Page 10 - MMI _ MayJune2021 (single-pages)

EDITORIAL

REMEMBERING ‘BALA SIR’ –

MISSED BEYOND MEASURE

W hen one leads to leave a legacy, the leadership is focused on
significance and not just success. Such people create the greatest
impact and influence on those who look up to them.

I was privileged to have known ‘Bala Sir’ - S Balasubramanian Pillai, Executive
Director & COO, Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA)
and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) - who was admired
for his unique leadership style that encouraged innovation, initiative,
and collaboration.

SOUMI MITRA On May 10, 2021, we lost our highly regarded Bala Sir to Covid-19. We say
Editor-in-Chief that the hour of death cannot be forecast, but when we say this, we imagine
Modern Manufacturing India that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future. And when the unthinkable
soumi.mitra@magicwandmedia.in happens without any warning or sign, the loss becomes graver.

There is an irreparable kind of loss when a mentor passes away. It is not just
the person who saw our true worth is lost, but we will be forever deprived
of the wealth of wisdom we would have received from them in future.

It will take a long time for us to process this grief. As lost and sad I am that he
is gone, I feel truly blessed of having been a recipient of his wisdom, generosity,
and humor, which will live on in me.

It was an honor to have him as

“You carve your a phenomenal mentor who

name on hearts, not offered insightful observations
tombstones. A legacy is and encouraged me to wear an
etched into the minds of entrepreneurial attitude.
others and the stories
they share about you.” All those who were close to him
will always remember his
kindness and the cheerful smile

that would light up his face

whenever he would meet a friend, acquaintance or stranger. An authentic

leader with strong ethics and a gem of a person, he will always remain close

to our heart.

We will miss ‘Bala Sir’ sorely, but his legacies will live on.

10 | May-June 2021 Modern Manufacturing India