At most, only a handful of employers would take to a global platform and grieve over the loss of an employee, even if the circumstances of his/her death were heart wrenching. Yuvraj Singh, the inspiration behind YouWeCan (YWC), falls in that fairly exclusive category.
Indeed, late on Thursday afternoon, Yuvraj tweeted an emotional statement: “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of Gopi — member of the YWC family — as a result of the firing incident that took place today in Varanasi, at the JHV Mall, where our store is located. He was an unaware bystander and got caught in the crossfire. This is a tragic loss and I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family and dear ones as all of us mourn this terrible incident. RIP.”
Yuvraj, who has 4.6 million followers on Twitter, also put out a photograph of Gopi.
It’s a gesture which would endear cancer survivor Yuvraj far more to not just his employees in YWC but men and women in general.
Gopi and another person died in the firing in the high-security cantonment area of a VVIP Lok Sabha constituency. The YWC store is on the Mall’s ground floor, seen as prime location.
The YWC store in Varanasi became the first stand-alone outlet, in August last year. The other is in Yuvraj’s hometown Chandigarh.
“Gopi joined our store this year and was one of the many caught unawares by the firing. The entire YWC family is distressed,” Shazmeen Kara, CEO of YWC, told The Telegraph.
Till late in the day, Yuvraj couldn’t be reached for a one-on-one as he was travelling.
“Look, Yuvraj is very hands-on with YWC and had spent time with the employees in Varanasi when the store was inaugurated 15 months ago. He tweeted as soon as the very sad news was conveyed to him,” Shazmeen said.
Asked what made Yuvraj choose Varanasi for YWC’s first exclusive store, Shazmeen explained: “More than one reason... Rent in malls there is affordable when compared to the Metros... The customer base in Varanasi and its neighbouring areas is highly aspirational, so a market exists... Finally, it’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency.”
Shazmeen added: “The Prime Minister would like Varanasi to develop at a rapid pace and to become a world-class city. Clearly, then, brands like YWC must have a presence there...
“In fact, the Prime Minister was invited for the launch of the store. As you know, the YWC brand is the revenue-generating arm of the Cancer Foundation and profits help its activities...
“The Prime Minister acknowledged the invitation by sending a warm, personal letter to Yuvraj, applauding his “social service” and “rich community service.”
Shazmeen emphasised that “YWC is a brand by an Indian and for Indians” and that would always be kept in mind by Yuvraj as plans to expand get final touches.
“It’s mightily encouraging, of course, that the YWC brand is already available at 100 addresses across India,” Shazmeen signed off.
As for Yuvraj, hero of India’s success in the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup, the national selectors haven’t cared to look at him after June 2017.
Yuvraj, however, hasn’t given up. The 36-year-old isn’t that type, after all.