The 'never-say-die' entrepreneur

KOLKATA: To some of us, Bina Ramani is only a stubborn witness who went to Tihar Jail in connection with the Jessica Lal murder. They don't know that 1960's idol Shammi Kapoor was in love with her and wanted to marry her. To some of us, Bina is only a fashion designer. They don't know that, fascinated by the semi-precious neckpieces she was wearing, Indira Gandhi had asked her to design something for her in amber.Many of us know Ramani as a founder of the restaurateur's haven, Hauz Khas Village. They don't know that Zubin Mehta would gatecrash into her New York home and ask her to make kurtas for his whole team!
Name dropping? No. Bina Ramani was launching her autobiography, 'Bird in a Banyan Tree', at AKLF 2014, in the company of Rita Bhimani, Syeda Hameed and Bhaichand Patel. They lauded the 'never-say-die' spirit of the entrepreneur who was a nine-year-old refugee when India got partitioned. It surfaced through many such chance meetings, lasting associations, inspired decisions and very positive attitude to life. Sample the moment when Ajit Kerkar gave her a job - and she launched Raga, an Indian restaurant in New York, with the then President's mother Lilian Carter as the chief guest!