THE LION’S DEN

The moment you step out of the elevator on the third floor of VOITH House at Sinamangal, an air of regality surrounds you. As you walk along the corridor, lined on one side by tinted windows, you come across delicate and elegant knick knacks displayed tastefully along the walls and in neat showcases.

At the same time, a foyer on the other side of the corridor catches your attention. A black-slated fountain in the middle has on both sides, two exotic statuettes that look definitely African. One doesn’t usually see such exotic pieces around town. Hung on the walls are shining sabres, swords and battle-axes that lend dignity to the place. Two paintings by Erina Tamrakar add flavour to the foyer.

Next to it, a door opens into a wide expanse of burnished wooden furniture, plush sofas and deep grey wall-to-wall carpeting. At one end of the expansive room is a large desk, and behind it, on a deep leather chair, one will usually find seated, Mr. Gajananda Vaidya, Chairman of VOITH Group of Industries, better known as the man who brought Toyota into Nepal.

You cannot but remain a little hushed once you enter the office, and a little overwhelmed. But who can blame you? After all, you are now in the Lion’s Den.

The Lion is quite proud of his lair and growls, sorry, says, “Most of this was my idea. Sarita of Inscape helped me substantially in the implementation of my ideas. And the furniture, particularly, was done by her.” On one side of the room, you will find a cabinet with quite a few framed photographs of the Chairman with renowned persona such as King Gyanendra, Imelda Marcos and the Prime Minister of Japan. At the other side of the room is a smaller cabinet lined with impressive looking books. A door at the side leads into the pantry.

The Chairman obviously is a man of high taste and likes to not only live but also, work stylishly. He is of course a shrewd businessman as well and this is proven by what he says, “I would like people to come to my office in a pleasant state of mind. It helps business.” That, evidently, is the reason he wanted an elegant foyer outside his office. “Yes, when a visitor comes through the foyer, he is certain to experience a change in mood. Of course, for the better, which naturally, is preferable for conducting good business.”

Sarita Shrestha of The Inscape explains, “Mr. Vaidya wished for an office that would not only be impressive, but also workable, elegant and with wide open spaces. I have used a lot of burnished wood since I believe the solidity and timelessness of wood reflects the Chairman’s personality quite well.” Well, the Chairman and Sarita have certainly succeeded in creating an environment where work is a pleasure and successful negotiations are a done deal.

The Lion certainly must be pleased to be spending his workdays in such pleasant surroundings and purrs, “I wanted this office to be one where even if five hours were enough, I would still want to work for ten hours.”

However, the Lion’s Den is not the only thing about the place that is so work motivating. On the floor above is a small meeting room with a semi circular table with chairs and a board in front. On the walls you will find some of the most exotic wall hangings to be found anywhere. In the adjoining conference room, which is much larger, one will find comfortable sofas strewn about, and a small podium in front with the logo of VOITH behind it. On one side of the room is a showcase that has the now expected exquisite knick-knacks and souvenirs displayed in small cubicles with inner lighting.

Looking down from the conference room, one can see the foyer with the fountain on the lower floor. Two long beams criss-cross at the centre and do not obstruct the view. All along the ledges, surrounding the foyer below, are lush green plants that, along with the glittering chandeliers, gives one the impression of being in a world that is at the very least, elegant, exotic and refined.

Oh yes, at the cost of sounding repetitive, one must once again say, the man has class. The environment reeks of good taste and one can well imagine the Lion in his Den, roaring now and then, as a lion should, but because of the plush-ness of the place, purring contentedly most of the time.