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A low-profile visionary
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Saturday, 14 July, 2007, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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wn characteristic low-profile way of doing business and his simplicity and conservative values pervade the entire Allana organisation. So when this journalist sent Rashid Kadimi, CEO, Processed Foods Division, Allana Group, an e-mail to condole with the aggrieved family members and proposing to pay tribute to Abdul Razak Allana, it was a shot in the dark. Kadimi wrote back after consulting the family accepting the request.
Razak Allana, the chairman of Allana Group who passed away on June 27 at the age of 71, was the representative of modesty and humility in success, borne out of his philosophic perceptions on life. He had been ailing for the last two months, but few outside his immediate family thought him to be ill. Till his last breath, he was always around. Anybody and everybody who knew him wanted him to go on forever.
He is survived by his wife and three sons - Feroz, Irfan and Shiraz. While, Irfan looks after Indian operations and is the president of the All India Meat & Livestock Exporters Association in his sixth term, Feroz and Shiraz handle UAE operations.
K C Mehta, director, Allanasons Ltd, who has closely worked with him for over two decades, says that Razak Allana has always been a visionary; like his insistence well ahead of time, for all manufacturing locations' compliance to ISO 9001:2000, HACCP, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 in letter and spirit. The focus has always been specialisation, quality, value addition, branding and world class manufacturing infrastructure, long before these became buzz words.
Though he has deftly built up an image of low-profile businessman, his expertise has been liberally availed of by Government of India and various state governments. Razak Allana has served for seven years on the Advisory Committee, Western Region of IDBI; has been a member, Board of Trade and member, Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce; Chairman of the Committee to study long-term export prospects of rice; member, Government of India's business delegation to G-15 meeting in Caracas (Venezuela) and New Delhi.
As a philanthropist for the needy, Razak Allana found time for a number of causes dear to him. The Allana Foundation actively addresses a range of social causes, including basic education, and supports numerous schools, colleges and professional institutions whether founded by the family or otherwise.
"Razak Allana's deep empathy for the sick and less fortunate was reflected in the many hours of each week that he personally spent in charity activities. He was a great man and human being to all of us and to those who were fortunate to know him," said Mehta. "He has left behind lasting impressions in our individual lives and in the many lives he touched during his lifetime. He was our constant benefactor, but always from behind the scene," added Mehta.
He commanded respect and admiration of even his competitors. "The unobtrusive leadership and guidance that he provided for over five decades have been invaluable in the successful creation and consolidation of the group's global businesses across India, the Far East, the Middle East and North Africa. The group's high ethical standards and fair dealings are all fitting testimonies to his vision and leadership," recalled Tulsibhai Tanna, director, Gold Crest Exports, a personal and business friend who has known him for over four decades.
"A doyen who stood taller than the tallest, wisdom personified; admired and revered; deeply knowledgeable and inspiring, truly an institution," described Kadimi.
Allana have been pioneer exporters since 1865 and leading exporters since Independence. Razak Allana inherited a flourishing business and along with his brother, late Hussain Allana took it to unparalled heights. The Allana Group has 17 factories spread across India and covers a wide range of food products; frozen boneless meat and meat products, canned meat, fish, frozen fruit & vegetable products, coffee, seeds, cereals, edible oils, spices and more.
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