Founder of Leela Chain of Hotels, C.P. Krishnan Nair; Source: DNA India

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When one thinks of the Leela chain of hotels, their mind immediately envisages luxury of the highest order, grandiose architecture and a staff that places services before self. Chittarath Poovakkatt Krishnan Nair, or Captain Nair as he was fondly known as, the man at the helm of the Leela empire, was born today.

Captain Nair was born to Appu Nair in Kannur District in 1922. His father was a government bill collector and had to feed his eight children on an income of merely 9 rupees. Although he had humble beginnings, he never let that hold him back from achieving his ambitions.

> He received a lifetime scholarship early on from the Maharaja, who was impressed by him during the recital of a poem written in the Maharaja's honour.

At an early age of just 13, he became a part of the Indian Independence Movement. Later, he joined the Indian Army in 1942 and became a close aid of Subhash Chandra Bose. He went on to rise to the position of Captain of the Maratha Light Infantry but eventually, resigned in the year 1951.

Post retirement, he entered the handloom business and introduced the world to Bleeding Madras- a Madras speciality fabric which "bled" after every wash and turned into a different shade of the same colour. He raked in millions in the fabric industry and after a while, became one of the most prominent importers in India.

At the age of 65, when most people are thinking of calling it a day, he started to establish his own chain of hotels, named after his beloved wife Leela. More than a chain of hotels, he wanted to create a brand that could parallel the gravitas of internationally renowned hotels. After overcoming several roadblocks, he finally opened the first of his eight hotels near the then Sahar International Airport in Mumbai in 1987. He went onto open a grand establishments in Goa, Udaipur, Chennai and several of them in Delhi. The Leela Palace in Bengaluru remains his most magnifificent creation till date. Inspired by the Mysore palace, it is one of the, if not the, finest hotels in India in terms of the vision, the gravitas and the architecture.

He passed away from natural causes on May 17, in the year 2014. He never shied away from taking a risk and made an empire of hotels that can be matched by very few people. He lived life king size and his hotels, were a reflection of his vision.

He gave the world Bleeding Madras and set unreal standards in the Indian Hospitality Industry.  Today marks the birthday of C.P. Krishnan Nair- Genius, Billionaire, Hotelier, Philanthropist.