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PEOPLE
 Gurcharan
Das
It's a second coming, no
doubt. For Gurcharan Das, former CEO, Procter & Gamble (p&g),
India, turned-celebrity writer, that is. Das' corporate innings ended when
he took early retirement from P&G in 1994. He was only 50 then, and
set forth on a trek across India. The result was a seminal article, A
Million Reformers and Das was on to his second innings-this time as an
author. But, for this philosophy major from Harvard, it was a mere
beginning; after five years, and a couple of short stories and plays
later, that journey has culminated in his magnum opus India Unbound-a book
that provides a dispassionate ringside view of India's economic history in
an easy-reading narrative format, extolling the economic independence of
1991, and the exponential rise in the size of the middle class since then.
''The publishers thought that the world was ready for a book whose heroes
were not Gandhi and Nehru, and which portrayed the new India,'' chuckles
Das, now 56. The publishers, New York-based Alfred Knopf, evidently
thought more since the advance paid was reportedly the highest-ever for a
non-fiction book. ''The money is nice, but more exciting is the idea that
many people will get to see that India is not merely a country of
snake-charmers,'' adds Das. With the book notching up record sales-25,000
copies in two weeks-even before the formal release, slated for July, 2000,
they probably would. And Das will go on selling dreams through his books-a
couple more are in the pipeline, including a series of plays-and advising
companies, especially venture capitalists, in his spare time...
Sidharth Birla
 He
is rooting for corporate governance! Sidharth Birla, the scion and
heir-apparent of the Rs 3,000-crore S.K. Birla Group, we mean. He has just
stepped down as director from six group companies as part of a
governance-led restructuring initiative orchestrated by Andersen
Consulting. This comes on the heels of his father and the group patriarch
Sudarshan Birla, 65, passing him the baton in December, 1999. Sidharth
will now focus on three companies-Mysore Cements, Xpro India, and Birla
VXL-that have been identified as the group's core businesses. ''It (the
restructuring) is a dynamic move to ensure professionalism,
accountability, and speed of decision-making,'' the 43-year-old Sidharth
has been quoted as saying. About time, for the diversified conglomerate
has not really weathered the post-liberalisation economic climes well.
 Bina
Modi
The style diva turns designer! But Bina Modi, the wife of K.K. Modi,
had always believed in stepping out of her comfortable cocoon to do
different things. Her zany eaterie, Ego, taught Delhiites a few things
about gourmet food. But now she is taking a break from food to plunge into
fashion. Her label, Obsession, seeks to marry contemporary chic with
traditional artistry by reviving two dying crafts-chikankari and Parsi
Gara-and incorporating them in modern womenswear. Says Bina, 54, who is
admittedly self-tutored: ''Most of the styles I work with have an element
of fun and the look of today.'' The collection, predictably, drew rave
reviews in the capital. What comes next for this Modi bahu, who is also an
avid reader and travel buff-shoes, jewellery, and the works?
 Prakash
Nedungadi
A smooth move like the smooth shave he advocated! Prakash Nedungadi,
Regional Business Director, Indian Shaving Products-who gave the Gillette
brand a face in India-is shifting base. He will be the new CEO at the
Bangalore-based Madura Garments, and promote stellar apparel brands like
Van Heusen and Allen Solly. Says Prakash, 39, on his new role: ''I will
try to stimulate quantum growth though the brands are already strong and
rapidly growing.'' Seems like the part-time baker-Prakash pursues twin
hobbies of bird-watching and baking-will certainly rise to the demands of
his new job.
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