmed Al Banna and others,” said Ram Buxani, President, International Traders (ME) Ltd, Dubai. “The vacuum created by his passing away will be difficult to fill. Batra was a human par excellence who had carved a niche for himself in Dubai. His smiling face will always be remembered as a symbol of inspiration.” Batra had very eventful tenures as Acting Chairman of IBPC as well as Chairman of the Electronics Forum, now known as TEG. Although he did not belong to electronics industry, he played his role well. “I carry nostalgic memories of my association with Gangu which goes back at least 45 years. He used to live in Kuwait and manage the Jashanmals there under Naraindas Jashanmal, Tony’s father. I used to sell Gangu Nylex brand nylon embroidered sarees of Japanese origin that Jashanmals used to market. I always found him to be very understanding and fair and it is these qualities that brought us even more closer when Jashanmals shifted him to Dubai,” he added. Gangu Batra will be missed. He will also be remembered. — patrick@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Dewa’s Ramadan drive targets consumption of power, water
Dewa’s Ramadan drive targets consumption of power, water Staff Reporter / 19 July 2013 “This Ramadan, let your good deeds outweigh your consumption.” This is the message that goes out to the consumers of power and water in the emirate as part of an awareness campaign launched the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) to promote rational electricity consumption during the holy month. The campaign will include several awareness lectures targeting the staff of government departments of Dubai, along with awareness programmes in mosques, and at Aswaaq and Union Coop supermarkets. Dewa is also sending out conservation tips to the consumers through newspapers. In cooperation with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Dewa has also participated in activities at a Ramadan tent for workers who reside in the Sonapur-Muhaisnah area. This is part of Dewa’s strategy to spread awareness among residents in Dubai on rational electricity and water consumption, conserving natural resources, and protecting the environment, the authority said in a Press statement. “The launch of the awareness campaign is in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve the sustainable development in the emirate,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of the authority. “The campaign is part of our strategy to rationalise the consumption of electricity and water and use them effectively, complementing our goal to become a world-class sustainable utility. We spare no effort in preserving our valuable natural resources and protecting our environment to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.” Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice-President of Corporate and Marketing Communications at Dewa, said: “The campaign reflects Dewa’s commitment to supporting the sustainable development efforts of Dubai and raising awareness on the rational use of energy resources. We are keen to work with government and private organisations in these fields, especially during Ramadan, as prudent consumption is reflected in the teachings of our religion, which forbids all forms of waste.” Al Mehairi pointed out that rational use of electricity and water should not be limited only to Ramadan, but should be extended as a lifestyle approach by individuals throughout the year. sajila@khaleejtimes.com Hadith to get the message across dubai — In an attempt to instil the sense of conservation among the believers, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has resorted to a hadith reported by Ibn Majah. In a handout to the public that was distributed to newspaper readers, the authority quoted the hadith which describes how the Prophet (PBUH) questioned Sa’d for wasting water while performing ablution. The hadith from Albani-Al-Saheena (No.3292), reads likes this: When the Prophet passed by Sa’d performing ablution, he said, “What is this wastefulness?” Sa’d replied, “Can there be wastefulness while performing ablution?” The Prophet replied, “Yes, even if you perform it on the bank of a flowing river.” The handout was distributed as part of Dewa’s conservation campaign in Ramadan under the slogan “This Ramadan, let your good deeds outweigh your consumption.” The handout also carried the following tips for avoiding wastage of power and water: > Always keep your airconditioning on 24 degrees in occupied areas and 28 degress or higher in the unoccupied ones; > Save up to 50 per cent water by using the dual flush system; > Use a broom to clean your driveway and garden pavements; > Instal aerators in kitchen and bathroom faucets; > Use low-wattage, energy-efficient bulbs; > Unplug all appliances that are not in use or switch them off from the source; > Take the stairs instead of the elevator; and > Water your garden early in the morning or evening. sajila@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
No work permits for lawbreakers: MoL
No work permits for lawbreakers: MoL Salah Al Deberky (news@khaleejtimes.com) / 18 July 2013 Several companies which were found in violation of a set of four regulations, with the Ministry of Labour putting a stop to all dealings with them, will be contacted and notified in order to clear the offences. The ministry will first send a preliminary notice to the owners of the offending establishments, followed by another notice next month. In the case of no response, the ministry will then suspend issuing work permits to them, and will also reject opening a registry if the defaulters wish to open new establishments, in effect from September 2013. “The move was in pursuance of the decision issued by Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash lately, and under which procedures of issuing permits will be re-organised as well as opening the establishment card for the employers who commit the four violations, plus a fifth offence which will see the ministry put a stop to practising the activity without settling the conditions of the employees in the establishment,” said Humaid bin Deemas Al Suwaidi, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs at the ministry. It is the violation towards which the ministry suspends dealing with other establishments owned by the employer concerned. Suspension will be made immediately without giving the offender a grace period to rectify the irregularity, and the ban will not be lifted unless after the lapse of three months from the date the irregularity was cleared. Employer fails to pay the wages to his employees for two months or more (taking into account the periods in which payment of wages are stopped and the number of workers affected by it). Non-payment of the due administrative fines payable to the Ministry of Labour for a period of four months from the date they become due. Failing to issue or renew the labour card of employees for four months from the date the worker enters the country or from the expiry date. Non-renewal of the establishment’s licence for four months from the date of expiry. This came at a meeting held recently at the MoL’s office in Dubai, presided over by Al Suwaidi and attended by the directors of the Labour Affairs sector departments, directors of labour offices and a number of employees concerned. “The decision of the labour minister did not revoke the measure taken against the establishment which commits the violations, as the ministry will continue to prohibit issuing it new work permits”, he said, noting that, the decision had abolished the procedures enforced on other establishments owned by the offending employer. He said: “The ministry, and before July 1 this year, had suspended transactions, with immediate effect, with all companies belonging to the employer and the establishments with which he (the employer) shared with other employers, in case violations are made by these establishments, and without prior notification”. Continue reading
