Mr. Ashok Kumar Roy, former Chairman-cum-Managing Director of GIC Re breathed his last on 5th June. He suffered a massive heart attack on 4th June while visiting Haridwar along with his family and could never come out of it for good. His sudden death left legions of his friends, colleagues and admirers completely devastated and distraught for it was so untimely. Even after his retirement, Mr.Ashok Kumar Roy was very active – participating in seminars and conclaves with a zeal of a student, perhaps nurturing a dream of a fruitful second innings.
I met him for the last time at the 4th Insurer’s Conclave on “Inclusive Insurance: Challenges And Road Ahead” under the auspices of Asean Institute of Insurance and Risk Management on11th February 2017 at Rizvi Institute Of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai. He was chairing a session on ‘Confluence of Alternative Channels of Insurance’. As was wont with him, he was deeply engrossed with the theme and came out with a wonderful presentation.
I had the good opportunity to know many facets of Mr. Roy’s personality during my NIA stint at Pune. He was authoritative but at the same very accessible and cared a lot for his fellow colleagues. He would make it a point to address his officers in all important GIC programmes at NIA. Whenever we approached him to address a seminar, he would forthright give his consent. He would always come prepared meticulously for his turn and would be pithy but precise in his argument.
A dimension of his personality not known to many was his love for cooking. Many colleagues of his fondly remember his culinary exploits. Hewas also a voracious reader and would devote quality time reading books. He loved travelling as well.
Ranji Sinha ,Executive Vice President, Head – Broker Management & Branches at Oman Insurance Company, Dubai recalls his association with A.K.Roy very fondly and shared a few anecdotes about him. “Mr AK Roy was not only a top notch professional but a human being par excellence. As a young direct recruit way back in 1988, when I reported at Ujjain where he was a Branch Manager then, he ensured, in every possible way, that I settled down quickly and comfortably in a city where I could have easily got lost. There were umpteen occasions that are still vivid in my memory but one particular incident is unforgettable. It was late in the night, when I heard the sound of his familiar scooter, a Lamberetta, at my door. When I opened the door, sure enough, Mr & Mrs Roy were there with their trademark smile.
Surprised as I was, knowing that Mr. Roy would have travelled fromIndore only late in the evening, I asked him innocuously as to what made him drive so late to my house with his ailing wife. Mr. Roy put his friendly arm on my shoulder and in his own graceful way, mentioned that three batch mates of mine, posted at Indore had planned to pay me a surprise visit the same night and he and his wife were concerned that the holy city of Ujjain slept early and the novice that I was at cooking, my friends would have gone hungry. In a matter of just half an hour, the aroma of some deliciously cooked food filled my house and their culinary skills were at full display. Although I felt embarrassed by their kind gesture, I could not have thanked them more”.
“My last meeting with him was a couple of years back when he visited Dubai as CMD of GIC.It is not unusual for people to change when they reach the pinnacle of their career but not Mr. Roy. When he found out that I was not invited to the event organized by their local office, he not only called me and invited me as his personal guest, he also ensured that I was seated next to him. If that gesture was not enough, I was warmly touched when he mentioned that he has kept the next evening free keeping in mind that I would ask him to spare his valuable time for me.
It was such an honour to host him in Dubai and introduce the man who I owed so much to my family. My association with him at Ujjain was a short one, 5 years and a half month to be precise, but the love and affection that he showered on me is unforgettable and I wonder why such a pious and noble soul had to bear so much on personal front. Added Ranji Sinha with a tinge of despair “He was my first boss and I am proud of that. Not only did I learn the technical aspects of Insurance from him in formative years of my career but he also taught me something more precious- Empathy for the Customers “continued Sinha in the same vein.
Masood Wahab, Regional Manager with Oriental Insurance Co.Ltd., is vey nostalgic about his long association with A.K. Roy. “He was a very down to earth man who faced adversity in his life with stoic resolve”. He added.
Mr. Ashok Kumar Roy was an agriculture engineer with B. Tech (Hons.) from prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He was also a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India.
Mr. Roy joined the General Insurance Industry as a direct recruit Officer in 1979. He worked with the Oriental Insurance Co. Ltd., for 29 years mainly as property underwriter at various levels before moving to GIC Re in June 2008 as General Manager. In December 2011, Mr. Roy took over as Officiating Chairman -cum Managing Director of Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC).Subsequently, on 2nd January, 2012, Mr. Roy became Chairman-cum-Managing Director of GIC Re.
During this period he was also Chairman of GIC Housing Finance Limited and GIC Asset Management Co. Mr. Roy was also director on several Boards of Companies like Life Insurance Corporation of India, Indian Register of Shipping, India, East Africa Reinsurance Company Limited, Nairobi.
Mr. Roy had been a member of Technical Sub Committee (Engineering) of TAC and was closely associated in Development of Core Insurance Solution (INLIAS). He also headed the core group for development of the Fire & Engineering Module.
He has attended several training programmes on Change Management, Negotiation skills, and Corporate Governance. His varied interests included the impact of global warming on the Insurance Industry and he worked tenaciously in contributing solutions for the same.
He was very keen in advancing insurance education in India and was on the advisory council of AIIRM -working tirelessly to set up a university for insurance education in India.
All his life, A.K.Roy worked selflessly for the security and safety of lives and property of others caring least for himself. He left behind a family comprising his wife and a very young son. His premature death jolted all of us who knew him as a wonderful human being and a thorough professional. It is very difficult to bridge the void created by his death. It seems God has ordained that he should take greater responsibility in heaven.
