A 30-Year Journey of Friendship, Learning, Mentorship and Memories
By Sivaraman
Resident Manager, United Arab Emirates
Chairman – Arab Countries Division, Qatar Aambal Tamil Sangam
Thirty years is a long time.
When I look back at my journey from 5 September 1996 to 5 September 2026, I realise that this has not merely been a friendship of three decades. It has been a journey of learning, guidance, opportunities, professional growth, shared experiences and, above all, a relationship between a mentor and a student.
For me, Dr. Ravi Govindaraj has been more than a senior colleague or a friend. He has been my mentor, my teacher and my guru.
I first came to know him professionally when I joined as a junior. From those early days, I had the opportunity to learn many things from him—not merely about a job, but about how to conduct oneself, how to handle responsibilities and, most importantly, how to deal with people.
Learning Beyond the Workplace
During our years in the hospitality industry, we had opportunities to handle some extraordinary situations and meet some extraordinary people.
The hotels where we worked hosted members of the Indian Football Team, Indian Cricket Team, Indian Hockey Team, Indian Volleyball Team, and many other prominent personalities.
We also had opportunities to interact with presidents, vice-presidents and dignitaries from different countries, including the President and Vice-President of Mauritius and other international dignitaries.
We were also involved in handling visits by people from the South Indian film industry, including actors, actresses, directors and their families.
During those days, even people who are major public figures today were, at that time, known primarily for their work in the film industry. I particularly remember our interactions with Vijay, who is today the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
From Dr. Ravi Govindaraj, I learned how to receive such personalities, how to communicate with them, how to understand their requirements, how to take care of them professionally and, above all, how to treat every person with respect.
These were lessons that could never have been learned from a textbook.
The Business Lesson I Will Never Forget
At one point, a new business concept called Magnetic Business was introduced.
I was among the first to join that concept. I then invited Dr. Ravi Govindaraj, whom I still consider my senior even today, to join me.
At that time, he did not have much money available for the business. He had two two-wheelers.
When I asked him to join the business, he simply took one of those two-wheelers and said, in effect, “Take this and use it for the business.”
That moment taught me something very important about his mindset.
When he believes in an idea, he does not merely talk about it. He commits himself to it and works for it with determination.
That quality has remained unchanged from those days until today.
A Lesson I Learned the Hard Way
There was also a time when I decided to leave my job.
Dr. Ravi Govindaraj advised me not to leave. He told me that I should continue.
But I did not listen to him.
I left the organisation and, after about four years, returned.
When I came back, I joined at the same position I had held earlier. Meanwhile, people who had once worked under me had moved into higher positions.
That experience made me realise the value of the advice he had given me.
I called him and told him that I should have listened to him at that time.
That was another important life lesson for me:
Sometimes, the advice we ignore today becomes the lesson we understand tomorrow.
Two Different Paths, One Continuing Friendship
Over the years, both of us continued to grow professionally, although our careers took us in different directions.
Dr. Ravi Govindaraj progressed within the hospitality industry, moving through positions such as Food & Beverage Manager and General Manager.
I moved into roles including Resident Manager and responsibilities in resorts and other hospitality operations.
Then, unexpectedly, our professional paths crossed again in Qatar.
For nearly 10–15 years, we were there, working with different companies.
He was associated with a group of around 30 companies as Head of Training and Development, while I was working as a Training Manager in my organisation.
Although we were working for different companies, our friendship and learning relationship continued.
We would meet regularly, often every week. We would talk, exchange ideas and share our experiences.
And then there was our chess!
Whenever we met, we could play as many as 30 games of chess.
Food was another part of our friendship. We would sometimes sit together and enjoy six or seven different varieties of biryani at one time.
These may sound like simple memories, but when I look back today, I realise that these ordinary moments are some of the most valuable memories of our 30-year journey.
The FIFA World Cup Experience
In 2022, when the FIFA World Cup was held in Qatar, we had the opportunity to be involved in the operations connected with the stadiums.
Being part of an environment where the entire stadium operations were under our responsibility was an experience that cannot easily be described.
Even in such situations, there were always opportunities to learn something from Dr. Ravi Govindaraj.
That has been the pattern throughout our relationship.
Wherever we were, whatever our positions were, there was always something to learn from him.
His Commitment to People
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ravi Govindaraj had already been helping people find employment and connecting people who were looking for jobs with opportunities—often without expecting anything in return.
During the COVID period, when people across the world were going through an extremely difficult time, he became actively involved through Aambal Tamil Sangam in bringing programmes related to art, literature and knowledge to people.
Numerous debates, literary programmes and knowledge initiatives were organised.
Through these efforts, he personally participated in and contributed to more than 150 world-record initiatives, while also supporting many others in their achievements.
Overall, he has been associated with initiatives involving more than 30,000 achievements, directly and together with others.
The Guinness World Record Opportunity
One opportunity that I will always remember was the opportunity Dr. Ravi Govindaraj gave me to participate in a Guinness World Record initiative.
He gave me the opportunity.
Unfortunately, I did not make use of it.
That remains one small regret in my heart.
But there is also happiness because the opportunity was given to me in the first place.
After the Guinness World Record was completed, the Guinness World Records book eventually came to Dr. Ravi Govindaraj’s home in Bengaluru during the housewarming ceremony.
I had the privilege of receiving that book with my own hands.
There was happiness.
And there was also a little sadness that I had not been part of the record myself.
But the important point remains: he had given me the opportunity.
Whether I used it or not was my responsibility.
That is another quality I have always admired in him—he creates opportunities and opens doors for people.
A Friendship Built on Care
Over these 30 years, we have travelled, worked, eaten and spent time together in many different places.
One small quality of his stands out to me.
Whenever we sit down for a meal, he would first make sure that we had eaten before he started eating himself.
That may sound like a very small thing.
But small things reveal a person’s character.
He is a genuinely caring person.
His concern for people is not limited to professional situations. It comes naturally to him.
My Mentor, My Teacher, My Guru
Today, on Teachers’ Day, I feel extremely happy and proud to speak about someone who has been my teacher in many ways.
For 30 years, I have continued to learn from him.
He has been:
My teacher to my teacher,
my mentor to my mentor,
and my guru in my journey of life.
I am Sivaraman, and when I look back at these 30 years, I can honestly say that I have learned countless lessons from Dr. Ravi Govindaraj.
And the most interesting part is this:
I still believe there is much more to learn from him.
Thirty years have passed.
But the learning has not ended.
The friendship has not ended.
The journey has not ended.
With Gratitude
On this Teachers’ Day, I offer my heartfelt wishes and gratitude to my mentor, senior, teacher and guru, Dr. Ravi Govindaraj.
Thank you for the opportunities.
Thank you for the guidance.
Thank you for the lessons.
Thank you for the friendship.
And most importantly, thank you for continuing to inspire me to learn.
05/09/1996 – 05/09/2026
30 Years of Learning
Life Lessons from My Mentor, Dr. Ravi Govindaraj
With respect, gratitude and affection,
Sivaraman
