Tribute
Summer of 1995: He arrived in Hyderabad, from Chennai, to take up the assignment as Assistant Regional Manager, Advt, at The Hindu.
I had a new boss – Solomon Prabakar!
He was new to the twin cities. I was his first friend. To begin with Solly, as we called him, stayed at YMCA, Secunderabad, until we found a rental house. It was more than a month, daily picking up and dropping Solly at YMCA. A ritual that was fun because we spoke a lot about not just work but cricket, politics, and above all would subvert the ‘prohibition’ in the state on the sly.
When his family arrived a month later, I was there to receive them at the railway station. They had a new home in Sitaphalmandi and Solly, his wife Suganya and young Eunice and infant Hazael were a happy family. It was less than a year before the calling from Head Office took him back to Chennai. My “friend” was now my dotted line boss in HQ.
Solomon was the brain behind the redesign and revival of the brand “The Hindu Opportunities” – the recruitment pages. He envisaged a whole new path to recruitment advertising forming a 'task force', team of trusted lieutenants, across the branches, no wonder, I was one of them at Hyd. Giving his team a free hand to get creative with the brand and brought forth innovate concepts including the highly successful job fairs.
Over the years, in his various travels to our offices, we found Solly to be a jovial person with a tremendous sense of humour. His PJs had us in splits and he was always at hand to help in any situation, never thought twice to lend the helping hand.. Truly a mercurial genius with a penchant for pulling off pranks at the drop of the hat. His humanness touched many lives. Mine was one!
June 2012: With changing times and changing responsibilities, Solly moved from “Opportunities” to a different vertical. It was on his recommendation, I was considered for the elevation from my regional role to the national role, as I took over from him, the mantle of the Recruitment Pages, rechristened then as Empower.
I moved to Chennai and Solly was my friend, mentor, family, and everything during the time I was in Chennai. He continued to guide me at work and off it too, I travelled with him to office and home daily, till I got my car to Chennai. Together with Siva Kumar (a.k.a Joe), Solly and I formed an inseparable Trio.
Early 2013: I left Chennai and The Hindu (after almost 2 decades), it was also the last day of Empower. The recruitment pages again became “Opportunities”, sans Solly & Venkat.
Soon, Solomon Prabakar, General Manager, The Hindu, moved on too!
The career paths had changed. We lived in different cities but always stayed connected. I made it a point to meet him whenever I was in Chennai in the last decade. I even attended the wedding of his elder daughter.
We exchanged calls and messages on Birthdays and festivals. Last, I heard from him was on Pongal – a nice video WhatsApp message from him.
Jan 24, 2024:
Today morning, as I heard the sad news of his passing away, I was moved to tears. I have lost an elder brother, a close friend, a mentor, guide and above all a great partner in pranks.
Words can't describe the grief of losing someone so dear, who cared for a friend like his own family.
Farewell Dear Brother, Solly! Travel well mate! We will keep you in our hearts, forever.
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Post Script: Here is a fictional story featuring the three of us Ronnie (Solly), Joe (Siva Kumar) and Sam (Me), in The Hindu Chennai in 2012: … And thus the World Ended on Doomsday December 21st!
