Agartala’s accidental date with Wang Jianlin, the richest man in China

Before flying back to China, Wang Jianlin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

Agartala: The receptionist at Hotel Rajdhani did not have to be a financial wizard to guess that the guest who had checked in without a booking on Thursday was somewhat affluent.

The Royal Suite at the three-star hotel in the Tripura capital costs Rs 5,999 plus tax a night, the Taj Suite Rs 3,999 plus tax and the Silver Jubilee Suite Rs 2,699 plus tax.

The gentleman and his eight associates wanted all three suites and another room. Not every day does someone walk in without a reservation and ask for three suites in the Rajdhani. So, it was safe to assume that the guest was well-off.

The hotel was not wrong, although “well-off” is not the description Wang Jianlin usually evokes.

Wang, who?

Wang Jianlin, the richest man in China. Forbes puts his net worth at $41 billion (yes, that converts to Rs 2.62 lakh crore) though share market fluctuations can cause upheavals on rich lists. Wang runs the Dalian Wanda Group, a real estate giant that controls 200 department stores, shopping plazas and luxury hotels.

The tycoon had dropped in on Agartala unannounced. Well, almost.

Wang’s pilot had sent a distress signal to the Agartala airport saying his Gulfstream V had developed a snag and had to make an emergency landing.

Agartala airport director S.K. Debbarman said a distress signal arrived at 11.10am on Thursday saying one of the engines of a Chinese chartered aircraft had developed problems.

The plane was then flying 21,000 feet above sea level and 55 nautical miles from Agartala airport, ferrying Wang back to China after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We immediately contacted the civil aviation ministry in Delhi and obtained permission to give the green light to the pilot to make an emergency landing,” he said. The flight landed safely at 11.30am with all the emergency services on stand-by.

Emergency or otherwise, the People’s Republic of China should approve. After all, the touchdown did take place in the last surviving communist-ruled state in India.

This was the first time that a flight headed beyond the borders had made an emergency landing in Agartala. An international flight had landed in Agartala for the first time only three years ago – when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a visit in January 2012.

It was from the airport that Hotel Rajdhani first got word that some guests were coming over.

“We were told they were Chinese nationals and needed our best rooms. It was only when the police station called that we realised the importance of the guests,” said front office manager Rana Saha.

After checking in, the guests ordered Indian and Chinese cuisine. Among the Indian food they sampled were rui and katla fish dishes. When the identities of the guests became clear, the hotel management hastened to arrange gifts (local bamboo handicraft).

Wang stayed in the Royal Suite while the others were put up in the two other suites (the Silver Jubilee Suite was built this year to mark the 25th anniversary of the hotel) and an executive room.

Wang’s alternative ride – a chartered flight – came from Mumbai on Friday. After receiving permission from Bangladesh and Thailand to fly over their airspace, Wang and four others left for China on Friday afternoon.

The other four will leave after the Gulfstream is repaired by engineers who have arrived from Delhi.

Before checking on Friday, the visitors wrote in the guest book: “Excellent and warm hospitality. We are very happy.”

It was written in Chinese, and Wang’s personal assistant translated the message for the receptionist.

Wang is unlikely to have stayed in a three-star hotel in recent memory. But that does not mean he does not know how to rough it out.

Wang had joined the People’s Liberation Army when he was 15 and served 16 years, starting out as a border guard and becoming a regimental commander, according to a Wikipedia entry. His father apparently fought for Mao Zedong’s Red Army during the Long March.

The last word should probably go to Saha, the Rajdhani front office manager: “They (Wang and the others) did their best to cooperate with us and adjust to our three-star facilities.”

Footnote: In 2013, Wang flew in Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Beckinsale and John Travolta to Qingdao in eastern China for a launch. Next time Agartala, Sir?

Sekhar Datta (The Telegraph, Calcutta)