Sometime ago Mahindra and Ford
Both entered into an accord
To jointly manufacture cars.
But it just wasn't in the stars.
For Ford soon set up on their own,
Left M&M all alone.
But M&M stayed in fine fettle
With Scorpio it could prove it's mettle.
They showed that nothing had been lost.
From scratch, at very little cost
They showed that India could design.
The Scorpio proved to be just fine.
The Indian market’s growing fast
The million mark has been surpassed.
But we do need to do much more,
The Chinese have exceeded four.
Now Prahlad says that we should bid
For the bottom of the pyramid.
That is where the base is large
But it requires a special charge.
And that’s exactly how Renault
Decided which way they would go.
Designing with a cost cut mania
They started off first in Rumania.
And now of course they want to park it
In each and every emerging market.
Today’s the premier day of spring.
What better day than this to bring
This concept that’s so needed here.
I think that all of us should cheer!
Based on Renault’s superb design,
The Mahindra team will then align
The Logan to a right hand drive
For India and they’ll also strive
To send it out to every place
Where right hand drive is still the case.
And I am proud that I can be
Around as Keshub and Louis
Both celebrate their new Joint Venture
The beginning of a great adventure.
And I am sure that they’ll succeed
So mark my words, please do take heed,
What such great men undertake
Is sure to keep the world awake!
A few words about our guest
He is indeed the very best
Example of a great énarque,
A man who always made his mark.
In government and at Renault
Where he put on the greatest show.
With his grand uncle good Albert,
Louis can surely claim to share
Both courage and a strong conviction.
He was prepared to cause some friction.
He never chose the easy way.
In hindsight one can safely say
His willingness to wield his sword
At Billancourt and Villevorde
Gave his Renault another chance
To save this industry in France.
And chosing Ghosn to be his man
To save Nissan in Japan,
Was certainly a masterstroke
That saved Nissan from going broke.
Louis’s a man of many parts.
He is a patron of the arts.
When asked to lead he couldn’t say,“Non”
To the festival of Avignon.
He is the head of the Louvre’s friends
And his free time he often spends
In rapt attention at the stage.
In the interval he’ll open a page
Of Shakespeare and continue reading
Unlike the others he’s not proceeding
To have a bite or a few pegs,
Not caring to stretch his long legs.
I don’t think that you can find.
Many a man with such a mind.
There’s not much more for me to tell
I wish Renault-Mahindra well.
So break a leg! Good luck! Bonne Chance!
Jai Bharat Mata! Vive la France!
