C. P. Krishnan Nair
Encyclopedia
Capt. Chittarath Poovakkatt Krishnan Nair (born February 9,1922) is an India
n businessman, who founded Leela Lace Ltd., a textile company in 1957 and later became the Founder-Chairman of the Leela Group of Hotels, established in 1986. and a 2010 recipient of the Padma Bhushan
, given by Government of India
.
in North Kerala
, India
, one of the eight children of a government bill collector.
under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. In 1950, he married Leela, the daughter of a handloom owner from Kannur, subsequently, he started helping his father-in-law in the latter's garment export business, eventually taking it over and developing export markets, becoming one of the pioneers of the Bleeding Madras fabric
, which became much popular in the 1960s. By 1980s his textile business, called "Leela Lace" after his wife, was flourishing and had built textile factory in North Mumbai.
In 1957, he was part of a delegation of the Handloom Board to West Germany, which involved visits to Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich and Hamburg. Here after his stay at the Kempinsky Hotel in Budapest, he realized the need for a luxury hotel chain in India that could measure up to international standards. With the Sahar International Airport opening in 1981, a niche for a luxury airport near it arose and thus he realised his three decade old dream with the launch of his first hotel in Mumbai
as Hotel Leela
, at Sahar
, Mumbai in 1986, named Leela, after the wife ; this was followed by the Leela Goa, the Leela Palace in Bangalore and the Leela Beach Resort in Thiruvananthapuram.
The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
(AAHS) conferred him a Lifetime Achievement Award and the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) awarded him the Global 500 Roll of Honour
award in 1999. Eventually he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
, by Government of India
in 2010. He was also awarded the "Hotelier of The Century" Award by International Hotels and Restaurant Association, based in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n businessman, who founded Leela Lace Ltd., a textile company in 1957 and later became the Founder-Chairman of the Leela Group of Hotels, established in 1986. and a 2010 recipient of the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, given by Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
.
Early life
Nair was born and brought up in Kannur districtKannur district
Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name. The old name Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur. Kannur District is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north and...
in North Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, one of the eight children of a government bill collector.
Career
He served in the Indian National ArmyIndian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. In 1950, he married Leela, the daughter of a handloom owner from Kannur, subsequently, he started helping his father-in-law in the latter's garment export business, eventually taking it over and developing export markets, becoming one of the pioneers of the Bleeding Madras fabric
Madras (cloth)
Madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with typically patterned texture and plaid design, used primarily for summer clothing—pants, shorts, dresses and jackets. The fabric takes its name from the former English name of the city of Chennai, India...
, which became much popular in the 1960s. By 1980s his textile business, called "Leela Lace" after his wife, was flourishing and had built textile factory in North Mumbai.
In 1957, he was part of a delegation of the Handloom Board to West Germany, which involved visits to Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich and Hamburg. Here after his stay at the Kempinsky Hotel in Budapest, he realized the need for a luxury hotel chain in India that could measure up to international standards. With the Sahar International Airport opening in 1981, a niche for a luxury airport near it arose and thus he realised his three decade old dream with the launch of his first hotel in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
as Hotel Leela
Hotel Leela Venture
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is an Indian luxury hospitality group founded in 1986 by Captain C. P. Krishnan Nair, who named it after his wife. Currently The Leela - as it is commonly referred to, is a group of seven luxury palaces and hotels, located in Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Trivandrum,...
, at Sahar
Sahar, Maharashtra
Sahar is an area in the Andheri suburb of North Mumbai which is the site of the Sahar International Airport which opened here in 1981, which lead to subsequent development in the area. including the opening of the first hotel of The Leela Group in 1988...
, Mumbai in 1986, named Leela, after the wife ; this was followed by the Leela Goa, the Leela Palace in Bangalore and the Leela Beach Resort in Thiruvananthapuram.
The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
American Academy of Hospitality Sciences
The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences is an establishment of reviewers specializing in the reviewing of hotels, resorts, spas, airlines, cruise lines, automobiles, products, restaurants and chefs. It is most notably known for its reviews on the hotels, resorts, and travel industries. The...
(AAHS) conferred him a Lifetime Achievement Award and the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
(UNEP) awarded him the Global 500 Roll of Honour
Global 500 Roll of Honour
The United Nations Environment Programme established the Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1987 to recognize the environmental achievements of individuals and organizations around the world.The last Global 500 Roll of Honour awards were made in 2003...
award in 1999. Eventually he was awarded the Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, by Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 2010. He was also awarded the "Hotelier of The Century" Award by International Hotels and Restaurant Association, based in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2009.
External links
- C. P. Krishnan Nair, Official webpage at Leela Group of Hotels website