An officer and a gentleman

MiD DAY spent an afternoon with Airports Authority of India chairman Vijai prakash Agarwal, and found unknown facets to the ace of baseu00a0 It isn't an ordinary feat for a governor of skies to keep his feet planted firmly on the ground. But Airports Authority of India chairman Vijai Prakash Agarwal believes in down-to-earth living, devoid of frivolous flights of fantasy that his big chair offers. I switch off my cellphone in the night, even though I need to be at duty's beck and call 24X7. Thank God for the landline, he took off, just as we settled in his beautiful Jorbagh bungalow, reminiscent of the glorious, albeit devious days of the Raj. His rule, however, stands far distinguished. Honesty is his policyI receive many recommendations and requests for transfers and promotions, and by the next night, I've forgotten the names, unless someone I trust supports them strongly, he smiled, sincerity shining through. Almost unbelievable, that a man of such stature should hold honesty so high. Thankfully, it still happens.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 Few have been beyond his cabin, or known that Agarwal likes it neat. His living spaces, that is. You won't find a single pending file on his desk, or a loose piece of paper on the bed, ever, revealed wife Archana, wearing a smart bob and immaculately creased kurta. Our eyebrows stayed raised, for an office as important as his leaves so much to be dealt with, and here's a man who does it all without a speck of doubt or mess. Quick decisions are the key, he feels. I can't afford to dilly-dally or be fickle-minded. Every second in the sky counts. And to think, such an organised, wisened man loves cartoons! Yes, dad's always loved them, as much as he's loved reading out fairytales when I was a kid. I was always the beautiful bird in it, and my brother Abhishek, the naughty frog or elf, chirped doting daughter Charuvi. Incidentally, the day we dropped in marked her 26th birthday. Celebrations will be with family and friends, and no late nights; dad is very clear on that, came the reply to our wishes. Now that's a strict father, we thought, until our belief was busted. Not one bit. We've done crazy things together. He loves to compare his face features to mine, and see if I resemble him more than mum. A commander who's as human as he's humane is good for mankind, just as he is for the mighty machines he gives wings to.u00a0 Cacti kingAnd then, there's the cacti calling. Agarwal has a rare hobby: collecting thorns of different kinds. People think they bring bad luck. But nothing can spoil your life other than your own bad habits, he holds. So, he wakes up early in the morning, takes his walks, waters his kitchen garden religiously and indulges only in saatvik home-cooked food. His dogs, two Pointers and one Labrador, are as disciplined. They're called Devil, Oops and Ghost, and there's an explanation to it. Their names are an initialisation of the word dog.Sci-fi fixationWhen he's not spending time with wifey and beti, Agarwal is mostly chewing on R&D hardbacks and sci fis. I have no favourite authors, but futuristic thinking has always fascinated me. And it is during his many uneventful official assignments that he's experienced the best of the written word. A bad posting is the best time to read, he philosophised. His urge for rigorous activity, on the other hand, is put to peace by the treadmill that stands tall against the dining room wall. His pious part, by the puja room in the corner. Other suppressed sides? None. I'm a man you can see through. The lens is crystal clear; the view within, pristine. Agarwal's things to do at home 1. The treadmill is what helps him ward off stress and extra kilos. 2. Agarwal loves collecting and growing cacti. He's against the belief that they bring bad luck. 3. The puja room is where he finds solace. He's a devotee of Lord Hanuman. 4. Sci fi and R&D titles are what keep him busy in moments of solitude. 'Evolution', 'Robots' and old fairytales are stacked neatly in his bookshelf.

An officer and a gentleman

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