C. P. Krishnan Nair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
C. P. Krishnan Nair
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| Born | 9 February 1922 |
| Died | 17 May 2014 (aged 92) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Founder The Leela Group |
| Spouse(s) |
Leela Nair
(m. 1950–2014) |
| Children | 2 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  British India (1942–47) India (1947–51) |
| Service/ |
 Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1951 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Maratha Light Infantry |
Chittarath Poovakkatt Krishnan Nair (born February 9, 1922 – died May 17, 2014) was an Indian businessman. He is famous for starting The Leela Group, a chain of luxury hotels. People often called him Captain Nair because he served in the Indian Army. In 2010, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan award, which is one of India's highest civilian awards.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Growing Up in Kerala
Krishnan Nair was born on February 9, 1922, in a village in Kannur district in northern Kerala. At that time, his village was part of the Malabar District under British rule in India. He was one of eight children in his family. His father, Appu Nair, worked as a government bill collector.
A Special Scholarship
When Nair was a student, the Maharaja of Chirakkal visited his school. Nair wrote and recited a poem for the Maharaja. The Maharaja was very impressed by the poem. Because of this, he gave Nair a scholarship that would pay for his education for his entire life.
Joining the Army
Nair became involved in the Indian independence movement when he was just 13 years old. In 1942, he traveled to Bangalore to join the Indian Army. He worked as a wireless officer in Abbottabad, which is now in Pakistan. He became close to leaders of the Indian freedom movement, including Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He rose through the ranks and became a Captain in the Maratha Light Infantry. He served in the army until 1951.
Later Career and Business Ventures
Helping Indian Handlooms
After leaving the Army in 1951, Nair helped set up the All India Handloom Board. This board worked to promote traditional Indian hand-spun fabrics. He played a big part in selling Indian yarn in the United States. His many business trips to Europe and the United States allowed him to see famous international hotels. These hotels, like the Adlon Kempinski and the Waldorf Astoria, later inspired him to start his own hotel business.
Fashion and Fabric
In 1958, Nair worked with a company called Brooks Brothers. They introduced a special fabric called Bleeding Madras fabric. This fabric later became popular with big brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Wal-Mart, Liz Claiborne, and Macy's. Later that same year, he also started a factory in Sahar, Mumbai, that made lace.
Starting Leela Hotels
In 1957, Nair visited West Germany as part of a group from the All India Handloom Board. During his trip, he stayed at the Kempinsky Hotel in Budapest. This experience made him realize that India needed luxury hotels that could match international standards.
When the Sahar International Airport opened in Mumbai in 1981, Nair noticed there were no good hotels nearby. He owned a 4-acre piece of land in Sahar and leased another 6.5 acres. In 1983, he started Hotel Leelaventure Ltd. and began building his first hotel there.
The very first Leela Hotel opened in Mumbai in 1987. After that, he opened more hotels, including The Leela Palace in Bangalore, The Leela Goa, and The Leela Beach Resort in Thiruvananthapuram. He named his hotel group after his wife, Leela.
Awards and Recognition
Krishnan Nair received many awards for his work. The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS) gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) honored him with the Global 500 Roll of Honour award in 1999.
In 2009, the International Hotels and Restaurant Association in Geneva, Switzerland, named him the "Hotelier of The Century." Finally, in 2010, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan. He stepped down as the chairman of Hotel Leela on February 7, 2013. His eldest son, Vivek Nair, took over the role.
Death
Krishnan Nair passed away on May 17, 2014, at the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai. He was 92 years old and had been ill for a short time.
Personal Life
Nair married Leela, the daughter of industrialist A. K. Nair, in 1950. They had two sons, Vivek Nair and Dinesh Nair. Vivek is now the chairman and managing director of The Leela Group. Dinesh is the co-chairman. Krishnan Nair was also related to V. P. Menon, an important Indian civil servant during British rule. Leela Krishnan Nair passed away on May 16, 2021.
