Meet Vittal Mallya, Dad Of Vijay Mallya: A Frugal Spender, Strict Father, Shy Of Public

Liquor baron, Vijay Mallya, is called the billionaire who vanished from India. He has found himself in a Rs. 9000 crore loan default scam that dampened the Indian economy. He was called 'Chor hai paisa loot Ke bhag gaya' after he took many loans from banks to expand his Kingfisher and liquor business, but did not pay them back, reportedly. Vijay's father, late, Vittal Mallya, had achieved immense success in the business and made his name by creating a big empire with a focus on the alcohol industry.

Vittal was known for his sharp business skills and led Kissan, Cadbury, Berger Paints, Hindustan Polymers, Mangalore Fertilisers, British Paints and Mysore Electro-Chemical Works. However, do you know that Vittal had created a huge impact on the mind of Vijay since his childhood? Both Vittal and Vijay's school and education had taken place in Calcutta, and Vijay, after nine years, recently spoke about his bond with his late dad, Vittal, his strictness, the differences that the father, son had and how Vittal was known to be a frugal spender.

Vijay Mallya reveals how he had a strict upbringing in the hands of his father, Vittal Mallya

Vijay Mallya was born to a humble family in Calcutta. He and his parents, Vittal Mallya and Lalitha Ramaiah, then moved to their hometown, Bangalore. Vijay then went back to Kolkata, completed his schooling and his education and was raised by his dad, Indian entrepreneur, Vittal Mallya. Vijay, in a recent podcast of Raj Shamani, spoke after nine years related to how he was as a child and reflected on his childhood. Vijay shared that when he was still in school, class 9 at La Maritniere in Kolkata, his marks were not very good in class.

Vijay shared that he was a mid-ranker only because he took a lot of interest in sports and extracurricular activities. He did not fully concentrate on his studies and his mark sheets. Vittal was a product of the Dune school, topped his class and expected Vijay to also do the same. Vijay then shared what his father told him that made him take his academics seriously. In his words:

"Nevertheless, he said something to me that I think I remember till today. Two things made a profound impact- one, if you are not good enough, you are not going to step into my shoes. The second thing he said was, Do you realise that while I say step into my shoes, there may not be any shoes at all, because then there is the government and social policies may have taken everything away from us. The only thing I can leave to you is your education, so take it seriously. I think I repaid some amount of it because for my last three years in school, I think I came within the top three in class, and he was very happy about it."

Vijay Mallya reveals getting Rs. 400 stipend from Vittal Mallya's company and having a strict routine set by his dad

Vijay, after passing out of school, went to  St Xavier's College to study BCom. He shared that his dad was clear of him going to 6 a.m. at college and then finishing by 10.30 a.m. Vijay then had to go and work a full day in the office as a management trainee. He worked in those days at FIPS and Company Limited, Old Courthouse Street in Kolkata, every day after college. Vittal, known for his frugal habits, then sent Vijay to the States to work for American Herx. He was sent there as a management trainee and was brought to England to work in Jenson and Nicholson, and worked as a paint foreman. Vijay shared:

"I was put on a stipend of Rs. 400 a month. That Rs. 400 never increased right through the times of college. That is all I got, Rs 400 a month. I was working in those days, I understood what my father's methods were, which was a strict training regimen."

Vijay Mallya remembers his dad, Vittal Mallya, always kissing him whenever they met

Vijay in the United States did well as his bosses had appreciated his work, and he got a pretty good report card from America. Mallya said his dad was proud of him, but when he came back to India, Mallya's father, Vittal, at that time he was 57, had a history of heart disease. Vijay was told to work for his dad in the core business. The story of Kingfisher, McDowells's BagPiper, all that subsequently became well known. Vijay had an excellent bond with his father and noted:

"He was a man of few words. He did one thing that embarrassed me no end. Every time he saw me, he gave a big kiss on my cheek. Whether it was at the airport, office, or home, he would give me a hug and a big kiss on the cheek. Bless him for that."

For Vijay, living up to Vijay's dreams was the big dream. His biggest insecurity was his examination result, and what mattered was his dad's views. He shared his life being pretty plain and simple, great with his bunch of school and college buddies in Calcutta. Not the glitzy lights of Bombay, and it was not fancy. Vittal had ensured that his company's supervisors were strict with Vijay.

Vijay Mallya reveals the differences between when his father was the chairman vs when he was

It was around 1946-47 when Vittal got shares in United Breweries Limited, and Vijay, at the age of 28, reportedly had become the chairman. He shared that his way of working was a decentralised, accountability-led approach. He would have monthly operating review meetings called Monthly Operational Review (MORs) for each line of business, and that is all he wanted to know about how the businesses were performing on a regular day-to-day basis. He was not leaning over the shoulders of the management team and micromanaging things. When opportunities came along, they had separate discussions. Speaking on his dad's style of working and how different he was, Vijay shared:

"My father's style was far more hands-on, owner-operated, micromanagement style, and he spent a lot of time doing it. My father was a frugal spender. He was very shy of public speaking. Totally the opposite. I am a confident public speaker. I used to participate in drama in school. I can speak."

What are your views on Vittal Mallya as a person, his relationship with Vijay Mallya?

Also Read: Vijay Mallya And RCB's Hidden Story: Rs 476 Cr Investment, Lost IPL Team, Why He Picked Virat Kohli?

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