A friend of mine who used to be a dealer in ice making machines in the 90s told me once that he noticed cockroaches in the kitchens of 'The Leela Kempinski' and 'Juhu Centaur' in Mumbai! In 'The Leela Kempinski', the insects were seen crawling around in the semi-darkness below the ornate and very very opulent counters on which all kinds of pastry making was being done! At 'Juhu Centaur', they were snugly massed together in one revolting group under an awning! He added that these sights will remain embedded in his memory and that he never feels the kind of silent longing most middle class Indian commoners do to visit, eat at or stay at five star hotels !
In this context, I remember reading how the management of a British hospital reacted when a cockroach was reported to be seen in one of its toilets. The patients were immedietly admitted in other hospitals, the doctors and staff were either laid off or given long vacations, the hospital closed and fumigated for three months at a stretch !!
The malayalam saying 'Kakka kulichaal kokkakilla' (a crow cannot become a crane try however it may) comes immedietly to mind given how the two scenarios compare !!
Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by kasak on Apr 20, 2011 09:24 AM
What next.... the british hospital fighting over-cleanliness. ..
Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by mahaansoch on Apr 20, 2011 09:27 AM
Nice pontification here. ..a cockroach story and that is enough to bring down the entire chain of amazing achievement. Looks like you never make a mistake in your life...Hey mallu, get a life and be in action like Mr.Nair.. only people who watch from the stands have no breakdown
Re: Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by Madhavan Nair on Apr 20, 2011 10:01 AM
I think this piri has never achieved anyting in life and is very jealous of Capt Nair. But, such silly comments will not make much difference to a big group, which Mr. Nair has built up.
Re: Re: Re: Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it do
by Panthera Leo on May 08, 2011 07:20 PM
Please refrain from making such comments. These are totally out of context and do not make for a healthy discussion.
Re: Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by piri on Apr 20, 2011 11:32 AM
My subject was neither Mr.Nair nor his doings.
My point was that cleanliness - at least the level of cleanliness that is associated with or supposed to be associated with five star hotels and with anything that is of premium class - is simply beyond the understanding of Indians in general! So, the term 'five star hotels', which is supposed to be promise uniform standards across the world, has an altogether different meaning in India, that glitz, opulence and tariff levels will remain equally high as elsewherre in the world but basic hygiene will be heavily discounted!!
And one of the several other pointers to this fact is that India has the dubious record of having more than 60 % of its population defecating in the open and going about it as though nothing is amiss !! No other country comes anywhere near (even sub-saharan countries) India in this accomplishment !
Re: Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by piri on Apr 20, 2011 11:32 AM
My subject was neither Mr.Nair nor his doings.
My point was that cleanliness - at least the level of cleanliness that is associated with or supposed to be associated with five star hotels and with anything that is of premium class - is simply beyond the understanding of Indians in general! So, the term 'five star hotels', which is supposed to be promise uniform standards across the world, has an altogether different meaning in India, that glitz, opulence and tariff levels will remain equally high as elsewherre in the world but basic hygiene will be heavily discounted!!
And one of the several other pointers to this fact is that India has the dubious record of having more than 60 % of its population defecating in the open and going about it as though nothing is amiss !! No other country comes anywhere near (even sub-saharan countries) India in this accomplishment !
Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by Panthera Leo on May 08, 2011 07:25 PM
Nice story (if true), but there is a nice difference. The Indian in juhu did not complain whereas the british were alerted. They obviously overreacted to the situation. I am sure if Indians complain about the right things, then things will change. Lastly your attitude is the reason, Kerala continues to be a 'consumer' state rather than 'Gods own country'. Talk more and do less....
Re: A leopard cannot change its spots, whatever it does !
by PK on May 08, 2011 12:06 AM
Stayed in the Leela Gurgaon couple of weeks ago, very modernly furnished and nice touches like a Bose iPod docking speakers and rain showers in the bathroom. Didn't find a cockroach in sight however, and room was spankingly clean. This above story from Piri didnt ring true for me.
Great man. Nice to hear from him. His active participation in the country's development in a totally different way should be appreciated, that too at the age of 89. His idea of bringing all poor, uneducated into this industry for their betterment is a good idea.
Re: Great
by gopinathapai on Apr 20, 2011 06:52 AM
Really he is a great Indian.Athithi Devo Bhava is his watch word and VasudaivaKudumbakam his Goal.It is Krishna,s Leela that in the 80,s he does.
Re: Re: Great
by Adjana Waklot on Apr 19, 2011 09:25 PM
Guru Dandamis is only interested in food not in welfare of the country. We call such people "Sapad ramas"!!Lol
