The Nanomaly

Posted on | March 24, 2009 | Comments

It has been an eventful ride for Mr. Tata.

It began as seemingly wishful thinking. Sparked political controversies. Invited widespread criticism, debate and resistance from ’social activists’. Put Singur on the country’s map for the right reasons.
And then the wrong and regretful ones.

I remember the Nano for a different reason.

A few months before the 2008 Auto Expo, a hush-hush meeting was called in my erstwhile agency. A core team was formed to work on naming and unveiling of the Nano.
Over the next few weeks some of us spent many days and numerous hours with Mr. Ratan Tata, working and reworking plans.

The man has, one will have to admit, an eye for detail.

The project was personal to him. So personal that barring an occasion or two, he was the only person from Tata Motors attending those meetings.

I recall a few of us once stood in his office as he took a few pictures of the Nano out of his drawer for a sneak preview, before hurriedly locking them away again.
The risk of the pictures being leaked was too high.

Over an year has passed since that event. I have moved on to a different role, a different job. But yesterday’s telecast of the launch brought back memories. It was a privilege for all of us to be associated with the project.
For me, spending that kind of time with Mr. Tata was a greater privilege.

The Nano is an anomaly.
An anomaly defies conventional wisdom.

Remember all the stuff about how the Nano will damage the environment, clog the streets, the politics, the barrage of criticism, the protests etc etc?

Now read what the papers are saying.