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On 5th May 1993, ten years back Saroj Datta alongwith Naresh
Goyal shared the glorious moment when India's most famous
private airline was launched. A new chapter in aviation history
was enshrined by the efforts of the calibre and track record
of people like Saroj Datta. Ten years from then they celebrated
its first decade with pride and achievement this May. This
Airline's Yellow Rose symbolises the spirit of friendliness
and certainly exhibiting the ethos of its Professional Team.
Saroj Datta is the Executive Director of Jet Airways and stays
in the cool serene environs of Powai. He shifted here from
Napean Sea Road some four years ago to be near his place of
work at Andheri-Kurla Road. Luck has sided with him and he
has survived a murder attempt at his Napean Sea flat, wherein
unknown lumpen elements for reason unknown had stabbed him
in his stomach. Today, talking to him in his 21st storey flat
overlooking the Powai Lake was a treat to get an insight into
his persona. Educated at India's famous St Stephen's College,
Delhi he completed his post-graduation in Economics in the
late fifties. With a two year stint in a Research Organisation
he joined Air India in 1962 taking off on a great aviation
career and touching its zenith at present.
Prior to Jet Airways he has also been with Kuwait Airways
as its Economic Advisor. He has been associated with Jet Airways
ever since its inception, having meticulously coordi-nated
various activities leading to the setting-up of the airline.
He has successfully applied his many years of experience in
aviation to make Jet Airways India's leading private airline.
Saroj Datta has also become the ambassadorial face of this
Airline as evident when he set to receive the 'India's Most
Respected Company in the Travel and Hospitality Sector 2003'
consecutively for last two years. It was indeed a proud moment
personally for him to receive this award on his Company's
behalf from the Dy Prime Minister L K Advani in a glittering
ceremony at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai. This is also a milestone
in India's privatisation for enterprises competing with govt
protected competition.
You come across this man as a gentle and suave person down
to earth in his approach and style. Having reached such superb
track record of successful achieve-ment is a feat possible
by his indomitable belief in sheer professionalism and excellent
team work. He wields his domain like a true Army General in
total command giving due dele-gation and responsibility, of
course steering the ship with an eye on results and sharing
the glory. Looking across his drawing room you see some classy
cabinets and artefacts indicating his impeccable taste for
fine culture. He loves nature and greenery and finds living
here to be a rewarding experience. He is a true Bong when
it comes to culinary delights and loves his Hilsa steamfish
and rosogulla. Not only this we experienced that this man
who has helped make the Airline achieve a figure of six million
passengers in last financial year, is a man of fine taste
who also loves good and warm people around him. To cite an
example, he finds time for benevolent activities like accompanying
Cancer child patients on grand finale of 'Rose Day' for a
joyride in a 9W aircraft over Mumbai last September.
We asked him where would he like to settle when he lands on
'terra firma', he said, "I have miles and miles to fly
before I land". Whenever you travel Jet Airways, see
a Jet plane take off or land, see the Jet logo or a Yellow
Rose think of this Man who has helped Naresh and Neeta Goyal
alongwith their team of professionals to take this Airline
to such glory and heights. Happy Flying !
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