You can discern the same pride in his voice when he talks of his friends tilling the fields miles away. The farmers who buy fertilisers and other agri goods from his Hariyali Kisan Bazaar and who await his arrival with complaints and demands.

Among many memorable moments is one close to his heart —how as a child he dined with a union worker at his quarters even as the company faced a labour hassle. “The principle of my life is to keep the conversation alive, with anyone, anywhere and on anything. It may not be very relevant, but the openness helps a lot,” says the man, much revered for his sharp business sense.

It is the gift of gab and respect for each relationship that helps strangers instantly connect to Shriram. Heading a company with a turnover of Rs 2,500 crore and with interests spanning agriculture, chemicals, textiles and retail, Shriram looks more than contended. And his busy portfolio keeps him on his toes.

He enjoys every waking moment — be it pumping iron at the treadmill, doing pranayam, analysing industry researches, dining out with his family, or catching up with Yes Minister later in the evening.

“Delhi has good eating joints and great people to make friends with. So, why not plan an evening better than last,” says Shriram, who has even chalked out his schedule post retirement.

“Photography is a hobby I’d like to give my heart and soul to once I call it a day at office. In fact I want to enroll in a course in London to refine my photography skills,” he says. Shriram has recently donated his collection of videotapes on wildlife to his alma mater— Doon School. His love for nature provides him another excuse to globetrot, as he takes in various wildlife sanctuaries across the world. And if that was not enough, the man also enjoys a good round of golf and is quite addicted to solving crosswords.

One can’t help but ask how he manages to find time for so many interests? “I guess I am able to manage all these because I respect the people around me and give them the personal space to experiment and perform. I leave most of the strategising to my younger brother Vikram. That gives me the time to introspect. This not only helps us work in harmony, but also get the best out of each other. The principle applies to the family too. Every relationship is an effort. One needs to put in that extra bit. Fortunately the Indian values help us achieve half of the task. Today, my kids speak to their uncles and aunts more than their parents,” he says.

Shriram has tried his hand at everything that could improve him as a person. He hopes that his children too will inherit this attitude. “I was inspired by my father who after pursuing his penchant for years is today an expert in bonsai art. Attending to the plants gives him immense satisfaction. It shows that even small things pay huge dividends,” he says.

By Jyoti Verma for The Financial Express