Gaurav Deb

In A State of Paradise

Gourav Deb would belong to the category of the intellectual hotelier. There is an air of quiet dignity about him. And wisdom, a great deal of it, not to be found in someone his age. Which is a young 45. His knowledge on most subjects is profound, he has much to say but won't, unless asked. He is a Bengali babu, restrained, yet not. In any case that's where his intellectualism comes from.

With 23 years of rich and diverse experience in opening and operating hotels, resorts and restaurants all over India and the Middle East, one can only assume he must be the blue-eyed boy of Jyotsna Suri, chairperson of Lalit group of hotels, for being posted at what is her most favourite hotel, The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar.

"Yes," says Gourav, "I have been fortunate to have been in charge of some wonderful properties and this one for me is the crowing glory." Before Gourav took charge at this palace hotel, just over a year ago he was at  The Lalit Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur, a 105-year-old heritage property which he turned around successfully in three financial years. He has been with The Lalit group since 2012.

The Lalit Grand Palace, Srinagar, with 113 keys, sitting on 33 acres, by any yardstick, is simply beautiful. Situated as it is on the Dal lake, the location could not be better. Its old world architecture is appealing; the palace grounds with some of the oldest chinars of Kashmir, are a joy. Overall, it's the serenity which personifies the place. So yes, Gourav Deb is fortunate to be boss of a hotel of such magnitude.

But is it a case of being in the right place, at a wrong time? "No, I really wouldn't say that,"  says the hotelier. "Yes, it is a challenging time and it is not easy, but then who is to define what is normal? My friends in Delhi post pictures of themselves at a new bar every other day, is that normal? My life in Srinagar may lack some of the things viewed as normal by others, but I don't think so. I am very happy being here, motivating my staff, keeping their morale high, telling the world Kashmir is really, truly beautiful, just as much as the Kashmiris are. We try and inspire people to visit here, for if they don't they really do miss out on something that they shouldn't. Apart from the natural beauty, the cuisine of Kashmir is simply outstanding."

Gourav Deb, assimilates local culture wherever he is based. And Kashmir is no different. He feels he now has an understanding of the place as never before. Having seen it and studied it firsthand has made all the difference. The picture painted outside the state is vastly different from what the reality really is. Television crew armed with a mike and camera, and a false sense of importance land in the morning in Srinagar and by nightfall when it is a wrap, they seem to have got it all pat. "All wrong, all distorted," says Gourav gently indignant, hoping the sad mess will get sorted and the situation will change for the better some day soon.

Gourav feels living in Kashmir has helped him evolve as a person, "When you face tough circumstances, when times are challenging, when your biggest concern is to look after your staff of 200, each of who have different needs emanating from different levels of emotions and background, it adds another dimension to your own personality. You learn to put yourself last. Of paramount importance is to motivate those around you. When I look at a young waiter of 21 working in these testing times, going through daily hardships, emerging through the fires, I know that one day when he becomes a GM, he will be all the stronger for it, no job will be too difficult for him, no mountain too difficult to climb." When you see, look, feel, understand, think, learn and change, you evolve. Overcoming hardships, that seems to be Gourav's leitmotif.

Strain and stress apart, Gourav keeps himself well occupied. He gyms, swims, reads, researches Kashmir intensely, eats healthy and socialises a good deal. Not just bonding with colleagues from other hotels, but also local families. He likes to wear local clothes, finds them comfy and he saunters around Srinagar looking for good food in small joints. "A waza experience in little bylanes of the old city is fantastic," says Gourav. "In fact it's a must on the itinerary of those visiting The Lalit. Hotel guests are encouraged to visit the house of a local who cooks a Kashmiri meal and serves it right there in his kitchen!"

"My wife, Rakhee and my children are here with me, so that's a blessing. This year my children went to Gulmarg to learn skiing. Their enthusiasm has got to me and next year I plan to go there myself, so that's going to be something new for me."

Another new experience for our GM was he got to act in two films recently. A good perk, one that Gourav enjoyed. "Look, a lot of film crew come to shoot in the valley. And often they stay with us. Vidhoo  Chopra was here and he asked me to play a fleeting part at one of the shoots and I did. The film is called Shikara. The other was Romeo Akbar Walter, where I had to do a little part with Jackie Shroff, as a RAW officer. They are blink-and-I-will-be-gone scenes but for me it was not the quantum but experience of doing something new. And I must say I was so impressed with the professionalism involved in making movies today. For my little role, the AD had 10 pairs of chappals to get the right fit and five pairs of glasses to get the right look for my role as a Commander in Shikara. The energy, time, dedication and detailing  that's goes into making films today my respect has soared."

Well Gourav Deb you are an amazing human being; positive, hopeful, honest, hard working. Make the most of your time in Kashmir. And yes, continue enjoying  the four seasons that it offers. Not all photographers are as lucky as you, shooting the mighty chinar in all its four splendid persona; summer, winter, autumn, spring!