The mystery of the changing clothes: Kamal Meattle once had Interpol at his heels

By Shashi Sunny

Kamal Meattle, chairman emeritus of Paharpur Business Center Park, on his travels and when he had the ‘Interpol’ at his heels.

Travelling solo
“The first time I travelled abroad solo was to Boston from Mumbai in 1964 to join the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I was 20 years old. My parents bought me a first-class ticket on Air India that stopped in Beirut, among other places on the way. I had eight dollars in my pocket and a bank draft in favour of MIT and other joining documents.


I met my host family nominated by MIT to help foreign students, at Boston airport. They drove me to MIT and made me comfortable in a dorm. Every minute of that journey was exciting and is etched in my memory to this day.”

Out of the comfort zone
“One trip in the summer of 1966 sprung quite a surprise on me. I was working as VP with a company set up by a few professors of MIT and Harvard. The company set up a system that enabled students at any campus in Europe to get a ‘date’ at any other campus. We had engaged a renowned New York law firm. I switched from wearing suits to meet the law firm partners in different capitals and wearing casuals to spend time at campuses to get student leaders as our selling agents.

“On one work trip to Stockholm, I was stopped by a person who showed me his ID that said ‘Interpol’ and questioned me on what I was up to.

My response was that he should know better as he said he was tracking me for some time. Once I explained what I did and why I changed clothes so often — staying in student hostels most of the time and then in a hotel to get my suit pressed and be ready to meet the law firm partner at another time — he was satisfied that I was a law-abiding person.”

Friends on the way
“My journey has led me to make several friends for life. The early trips were the ones where I made the best friends. I still meet interesting people when I travel, but the strongest ties are the oldest ones.”

On my bucket list…
“There are a few places that have eluded me, but I hope to tick them off soon. The Arctic, Antarctica, South America, Africa, Myanmar, Vietnam, Korea, and Russia are places that I know are fascinating. The world is full of places to discover.”.

Places to go back to
“I feel very much at home in Boston and places like Dusseldorf in Europe because I have been there many times to attend trade fairs. I go to attend the Indo-German Chamber Annual general meeting each year. The scenic beauty of Switzerland is always very relaxing and in a different way, the beaches of Thailand and the west coast of Canada are also great stressbusters.”