I met Ms Vinu Pillai at Thane HR Group, but I really got to know her well only during the past two or three years. A bright entrepreneur, she has set up an HR consulting firm, Vinicio Advisory, and opened its office at Dubai too. She is a low profile person and an unassuming one. Those who know her well will readily endorse my view.

Vinu wrote this piece and published it, and believe me, I did not ask her to do it. That someone wanted to write a review of my two books, suo motu, is a very satisfying feeling. Such appreciation is invaluable. The quote at the end of this post captures my feelings. Thanks Vinu, I am grateful! Vinu Pillai published this post earlier on LinkedIn. I am republishing it with her consent, and unedited.

My Tale of Two Books

This post is dedicated to my mentor, Vivek Patwardhan. Sir has been a tremendous inspiration to me, and I’ve been following his work since the early days of my career. Recently, I had the privilege of meeting him in person, thanks to the THRG (Thane HR Group), where Sir continues to mentor HR professionals, including myself.

During our meeting, I was fortunate enough to get his books, People at Work and The Lulu Duologues, personally autographed by Sir and his inspiration, Sulu Mam. These books hold extra significance for me, as they encapsulate Sir’s journey as an HR and IR professional, along with his reflections and life experiences shared through his blog.

As a slow reader, completing these books was a meaningful experience, and I want to share my thoughts on them.

People at Work

I set a personal deadline to finish People at Work by September 5th, dedicating a few focused hours to absorb its insights. Here are my unedited thoughts on #TeachersDay, as I reflect on this deep and insightful book:

It took me nine months to complete People at Work, a book woven with real-life cases and episodes from Sir’s working life. His close work with people at both the bottom and the top of the corporate hierarchy adds layers of authenticity and depth to this narrative.

Today, I was determined to finish this book because I was eager to see how Sir would conclude it. More importantly, I wanted to know what I, as a reader, could take away. Since I now know Sir personally, reading this book felt like a journey of exploration, offering me a window into his thoughts and experiences.

At first, when I saw the cover and context, I thought it would focus largely on Industrial Relations and Union matters—topics I had little exposure to. However, once I immersed myself in the book, it unraveled a much more profound journey. Some episodes, like overcoming personal biases, navigating riots, and handling divisive politics, felt cinematic in their intensity—truly gripping moments.

I realized how bold and fearless (Dabang!) you are, Sir. You didn’t hesitate to name names or call out companies for their actions.

The climax, focusing on the plight of women workers, hit hard. It left me pondering how someone like you maintains “detached attachment,” remaining balanced while witnessing such challenges. I have a long way to go on that front personally.

Your commitment to contract workers, Sir, is a mirror for HR professionals. Your book is a conscience keeper, still highly relevant to today’s HR landscape. The way you described employee engagement struck a chord with me. Balancing Capitalism and Socialism seems like such an overwhelming problem, one I often feel pessimistic about. Now that I’ve begun my entrepreneurial journey, I understand how hard it is to keep a business afloat or manage employees, and I realize how much bigger the problems can be.

I will definitely re-read this book to delve deeper into its lessons. My heart is heavy today, but I’m grateful for this journey. I carry your words of wisdom: Do what’s within your control to make a difference.

The Lulu Duologues

The selfish part of me couldn’t wait to get The Lulu Duologues autographed by both Sir and Mam. This book, inspired by Sulu Mam, is light-hearted and easy to read, always managing to bring a smile to my face. I can vividly imagine Lulu jumping around Sir’s laptop, and this image has stayed with me throughout the book. The best part? It’s a collection of Sir’s blogs, each entry rich with wit, warmth, and thought-provoking moments.

I’m still working on becoming a more disciplined reader and writer—something Sir always nudges me toward—but The Lulu Duologues has been my constant companion, especially when I needed that warmth of “home away from home.”

This book overflows with emotions, drama, and even humor. I often joke with Sir that he could easily write fiction or work in Bollywood! The personal stories, from his candid moments with his wife to his experiences as a proud parent and grandparent, are touching.

The playful but sharp commentary by Lulu on national politics and various pressing matters invites readers to reflect. It leaves us with questions we need to explore within ourselves. The leadership dilemmas are explained with great insight, and Sir’s candidness when discussing industrialists, politicians, and celebrities is nothing short of brilliant.

Through it all, Sir’s life and work remain a constant source of inspiration—not just for me, but for all budding, seasoned, or even retired professionals. Age is just a number, and though that sounds cliché, Sir truly embodies it.

Live life to the fullest and, like Sir, engage in conversations with your “Lulu”—even if you don’t have a “Sulu.”

And who knows, I might just be inspired by Sir to have my own Chatter with ‘Chillu’ (Vinu’s son) someday!

Vinu Pillai

Editor’s Note: I hope I will also get a chance to reciprocate when Vinu publishes books. Waiting for that day, Vinu.