B Govindarao, BTH Cochin,

1. Remembering
visions, values &
passions
B. Govinda Rao
18 September 1917 –
28 October 2011

2. B.Govinda Rao at Ninety: A Tribute
Excerpts from a letter written by Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer
If history of Hotel Industry in the mega city
Kochi comes to be written, one name will
stand out as an outstanding centre of
homely, lovely accommodation and happy,
wholesome food. That is Bharat Tourist
Home, popularly known as BTH.
The life of Sri Govinda Rao is a saga of an
individual who believes in work and service
and thus could rise from his humble
beginning to the peak of success in life.

3. Prosperity never flattered him nor made
him idle.
Govinda Rao is an affectionate name for
me and many and BTH an enchanting,
non-exploitative home away from home,
elegant without affluence, abundant
without profusion – a charming paradigm,
an invitation for relaxation, rest and
delectable cuisine culture.

4. Born as 2nd Son among the
10 children of Smt Rugmini
Ammal & Sri Srinivasa
Ayya; the family lived in
the small village of
Padubidri near Udupi..

5. At the age of 10, Govinda Rao accompanied his father to
Tripunithura; while his father was the chief priest of
Purnathrayeesa Temple, young Govinda Rao spent his early
years as the „Theertha maani‟ and lived in the Hill Palace as
playmate and companion to the then Prince of Kochi Royal
Family – gaining proficiency in Sanskrit, Ayurveda and
Astrology

6. At the early age of 19, he married Smt Padmavathy
– his soul mate for almost seven decades – her loss
was something that he never fully recovered from….

7. In his early twenties,
the energetic &
ambitious young Rao
started his culinary
adventure in a small
shack in
Aalumkadavu
(present
Broadway)..His
initial ventures did
not take off..Not
loosing his spirit, he
pursued a small
canteen in the
Magistrate Court
Complex.

8. After an early setback in business, Govinda
Rao is said to have worked as a cook in this
house in Bangalore for a short period…

9. During the Second World War, fighting all fears
of the war, the young entrepreneur re-set up his
hotel to cater primarily to the Military personnel.
During this time he earned his name „Chapathi
Sami‟ – as the person who introduced Chapathi to
Kerala!..Slowly the business grew and there were
four restaurants serving clean healthy vegetarian
food - now not to the army, but to the foodies of
Ernakulam..
The eateries were popular not just for the food, but
for the warmth and personal care that Govinda
Rao showered on each of his customers..

10. Old Jaya Bharat Cafe
Bharat Lodge
Bharat
Coffee
House –
still in its
old
Old Nava Bharat Cafe location

11. The present BTH building in DH Road had its
beginning as this humble thatched structure which
housed the Kerala Fine Arts Society (of which Sri
Govinda Rao was a founding member and Patron)
along with a small outlet of BTH. In due course, Fine
Arts Society was shifted to its present location…

12. In 1964, Bharat Tourist Home was born in
its present location in DH Road,
Ernakulam..

13. 15 January 1964 – Inauguration
of BTH by Central Minister
Sri.A.M. Thomas

14. Sri.A.M.Thomas with
Sri Govinda Rao

15. Since 1964, BTH has hosted thousands of guests – from
International Heads of States to luminaries in all walks of life –
yet the place has been a haven of comfort to the average middle
class citizen – with its simple clean décor, homely food and the
above all the warm smile of Sri Govinda Rao
Among the stalwarts who with their presence have made BTH proud include
Former Governor General of India - Sri.C.Rajagopalachari
Former Prime Minister of India – Sri. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Former Prime Minster of India – Sri. Rajiv Gandhi
Former Central Ministers Sri Gulsari Lal Nanda, Sri A.M.Thomas, Sri Nijalingappa
Former Chief Ministers Sri.Achutha Menon, Sri.K.Karunakaran
Present Central Minister for Defence Sri.A.K.Antony
Chief Minister Sri Oommen Chandy
Minister Sri.K.Babu
Eminent Architect Sri Laurie Baker
Mr. Francisio Rongish, Fisheries Director Manila
Gana Gandharvan Sri KJ Yesudas, Sri KS Gopalakrishnan ……

16. Former Prime
Minister Sri Lal
Bahadur Shastri
visits Bharat
Tourist Home

17. Former Prime
Minister Sri. Rajiv
Gandhi and Former
Chief Minister Sri.
K.Karunakaran at
BTH

18. B.Govinda Rao greeting
Sri Rajiv Gandhi

19. Central Minister Sri A K Antony – a good friend
and well wisher of Sri Govinda Rao

20. Sri Oommen Chandy, Honorable Chief
Minister of Kerala & Sri Govinda Rao shared
a special rapport..

21. Minister for Excise & Ports – Sri K Babu – a well
wisher of BTH...

22. Smt Jyothi Venkatachalam, Former
Governor of Kerala honoured by
Smt Padmavathy Govinda Rao

23. Sri Govinda Rao & Former Chief Minister of
Kerala ,Sri Achutha Menon

24. Former Central Minister Sri
Nijalingappa with B Govinda Rao

25. Former Central Minister
Unnikrishnan on a visit to
BTH

26. With Sri Dominic Presentation..

27. With late Sri George Eden…

28. Sri.Sankaranarayanan – present Governor
of Mahrashtra and Sri K C Abraham,
former KPCC President and former
Governor of Andhra Pradesh

29. Sri Govinda Rao honouring Sri KP Madhavan
Nair; also on dais is Speaker Sri Therambil
Ramakrishnan

30. Former Central Minister Sri AC George
gracing the wedding of Sri Govinda Rao‟s
daughter

31. With his charismatic personality,
commitment and hard work, Sri Govinda
Rao not only succeeded in his personal
hoteliering business, but also played a
significant role in strengthening the Hotel
Industry of Kerala.
He founded the Kerala Hotel &
Restaurant Association (KHRA) and
served as its General Secretary for 18 years
and as its President for 12 years.
He also served as President - Ernakulam
Chamber of Commerce.

32. Sri Govinda Rao addressing a KHRA meeting

33. Education was another sector where Sri
Govinda Rao had deep commitment to..
He has been Patron to the Bhavans
Vidya Bhavan Schools, Ernakulam; The
Sree Venkiteswara School, Tripunithura
&Vidyodaya School , Thevakkal.

34. Sri Govinda Rao was not just a „hotelier‟ – but
he was more prominently know for the
interest, encouragement and untiring efforts
that he often put in for several socio-cultural
institutions. Some of them include:
 Patron of Rama Navami Committee.
 Patron of Ernakulam Siva Kshetra Kshema
Samithy.

35. Was actively associated with several
prominent temples including Malliyoor
Temple, Amman Kovil Diwans Road,
Madhwa Mandiram, Embran Madom,
Nadavaramba Temple, Udupi Sree
Krishna Temple, Subramanya,
Ramesewaram and many more..

36. Sri Vishwesha Theertha
Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt

37. With the highly respected Malliyoor Sankaran
Namboodhiri during the occasion of
„Kattilavaipu‟ for Malliyoor Temple..

38. Sri Satya Sai Baba with
Govinda Rao

39. With young international visitors….

40. Eminent Architect Laurie Baker and Sri Govinda
Rao shared similar values in their respective
professions..

41. Justice V R Krishna Iyer with Sri Govinda Rao

42. Former Chief Justice Sri Raghavan

43. Sri.Dominic Kuruvinakunnel – founder of Cgh
Earth Experience Hotels & Sri Govinda Rao

44. Playback singer Sri P Jayachandran
performing in BTH

45. Sri Sankanarayanan‟s music
concert

46. Padmasri Dr.K.J.Yesudas – a regular guest in
BTH for many of his early years…

47. The Silver Jubilee Celebration of BTH was
graced by several luminaries who were all
friends and well wishers of Sri Govinda Rao…

49. Sri Govinda Rao on his 80th Birthday with Sri AM
Thomas, Justice Radhakrishna Menon, Sri Sebastin
Paul, Sri George Eden, Sri Kerala Varma Raja, Sri
Balachandran

50. Justice Paripoornan and Justice Sankara
Subban greeting Sri Govinda Rao on his 80th
Birthday

51. Sri A.M.Thomas honouring Sri Govinda Rao
on his 80th Birthday

52. Sri K S Gopalakrishnan, eminent Flautist with
Smt & Sri Govinda Rao after a concert on his
80th Birthday

53. Kerala Tulu Brahmana Federation honouring Sri
Govinda Rao on his 80th Birthday

54. Peacefully celebrating his 90th Birthday
with his staff in BTH

55. Sharing a lighter moment on his 90th Birthday
with his favourite nephew Sri Mohan Rao, Sri K
Babu, Sri KMI Mather & Sri Sharafudin

56. At the age of 92, Sri Govinda Rao adorned another
feather in his cap when BTH became the 1st
Vegetarian Hotel to receive ISO Certification.
With Sri Venugopal C Govind on the occasion.

57. With Hon. Mayor of Cochin Sri Tony Chammany

58. With Justice Surendra Mohan who has been a
family friend since the time of his father late
Adv. Kuriakose – close friend of Sri Govinda
Rao for many years..

59. A romantic
husband, an
inspiring father, a
caring big brother,
a respected family
head, a doting
grandfather – he
made each member
the family feel that
they were special…..

60. With his parents, brothers, cousins,
children, nephews and nieces…

61. With cousin brother Sri Venkatarayar

62. Govinda Rao with his three brothers three
decades back…

63. Govinda Rao with his three brothers three
years back…

64. Sri Govinda Rao with other stalwarts of Tulu community including Sri
Bagilthaya – former DGP Karnataka Police, Sri.Srinivasa Rao – founder
Dwaraka Hotel, Sri.Ramachandra Rao – founder Woodlands,
Ernakulam, Sri Seetharama Rao – founder Dasaprakash Hotels,
Bangalore, Sri Ramachandra Rao – Brindavan Hotels Bangalore…

65. Adv G.V.Ramanan (brother-in-
law of Sri Govinda Rao) & Smt
Ammini – a relationship which
he cherished and respected.
Adv Ramanan was also the
legal advisor during the initial
years of his business..

66. With brothers and close family members…

67. Smt Padmavathy Govinda Rao with her
co-sisters..

68. Celebrating his 60th Birthday with his
mother, nephews, nieces & grandchildren…

69. With neighbours Just Appu Nair and
eminent businessman Sri Rangan

75. A.K.Rajan, Shashankan, Baby… lesser known
pillars of strength of „Valiasami‟….

76. An overview of BTH Group‟s
Establishments…

77. BTH Bharat Hotel, Gandhi Square, Ernakulam
– 90 room ISO certified Hotel

83. Dosa Express at
Oberon Mall

84. Earlier
Restaurant
Outlets of BTH

88. Govindam Block at Sarovaram

89. Asked why BTH remains vegetarian and does not serve
alcohol, Sri Govinda Rao used to reaffirm constantly
“ I would never serve any food or
drink which can cause damage to
health; I do not wish to build my
business staking my customers‟
health. I do not want to make money
with such a business. I will never do
it”.

90. “Ignoring or running away from
tough situations is never going to
help you. Take problems head on
and you will be enriched by such
experiences – whether you succeed
or not”..
He used to advise his staff and co-workers

91. “ BTH does not need any
advertisement. If we keep our
premises clean, if we serve tasty,
healthy food and treat our
customers with courtesy, that itself
is enough”…..
Sri Govinda Rao