As I indicated earlier, I was planning to join Kuwait Airways as their Commercial Adviser.  I would be initially based in Kuwait and later in New York.

Comments by some friends made me sit back and think seriously about my decision.  I was leaving a life in my own country where I was quite well known and respected.  It was true that I would be earning a salary much higher than what Air-India paid me, but the comforts, perquisites and life style that I enjoyed were nothing to be sneezed at.

My Air-India salary was insignificant when compared to what the private sector paid.  I was in the grade of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India and my basic pay was Rs. 3,250 per month while that of the M.D. was Rs. 250 higher (Rs. 3,500).  The M.D. was in the grade of a full Secretary to the Government.  You just could not get a higher salary as a Civil servant.

 But, then I had a subsidized fully furnished apartment with air conditioners in each of the three bedrooms, two Company cars with two chauffeurs, a fairly large entertainment budget, cook’s salary and an enviable social life.  The medical facilities that my family and I enjoyed were tremendous.  The fact that AI had not only paid all expenses incurred during my open heart surgery in the USA, but also deputed its Chief Medical Officer to be present during the most critical period was a very important consideration.

Additionally, I had lived my entire working career in a warm “cocoon”, knowing that unless I truly screwed up, I had job security.  Then, there were many intangible perks, eg. a pass to the Governor’s Beach for myself and my family, membership at the Chambers (Taj Hotel’s “in” dining place) etc. etc. We had complimentary tickets to various sporting events, such as Test matches at Wankhede Stadium, Tennis tournaments and Hockey matches between India and Pakistan.  Even the Rendezvous restaurant at the Taj Mahal hotel stocked my personal collection of french wines.

On the other side of the coin, I was venturing into a new world where I knew hardly anyone and that both my wife and children would have to start fending for themselves.  Life in the USA would not be a “picnic”, as they would soon find out.  There would not be a cook, a nanny or a chauffeur.  And, finally, there would be no job security, as the employment with Kuwait Airways could be terminated at short notice.

My wife and I spent many long hours discussing all of the above, but came to the conclusion that the decision was right and had to be taken.  I no longer had any job satisfaction.  I woke up each morning not knowing what shenanigans Mr. Raghu Raj would be up to and what he would ask me to undertake. I could no longer continue working in an environment governed by a corrupt regime in Delhi and a CEO whose only objective was to make money for himself and his benefactors.  I was proud of my record.  I was respected in the travel industry and felt extremely confident that I could hold my own in any new world. 

I would like to reproduce what appeared on the front page of the Bombay edition of the Times of India on August 22, 1980, the day after I submitted my resignation (the Delhi edition carried the same words, but the title read “Air-India’s last professional resigns”:

AI man quits on touchy issue

By K. N. Malik

Mr. INDER SETHI, deputy managing director – commercial, Air-India who had refused to succumb to pressure from politicians and ministry bureaucrats, today resigned from the airline.

Mr. Sethi, who was a senior Air-India official described as the last of the professionals in the airline had opposed the appointment of a group of persons who had a shady past as Air-India’s general sales agents for the USA, Canada, U.K. and Western Germany.

Several members of parliament had criticized pressures mounted on Air-India from political quarters for making these persons general sales agents. Mr. Sethi was able to convince the airline that the appointment of the GSA in the USA would not only create legal problems but would also be a financial liability.

He also refused to change the present GSA arrangement in the U.K. and Canada which had helped the airline withstand fare competition from various airlines.

The politicians and bureaucrats had tried to corner him after criticism in the Lok Sabha that Air-India had favoured the GSA in London and in Bankgok by accepting documents which were available at highly discounted exchange rates.

When asked to explain, Mr. Sethi turned the tables against the Ministry by producing a document which confirmed that the orders for accepting the documents were given by the Minister and conveyed to his department by the Chairman of Air-India.

Mr. Sethi opposed the frequent orders from above for postings and transfers right up to the level of Sales Officers and Traffic Assistants.  He also opposed fleet expansion at a time when traffic trends the world over showed a downward trend.

Mr. Sethi who had 13 years to serve the airline had represented the airline on several international committees.  He was considered one of the most competent hands on fares and international agreements. In his resignation letter submitted to the Chairman this morning, Mr. Sethi said that he had decided to leave the airline for personal reasons.

In early March, the Government had removed the managing director of the airline, Mr. B.S. Das.  A year earlier, Mr. K.G. Appusamy resigned from the managing directorship of the airline.  Another deputy managing director, Mr. Nari Dastur also left the airline.  A vacuum was therefore created at the higher management level of the airline.

My colleagues both in Air-India and in the travel industry gave me many fond farewells and I must confess that I broke down in tears on more than one occasion.

I must mention here the generosity shown by a very good friend and colleague.  We were packing our belongings and had a number of problems living in the same apartment while the packers and movers were at work.  

Azhar Siddiqi, the General Manager of The Oberoi Sheraton, insisted that we move to his hotel and he gave us a two bedroom suite for the last two weeks prior to our move to Kuwait.  All meals were included and even packed lunches for our school going children were provided.

We had to make decisions on what to keep and what to discard.  We ended up shipping 37 pieces of baggage and cartons to the USA to await our arrival (which took place 9 months later) and carrying with us another 37 pieces to Kuwait.  Gulu (SK Gulati, God bless his soul) arranged for a warehouse where the 37 pieces were stored until our arrival.

I must state that Air-India came through magnificently and all items were shipped free of charge.

I left Bombay on October 31, 1980 and Manju and Sarat followed 3 days later along with our cook, who agreed to come with us to Kuwait, but not to the USA.  Our older son, Akhil, stayed on with my brother until he completed his school year - Sarat joined the American School in Kuwait.  Manuel, Air-India’s Airport Manager in Kuwait met me on arrival and escorted me to the Sheraton hotel where I stayed for the first 3 days until Manju arrived and we moved into our seaside apartment that Kuwait Airways provided for us to stay.