Sant Singh Chatwal: Rise and rise of an American Punjabi hotelier

He's a friend of the Clintons.

His drinking buddies include America's top politicians.

He openly declares that he's the man behind the Indo-US nuclear deal.

For someone who left India four decades ago and has been living in America for years, he still speaks English with a heavy Punjabi accent and makes an extra effort to stay connected with the city of his origin, Faridkot in Punjab.

He has no family left in Faridkot, but his secretary in New York has clear instructions that anybody calling from the town should be put through to him immediately.

Tall, well-past 60, New York-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal is a combination of contrasts — a globe-trotting businessman with strong political connections and an earthy Punjabi who enjoys eating sarson ka saag.

On this cold January afternoon, he's also chosen to dress in high contrast. He's wearing blood red leather shoes with a formal navy blue pinstripe suit.

Text: Veenu Sandhu, Business Standard

Image Courtesy: Business Standard