Keep busy, stay young@80

M.P.K. Nair, octogenarian former banker, runs the Ayuryogashram resort. - G.K. NAIR


BL: 6 june 2012

Hard work meets creative thinking in this meticulous journey from successful banking to ayurvedic tourism.

What is born out of fire will not wither away in the sun, goes a Malayalam proverb. Fifteen years ago, M.P.K. Nair lost his wife, his companion of forty years. Following this he had to undergo major surgery. Yet, despite being emotionally and physically challenged, this venerable octogenarian picked himself up and today carries within him the spark of youth.

The former Chairman of Federal Bank is full of cheer, even though it is clear he misses his wife terribly. They were an enviably happy couple. But that's the law of nature, Nair says, adding that the one way to pull yourself out of melancholy is to keep yourself busy. “Once you are engaged in some creative activities you will not have time to think about anything else,” he points out.

But even he did not imagine that his decision to renovate his nalukettu ancestral home built according to the Thatchu Shastras with an inner courtyard would lead to setting up an ayurveda resort. “It is all destiny,” says the former banker, who had originally planned to retire in the house in which he was born and brought up. But his wife's passing away was a turning point.

REJUVENATING HOLIDAY HOME

That's when he conceived the idea of converting his home and 2.6 acres on the Thrissur-Shoranur State highway as a resort with facilities for ayurvedic treatment. Four partners invested Rs 35 lakh (excluding the cost of the building and the land) and the idea became a reality in 2001. It was registered as a private limited company in 2003 and Ayuryogashram was born at Parlikad, 15 km from Thrissur.

Dr Muraleedharan Pillai, a senior physician and Principal of Ayurveda Medical College for over 15 years joined Nair as Technical Director and Dr Anitha as Resident Medical Officer. After initially running at a loss, today, Ayuryogashram provides full-time employment to 24 people. It makes profits. And why not, given the healthy, homely food it provides and the ambience it offers? Imagine reclining on a balcony running around a mango tree, breathing unpolluted air, and gazing at blue skies above. And at other times visiting the yoga centre or gymnasium or panchakarma treatment rooms, which are only some of the services on offer.

People who want to spend holidays in ‘God's Own Country' and want to also undergo ayurvedic treatment for stress related ailments, obesity, hypo and hyper diabetes, backache and so on, come to Ayuryogashram. It's easy to find on Google and Nair is more than happy to clarify potential clients' doubts and apprehensions before they actually arrive. Sometimes correspondence around clarifications can go on for a year! “Even then there used to be problems with a few guests who will find fresh issues after checking in. But, we have to adjust and make them happy,” says Nair.

FROM BANK CLERK TO CHAIRMAN

“Even while working in the bank as a new entrant, I used to look for any work pending on other tables and if I found any, that was cleared and then I left,” This is a habit that continues to sustain him. He does not wait for others to come and do what's pending, he does it himself. For him, it's time that matters. “Timely reply to an inquiry from overseas, prompt response to the demand of an inmate – all these are very important,” Nair points out.

It's not surprising then, that it was hard work, patience and perseverance that elevated him from being a clerk in a small Cochin Commercial Bank in Kochi (then Cochin) to becoming Chairman of one of the major scheduled banks in the country. The ability to grasp things quickly and possessing terrific memory power helped, he says.

Of course, they don't explain all that he achieved as a banker. Nair was instrumental in expanding the capital base of Federal Bank by bringing the ICICI Bank as a partner. His contribution to the Cochin International Airport Ltd by helping it in land acquisition is remembered by all. His decision to purchase land to construct the Federal Tower for the bank in the heart of Mumbai on Marine Drive is one of his great achievements. He is said to have laid the foundation for the bank's growth to its present stature.

After leaving the bank, he spent some 30 months to help set up Asianet Communications. From there, the next step was Ayuryogashram.

HIS FITNESS MANTRA

“I don't feel now that I am a retired person. Nothing else would have given me the amount of happiness I am enjoying here. Here I am not in seclusion. Geriatric ailments are not affecting me except for a little hearing problem. The present environment helped me to regain balance and composure. Even at this age I work for long hours except for the six hours when I sleep,” says Nair who goes for a morning walk every day. He has a piece of advice to share: “You should have control over your food. Eat only what is needed for the body and which can keep you slim and fit. Undergoing a rejuvenation treatment at least once a year, as I do ever since I started this establishment, is essential.”

Those interested in exploring the environs around Ayuryogashram, can go for walks along the serpentine roads cutting across paddy fields, and rubber and coconut plantations. Provided, of course, you are willing to be up early, 6 a.m. to be exact!

Paul Gregg and his wife Yoshiko, who have come down from London, say it is “an amazing experience and an amazing place”. It had long been Yoshiko's dream to visit Kerala for ayurvedic treatment. This is the couple's first visit to India. “I had never expected it would be as beautiful as it is in reality... and also the wonderful hospitality and welcome accorded to us,” says Gregg. Three days into his treatment, he feels it is a good place to detoxify and reduce weight. But he is still struggling with vegetarian food because of the smell of spices. So for the time being, it's salads for him. But “we are physically and mentally relaxed”.

Dasha and Emil Viskupic from Slovakia have no problem with the food, though. They find it “delicious”. They got to know about Ayuryogashram from the Internet. For about a year they corresponded with the resort management and clarified everything before arriving here.

“We are going to stay for three weeks to undergo the prescribed treatment,” says Viskupic. “My wife feels much better after a week's treatment now. I really believe in this science.”

Although ayurveda is becoming popular in Europe, he feels it is commercialised and so it is difficult to find genuine places which strictly and scientifically follow the ayurvedic practices.

Ever the banker, Nair points out: “Our motto is to keep the image of ayurveda and the country in high esteem without inflicting any financial loss to us.” Clearly his team is succeeding because many guests keep coming back every year.

Besides, M.P.K. Nair is Ayuryogashram's best advertisement. As Yoshiko says, she cannot believe he is 80 years old. “He doesn't have wrinkles on his face and he runs up the stairs,” she exclaims.