5 Stories Of “Sweet Revenge” Which Prove Success Is The Best Form Of Revenge

Nothing beats a good avenging narrative, and history is filled with them. Together with love and death, revenge has perhaps garnered the most quotations and catchphrases. Everyone may relate to someone, from JRD Tata to a regular farmer. It most likely indicates that we, as humans, are naturally vengeful and are continuously looking for ways to exact revenge on our foes. Though retribution rarely solves issues. But if it when carried out playfully and strategically, it may provide us with some relief and humiliate the perpetrator more.

‘Sweet revenge’ is perhaps one of the finest ways to exact retribution because there is no harm done to the person in seeking this kind of revenge. On the contrary, the person benefits greatly.

We see such stories a lot in movies but do you know that there are many such stories in reality too. The following are five of those tales:

1. How Did The Iconic Taj Hotels Get Their Start?

Last year, Taj Hotels, one of the world’s most opulent hotels, had its excellence and service recognised on a global scale when it was named the Strongest Hotel Brand in the World by Brand Finance.

But did you know there’s a sweet revenge tale behind the establishment of India’s most famous hotel?

Jamsetji Tata, the Tata Group’s founder, once travelled to Britain to meet one of his British friends, but when he arrived at Watson’s Hotel to meet him, he was refused entry because the hotel was exclusively open to ‘whites only’ at the time.

This was seen by Jamsetji Tata as disrespect to all Indians, therefore he determined to establish a hotel where not only Indians but also foreigners could stay without limitation, and thus India’s first super-luxury ‘Taj Hotel’ was born.

Despite several ups and downs following the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, the Taj luxury hotel group scored highly on Brand Finance’s ‘Global Brand Equity Monitor’ for evaluation, recognition, suggestion, and prestige, particularly in India. The Taj Mahal hotel is now a popular tourist attraction not only in India but across the world.

2. Ford vs. Ratan Tata

Ratan Tata arrived in Detroit in 1999 after seeking guidance from other Tata Group members following the collapse of his dream project, the ‘Tata Indica,’ India’s first indigenous 4-wheeler vehicle, which was debuted in 1990. However, what was regarded as a watershed moment at the time didn’t have the intended outcomes. Tata Motors chose to sell the automobile division due to weak sales.

In Detroit, Ratan Tata was humiliated when, at a meeting with Ford’s chairman, Bill Ford and other key executives, Ford taunted them by saying,

“When you do not know anything, why did you start the passenger car division at all?”

Ford’s chairman did not stop there. He went on to say that they are buying Tata Motors’ automobile division, but that it will be in Ford’s favour.

Ratan Tata opted not to sell the automobile sector after the discussion, and he returned to India to concentrate solely on Tata Motors, working even harder.

The tables were reversed after nine years, and Ratan Tata seized his opportunity. The clock swung full round after Tata’s humiliation in the United States in 1999, and he exacted delicious retribution on Ford. By purchasing Ford’s famed Jaguar and Land Rover brands for $2.3 billion, an Indian multinational company embarrassed Ford, which was on the edge of bankruptcy following the 2008 global financial disaster.

Ratan Tata was praised by Bill Ford, the chairman of Ford Motor Company, saying,

“You are doing us a big favour by buying JLR.”

Tata not only bought JLR but also made it into one of their most profitable businesses.

3. Ferrari and a farmer’s son

Ferruccio Lamborghini was the son of a grape-growing farmer. After serving in World War II, he founded a tractor manufacturing firm, which grew to become one of Italy’s leading agricultural equipment producers.

Ferruccio has always been a sports vehicle and racing enthusiast. In 1958, he purchased a Ferrari 250 GT two-seater coupe. This automobile has various problems, according to Ferruccio. Why not inform the firm so that it can improve its vehicles? he reasoned. This was also done by Ferruccio. However, Ferrari was one of the few businesses in the 1960s that produced the greatest sports vehicle.

Enzo Ferrari (Ferrari’s founder) was well-known and proud of his popularity. Because of his pride, he not only disregarded but also ridiculed the young tractor mechanic Ferruccio, stating,

“The problem is not in the car, but in the driver who drives it. It is better to focus on your tractor business than paying attention to vehicles.”

Ferrari stated in his response that Ferruccio has no expertise in the automobile and that he is the finest.

After 4 months of intense effort, at the Turin Motor Show in October 1963, he unveiled his Lamborghini 350 GTV. Ferruccio Lamborghini’s new automobile drew a large number of sports car fans, laying the groundwork for his future success.

Ferruccio Lamborghini never looked back after the achievement of the 1963 Turin Motor Show. His automobile, the 350 GT, was introduced to the market in 1964 and was a huge hit. Ferruccio Lamborghini competed with Ferrari with this new automobile since the price of his car was the same as Ferrari’s.

4. To pick up waste, an Indian monarch purchased Rolls-Royce cars

Maharaja Jai Singh Prabhakar was the monarch of Rajasthan’s Alwar. A tale about his life is well-known. It is reported that to send a message to the premium automaker Rolls Royce, he bought its luxury automobiles and placed them in the garbage.

When Maharaja Jai Singh was in London in 1920. He took off his king’s traditional costumes and went out to see London in regular clothing one day. During this time, his gaze was drawn to the ‘Rolls Royce’ showroom.

Maharaja was intrigued by a luxurious automobile sitting inside the showroom, so he stepped inside to enquire about the car’s characteristics and pricing. Because he was dressed like a regular guy, the showroom employees didn’t recognise him, and the salesperson ignored him and ordered him to go home.

Following this occurrence, the Maharaja felt embarrassed. Simultaneously, he decided to purchase seven Rolls-Royce automobiles, which he purchased in India. When the automobiles arrived in India by sea, the Maharaja handed them over to the local government and instructed them to use them to transport waste.

Raja Jaisingh was able to avenge himself for his humiliation at the London showroom in this manner. It is reported that the occurrence was so significant that word of it travelled throughout the world, causing a serious blow to Rolls Royce’s reputation.

It is reported that the event was so significant that word of it travelled throughout the world, causing a severe blow to Rolls Royce’s reputation, which was as pretentious and fortune-seeking back then as it is now.

After this, the corporation quickly conveyed an apology to the Maharaja by telegraph. In addition, the corporation provided him with seven new Rolls Royce automobiles at no cost. The corporation stated that whatever happened will never happen again. The Maharaja then withdrew those automobiles from the rubbish collection.

5. The humiliated farmer’s story

Kempegowda RL, a farmer by profession who lives in Karnataka’s Chikkasandra Hobli, was escorted away by Mahindra dealership sales personnel last month when he sought to book a Bolero pick-up truck for him. He returned 30 minutes later with Rs. 10 lakhs to buy his dream vehicle and seek retribution after being humiliated.

It all began when one of the executives mocked the areca nut farmer, claiming that he wouldn’t have “Rs. 10 in his pocket”, so how can he have Rs. 10 lakh for a car. They were little more than a group of window-shoppers to him.

The farmer and his colleagues dared the sales executives to deliver the automobile “today itself” if they fetched the payment before leaving the showroom. They were permitted to proceed.

Kempegowda told TOI,

“He thought we won’t be able to pull together that much cash because banks were closed by then.”

Finally, the sales executive apologised to him. The farmer stated as he walked away with his Rs. 10 lakhs,

“I don’t want to buy a car from your showroom.”

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, replied to the situation after it was shared on social media. The farmer was then given the vehicle. This case has piqued the interest of the entire country. On January 28, Mahindra Group issued an update on the matter, apologising to the client for their treatment. The company said in a tweet,

“As promised, we have taken appropriate measures and the matter is now resolved. We would like to thank Mr Kempegowda for choosing to be with us and welcome him into the Mahindra Family.”