I met Mr K.R. Singh - Kanwar Rajendra Singh to be exact - at the national council meeting of PRSI in 1989 and was greatly impressed by his clarity of thoughts and articulation. He was a multifaceted personality who could interact with anyone and everyone with ease and could discuss with you on any subject, whether it is the kind of wine he was drinking or the fish curry or the Indian diplomacy.
And I remember in 1991, he was the first sitting President of PRSI who agreed to visit the Chandigarh Chapter and address the members. I had gone to pick him up in a borrowed Ford from a friend, and the moment he was in till the time we got down at the hotel, I was better informed about the Ford's history and car's attributes.
KR was a respected journalist, having started his career as a staff correspondent of The Times of India. Later he was with Hindustan Times as Chief Reporter, and later published an English tabloid from Mumbai, 'The Daily' for five years.
He moved to corporate communication after joining IBM and also served as President of Birla Engineering Services, and later of Birla Medical Technologies. He was on the board of directors of three Birla companies for several years.
He was chairman and managing director of a Kirloskar Group company engaged in setting up of cancer treatment facilities in India.
He was the man in a hurry, but would enjoy every moment of his life. He would spend hours with his friends from PR fraternity till late evening, and one could find him up early in the morning ready for the day ahead.
The leadership he provided to PRSI, and the India Foundation for PR Education and Research, that gave me the opportunity to interact with him quite frequently, had been exceptionally memorable golden moments that I cherish so fondly today.
CJ
