R P Goenka, Chairman Emeritus of the RPG Enterprises, on Friday received the Lifetime Achievement Award from All India Management Association (AIMA). This was presented to him by Praful Patel, Union Minister for Civil Aviation. This incidentally was the first time AIMA started conferring ‘Managing India Award’.

Goenka said, “The post-Independence business pioneers operated both in fair and foul weather and patiently paved the foundation of economic and industrial activities that we see in India today – flourishing, confident, innovative and courageous.”

While accepting the Lifetime Contribution Award, Goenka said in a somewhat lighter vein, “"Thirty years ago in this hall, I got a rebuke from a cabinet minister. So, when I heard that a cabinet minister was presenting the awards, I thought I must accept that.”

Responding promptly to Goenka’s remarks, the Union minister said, "Goenka's journey from rebuke to reward was as much the nation's journey. We have leapfrogged from being unknown and unrecognized to be a power to reckon with."