The Modern Day ‘Karna’ : Ronnie Rodrigues!

In many private companies and Government offices LFC/LTC facility is provided for the employees to take up tourism wherein a substantial amount of travel expenses are reimbursed. There are quite a few millionaires in our country who run their businesses and hire good amount of personnel.

But have you ever heard of any CEO taking his entire staff for his birthday celebrations abroad? The answer is No. But I think there’s only one such person who takes his staff abroad for his birthday celebrations. RR is the only CEO and/or MD in the world who has taken his family, relatives and all the employees (including the office boys, drivers etc) working under him on an overseas tour. And I am willing to bet on that.

So, the fact of the matter is Mr #RonnieRodrigues started planning a trip abroad somewhere in the beginning of this year. But the second wave of corona pandemic and subsequent lockdown forced the plans to be rescheduled. But the paperwork like visa etc was done during the said period and when things eased out a bit and when the borders were opened by some of the foreign countries, #London was zeroed in on. The family and relatives of Ronnie sir and his entire staff, without exceptions, at #PearlGroupOfCompanies and #CineBuster Pvt Ltd started making preparations for the London tour. As the visas were granted, for some who were not getting it Ronnie sir volunteered and signed huge financial bonds so that they can travel with everyone, and preparations were in full swing. Like I keep saying innumerable times that Ronnie sir looks after his staff like family members and ensured that everybody travel in style. He issued cheques to everyone to the tune of quarter of a lakh rupees each so that tour preparations could be made without any financial burden on them. He must be the only boss in the world who could actually did it.

So came the departure time and everyone were assembled at Mumbai’s #ChhatrapatiShivajiMaharajInternationalAirport at the designated time where he briefed about the procedures of international travel as many from the group were travelling abroad for the first time. All the staff, including Ronnie sir, was wearing wooden jackets, with company name embossed on it. He thoughtfully got these woollen jackets made so as to combat London’s cold weather as well as none getting lost in the crowds. Everybody checked in and after security check everybody’s dinner was arranged by him at the McDonald’s as everybody had left home before dinner time. His thoughtfulness and caring nature towards his people working for him makes his the World’s Best Boss.

So all of us landed at the #HeathrowAirport at the scheduled time. The immigration process was slow and the queues were getting longer by the minute. As children too were travelling with our group, who were becoming restless due to the queue moving at a snail’s pace, Ronnie sir requested the concerned personnel to at least clear the families urgently. His request was accepted and families’ immigration was over pretty soon. Rest of us spent almost three and half hours to go beyond immigration counters. Again concerned and caring Ronnie sir was standing just outside the cleared area and was anxiously waiting for his entire staff to get cleared through immigration. His concern won everyone’s hearts, once again. All of us were taken to one of the London’s poshest properties, #TowerSuitesByBlueOrchid in the heart of London. The hotel is stones throw away from the iconic London bridge which was a favourite spot in a our leisure time as it was 4-5 minutes walk away from our property.

Very next day on Ronnie sir’s wedding anniversary, he threw a surprise party on the rooftop ‘#TheSkylineLondon’. Come, 18th September, which happens to be Ronnie sir’s birthday and for it’s celebration all of us were actually in London, Ronnie sir made a grand entry with foreigner damsels escorting him to the venue. After the cake cutting ritual, with all his four children, the party was thrown open for dancing, booze and food. For the unversed, Ronnie Rodrigues is a passionate dancer and he dances to his favourite Bollywood numbers.

In all Ronnie sir had specially flown ‘#DJAlexMumbai’ with his team to London for playing music and taking care of other arrangements for the 3 consecutive events.

All of us made a thank you and well wishing speech and some speeches brought tears to everyone’s eyes. One of our colleagues is getting married in a couple of months and Ronnie sir gave her a surprise gift.

He presented her a huge piece of choker necklace studded with diamonds which is worth half a lakh of Sterling Pounds.

What makes Ronnie sir different from other hosts is that he enjoys and lets  enjoy everyone to heart’s content. And as Ronnie sir always utters a dialogue “Khud ke liye toh sabhi jeete hai… Joh dusro ke liye jeeta hai, wohi saccha insaan hai”

In the process he indulges in a multiple  ‘Currency Showers’. This time around too his trademark ‘Currency Shower’ was in place and believe me he showered GBP notes in London. He must be the only Boss and/or Host to have done this. And mind you the amount has to be huge because there was a sea of notes on the dance floor and to clear it took minutes because dance floor had become invisible. The process was repeated all the time Ronnie sir took to dance floor in all the parties. He definitely has a ‘Heart of Gold’ as the money involved in ‘Currency Shower’ runs into lakhs. The very next day he threw a party in honour of his cousin Savio’s birthday at the same venue and all the above rituals were repeated.

The fourth party by Ronnie sir too was grand because he doesn’t believe in mediocrity. The party was for Ronnie Rodrigues’ businesses going International. Ronnie sir has tied up with a famous clothing house to be named soon, who has multiple showrooms in our country, and will be enter garments sector Internationally. The new entity will be addressed as “RR” which will have it’s showrooms in London and other major cities in Europe. There’s a lot of Indians staying in England and Europe who love to adorn ethnic wear during festivals, weddings etc. The foreigner’s markets too will be tapped by “RR” for which work is already in process. Another incident of generosity of Ronnie sir being he presented our in-house photographer a brand new latest piece of a professional camera.

Another aspect being he arranged for two RT-PCR tests for everybody from the group, mind you they are quite costly in Great Britain, as per the requirements of the British Government so as to ensure safe passage to everybody’s home country, India. That’s strict as well as affable and loveable Ronnie sir of ours and everybody at Pearl Group of Companies and Cine Buster Pvt Ltd, without any exception, say in unison, ‘Thank You Ronnie Rodrigues sir for being our boss!’

Ronnie Rodrigues sir’s ‘Giving’ nature truly is inspiring and he is easily the “Modern Day “Karna’”!