A pillar of a man amongst the Lohana community, the Gujaratis and the British Asian businessman with a clean and remarkable record full of success and integrity. Yet his wish was not to be remembered as a successful businessman but a good swimming teacher.
This was Rashmi Thakrar, the man behind the Tilda Rice empire who left for the higher abode last Friday at the age of 70. In the recent months he was fighting the challenge of cancer. As his son, Shamil eulogised at the prayer meeting attended by more than thousand people, Rashmi did this with dignity, peace and smile. Rashmi gave his family the example of 'pani puri', which can only be enjoyed when it has both sweet and sour mixed in! Life is full of sweet and bitter.
Such were the qualities if a man who embraced the teachings of the Gita. He took the good and the bad in equal stride.
Rashmi along with his brothers Vipul and Shilen, built up the Tilda Rice business from humble beginnings to a multi million pounds business with international presence. Tilda, which I understand was a name derived from the names of his two sisters called Tila and Daksha. It always had the hallmark of quality.
It is correct to say that Rashmi Thakar brought the king of all rices, basmati, to the consumers. He took real pride in bringing the best to the consumer.
Rashmi spent a lot of his time amongst the farmers in Gurgaon in the state of Haryana in India. This is where he built close relationship with rice growers to achieve high quality. This is also where he became a great swimming coach for the children of the farmers. Teaching and parting knowledge and experience was his virtue. He delivered this with full reverence.
I have known Rashmi for many years but lost regular contact with him after he started spending more time in India. I last met him at the felicitation of Sir Nilesh Samani at Leicester University where Rashmi became a benefactor. He was full of energy, smiles and enthusiasm.
Rashmi Thakrar was fine example of a very successful entrepreneur who started as a Ugandan refugee in the UK and building up a a highly respected brand of rice in the World.
Rashmi leaves behind his wife Rekha, sons Shamil Raam and their families.
