He is well into his 70s, yet, his energy levels will be tough for a 40 year old to match. With always a smile and a sensible advice, Subhash Verma is epitome of what they would say ageing with grace, not to mention plenty of accomplishments to back up your story. A man who calls Germany his second home, a travel enthusiast who having visited 83 countries still has thirst for more and a tourism professional who is shouldering the huge responsibility of being the Project Director for ITM 2019. We are delighted to feature his journey, challenges and achievements in BOTT Spotlight.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
Though I have known him for many years as an integral member of the travel trade fraternity, it was not until I sat down to interview him did I realise the struggles that he has overcome to reach where he stands today. Born and raised during his early years in Pakistan, Subhash Verma’s family came to Delhi as refugees and had to start life from ground zero. Since he good in studies, he did his schooling from the Birla School followed by B.Com (Hons) from the SRCC. However, it was a German Bloke, who was invited to speak on the last day of the school that had a major impact on the veteran’s life. The narration of the German guy, about the destination and all that it offers had such a deep impact on Subhash that it became an inherent desire for him to visit Germany – a dream he started working towards by enrolling himself in a German Language learning school.
“Soon after college, I got job in a Bank but my heart would always yearn to work in the Indian Airlines office that used to be situated just across PNB Bank in CP. Soon enough, I gave in to my wish and started working at the Indian Airlines office. I worked there for a year before the Lufthansa bosses picked me up, as this was the time, in 1965, that the airline was setting up an office in India and language skills played to my advantage. My first visit to Germany was a part of my German Language Scholarship, wherein I was required to study in that country for 6 months and much to my delight, I topped that batch which had students from over 80 countries. Many years later, my love for Germany has not vanquished and I love to refer to it as my second home,” reminisces Verma with a smile.
Subhash Verma worked with Lufthansa for over 30 years, wherein he climbed his way up the ladder and attained much success. Travel formed an integral part of his schedule, which unlike many, was perhaps the most pleasure part of working for him. “I firmly believe that those who don’t travel, remain very myopic in their thoughts and conducts. The world is such a beautiful place and there is so much more to see and learn. During their growing up years, I always took my children to atleast two holidays in a year, which I thought was the best education I could every give them. We all evolved a great deal when we travel,” says the travel enthusiast.
Having done his bit for the airline, Subhash Verma took Voluntary Retirement and opened his own travel company called ‘Travel Plus’ in 1996. The company did well for the first few years and its functioning remained aligned with the veteran’s thought process of bringing a change in the travel trade industry, but growing competition along with entry of online travel made him realise that he is not cut out to be a hard-core businessman. “My next calling came from the Travel Trade Associations, in which I played an active part for the next few years of my life. I was the TAAI Northern Region Chairman for 3 years and then was actively involved in ADTOI for another 8 years wherein I was the President for 2 consecutive terms. I am happy to share that I am also one of the Founder and Visionaries for FAITH and this year have been entrusted with an additional task of being the Project Director for ITM 2019,” he shares, pride and enthusiasm clearly written all over his face.
A Skal member and Rotary Club Past President, Subhash Verma is currently focussing on another aspect of his life, something that has been a constant motivator for him all these years and is perhaps the secret for his fitness – yoga, Ayurveda, healing and meditation. Extremely different from his active life in the travel trade, Subhash not just practices yoga since an early age but is also a great promoter of it. With a firm believer in Spirituality and Holistic life, the veteran conducts Yoga workshops internationally, with the help of trained yoga gurus and is currently also in the process of launching his own website – myhealingtemple.com.
Well, what can we say? He is a true inspiration for many people around him – an example, a trend setter for the younger generation who crave to lead a life devoid of medications. His spirit has not diminished with age, in fact, we wouldn’t be wrong in saying that it has only gotten stronger with time and high on his wish list are a list of countries, he is looking forward to explore in the coming years.
