In the span of a single week, the world bid farewell to two extraordinary visionaries—Sumit Mazumder, on 31st August 2025, the former chairman of TIL Limited from Kolkata, India, and Giorgio Armani, on 4th September 2025, the timeless maestro of fashion from Milan, Italy.
Though their worlds were vastly different, their legacies echo a shared truth: excellence, when pursued with heart and vision, leaves a mark that time cannot erase. Greatness, therefore, remains.
Sumit Mazumder
TIL Limited, also known as Tractors India, was founded in 1944, was one of the first primary dealers of Caterpillar, established during India’s journey toward independence and infrastructure development. Over time, TIL grew into a prominent corporate entity in the country.
In 1995, Sumit Mazumder (popularly addressed as SMR) took over as the Managing Director. Under his leadership, the company expanded its production facilities and gained global exposure through partnerships with brands like Manitowoc, Hyster, Astec Industries, and others.
From January 2024 TIL is now managed by Indocrest Defence Solutions Private Limited – a company under Gainwell Group.
Although I did not have the privilege of knowing SMR Sir personally, I’ve heard from former employees that he was a great listener and extended a helping hand to those in dire need. Known as a fierce entrepreneur, he also had a refined taste for heritage luxury.
During my tenure at Tractors India between 2014–2016, I once had the opportunity to witness the marvels of his curio collection when I was invited to his office to photograph him for an official article. It was just a few moments, and I was nervous while aiming my camera. But SMR Sir’s composure unknowingly steadied me, and I managed to capture two great photos of him.
We come across many people—some common, some stalwarts,
never realizing that those brief interactions will remain etched in our memories,
only to surface when death completes a life.
Greatness, therefore, remains.
Giorgio Armani
“War taught me that not everything is glamorous.”
Giorgio Armani was a child during World War II. One day in Piacenza, he was playing with undetonated artillery shells. One exploded—killing a friend and badly burning him. This incident shaped his lifelong pursuit of elegance – not as vanity, but as healing and order, because good design demands great discipline. Despite having no formal design training, Armani became one of the most revered designers in the world. His mastery came from observation, experimentation, and intuition—something every designer should learn from.
Giorgio Armani was an era unto himself.
In 1975, Giorgio and his partner Sergio Galeotti formed Giorgio Armani S.p.A. Giorgio’s philosophy and work led Italy out of the black-and-white of political violence into a world of taste and tradition. He made “Made in Italy” a global statement of elegance and timeless design.
Internationally recognized as the pioneer of the power suit, Armani styled Hollywood casts in over 200 films. Among those, my favorites are: The Untouchables, The Dark Knight, The Social Network, and The Wolf of Wall Street.
Since 2012, his designs have adorned the Italian Olympic team—and will continue to do so at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. Again, greatness remains.
A Curious Coincidence
Both men shared the same birth date – 11th, Sumit Mazumder on 11 February 1948, and Giorgio Armani on 11 July 1934. Finding this coincidence intrigued me and led me to read more about them. And that’s how you’ve reached the end of this reflection.
Alternatively, as the world of business is full of negotiations and commerce, being graceful about oneself brings an absolute satiety to motivate ourselves for the next morrow.
So, be glamorous and lead the way.
– Ambalika Dey.
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