BOOK REVIEW : 2

SIMPLY FLY

A Deccan Odyssey

Author: Captain G R Gopinath
Capt. G R Gopinath was the co-founder of Air Deccan and Deccan Aviation. He hails from Gorur, Hassan district. “Simply Fly” is his autobiography.

Published by: Collins Business
Genre: Autobiography

 

Some people change the rules of the game, in real sense. They bring in some ideas that not only change the way that particular business is done but everything.

There’s a book “Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey” by Capt. G R Gopinath, the father of Indian Low-cost airlines. This book is the journey of the captain who reaches the skies with Helicopters and Aero planes starting from Rs 6500, the money he received after retiring from Army.

Capt. Gopinath takes us through a journey from his small village, Gorur in Hassan district to Sainik School Bijapur and then to a career in Army and then eventually turning on the entrepreneurial spirit inside him.

The book itself is a roller coaster ride, how the passing of Sainik School examination changes the fate of a poor boy, how the army makes him stronger and prepares him to face any challenge in World and the same army routine brings boredom and forces him to leave it and go on and explore the World outside.

This book is not an autobiography of a person; it is the story of many of us who want to see the World through many lenses. Today we may dream of becoming a doctor and tomorrow and tomorrow someone else. And this book is the same;the author is an army guy, a farmer, a dealer of Enfield motorcycles, an agricultural consultant, an airline owner and a courier company founder. “This is the story of the new India” as the author himself mentions.

This is a success story of a person who dreams and puts his heart at it and succeeds. We find joy and luxury here and apathy and sorrow, as Captain leads us through his journey. We see a farmer, a dealer and a politician too in him. And as ever with everyone, he faces the shortage of money before he starts a new venture and every time he overcomes the problem and succeeds.

There are touching stories in here, some so humble and touching that one cannot pass them without mentioning: the first story happens to the author himself – he flies his helicopter with the Chief Minister on board ven before the formalities with the DGCA, the aviation ministry, are over. Such zeal and spirit can be seen in his all ventures. The second is about a marriage that happened in his helicopter in air! This is a touching story of a small trader who wants his sister married in a helicopter as his grandfather has arranged the marriage of all his children on elephant! And Capt. Gopinath lets it happen at 50% discount!!
And there’s another story of a girl named Kavya who wanted to surprise her father by going to their home at Coorg unannounced in a helicopter on his sixtieth birthday. She makes it happen after a few years and they cut the cake mid-air.

These are a few to quote and the book is filled with such anecdotes where the author behaves more as a caring human being than a businessman.
The book is really a story that Entrepreneurs will face in their lives. Though fundamentally different, it is no less than Virgin Inc. in India. Even Sir Richard Branson shows interest in Deccan and meets him.

This book is a must read, as it is a story of an energetic Indian who loves the challenges and moves up in life. It is more a story, a humble journey of a common man who takes a leap of faith and builds his business. 

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Book Review by : Nemichandra.B.H
                           : 17th Batch

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