Osamu Suzuki, A Leader Who Defied Convention

My first car was a Maruti 800, as it was for millions of Indians who discovered the joys of driving with this wonder car.

- HORMAZD SORABJEE

This little marvel put an entire subcontinent on wheels. The Maruti 800 is the most iconic symbol of the legacy of Osamu Suzuki, who recently passed away at the remarkable age of 94. The company announced that Suzuki died on 25 December after a battle with malignant lymphoma.

In India, Suzuki is synonymous with the Maruti story. It's a saga of twists and turns, chance and intrigue, worthy of a Netflix series. There are many protagonists in the story; Sanjay Gandhi, who died in an air crash; his Prime Minister mother, who wanted to build a national car company in his memory, and brilliant IAS officers like V. Krishnamoorthy and R.C. Bhargava, who made her dream a reality. But the main hero of this blockbuster has to be Osamu Suzuki.