Touch Of Greatness

Profiles of the human side of great men and women.

A Touch of Greatness is an engaging account of R.M. Lala’s meetings with luminaries he has known. Profiled here are politicians, social activists, industrialists, religious leaders and artists, whose lives demonstrate ‘what one can live for—and what one can live by’. They include giants like C. Rajagopalachari, Jayaprakash Narayan, J.R.D. Tata, Morarji Desai and Vinoba Bhave, all of whom played a prominent role in shaping modern India. Also profiled are the Dalai Lama, Azim Premji, Narayana Murthy, Nani Palkhivala and Sam Manekshaw who bring home the power of virtues like compassion, endeavour, intellect and selflessness. At the end is a tribute to a father—the author’s own—that speaks to all of us. The accompanying pen drawings enhance the appeal of these riveting biographical sketches.