It was precisely 48 years ago, when former Delhi University Students’ Union president Subhash Goel launched his own travel agency, STIC, which at that time meant Students’ Travel Information Centre. His aim was, and is even now, to help students get international tickets at discounted prices to enable them to undertake trips abroad. No wonder that STIC, which is the General Sales Agent for 10 international carriers including United Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines, has a track record that is unmatched by any of its rivals. STIC has over 25,000 vendors, among them a large number of registered IATA recognised travel agents, who buy their tickets through this agency which started from the Theatre Communication Building in Connaught Place, the site where Palika Bazar is located at present.
Goel had withdrawn himself from his family business and launched his enterprise with just a table and a chair at the building complex. During the Emergency, it was decided by the government to demolish both the Indian Coffee House and the Theatre Communication Building to make way for an air-conditioned underground market. The Coffee House was the meeting place for all intellectuals, most of whom did not endorse the political views of the then government. The consequence of the decision was that Goel who was the DUSU president in 1966 was left with no place to operate from. He did not lose hope and started selling tickets from an old Ambassador car, he owned and which was parked nearby at a parking lot. Shortly after that, he took up a counter at the Yorks Hotel and continued with his business. The inspiration for the travel agency had come when he had to travel abroad for a conference but had no money to buy the ticket. The then DU Vice Chancellor, Dr C.D.Deshmukh offered to pay for his trip but accepting the ticket from the authorities would have hurt his anti-establishment image. A friend in Mercury Travels told him that if he could get 15 persons to buy the tickets, he would get one ticket free. This he did in no time and discovered that the travel business was indeed money making. With some help from Dr Karan Singh, the then Union Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister and Rangarajan Kumaramanglam, the first NSUI president, whose father was also a Union Minister, Goel embarked on a new journey. It was a voyage of struggles and both he and his wife, embraced the challenge and worked tirelessly towards their targets.
Air Lanka was the first GSA milestone and subsequently, both Air Nippon and Virgin Atlantic were also introduced to the Indian traveler by STIC. Goel recognized that students would always be attracted towards his venture since in the past, another entrepreneur, also a Delhi University student, Inder Sharma had successfully started SITA travels. SITA was inspired by a US company, which stood for Students Information Travel Agency. Goel expanded his business by first acquiring an office at the Imperial Hotel, and later in the Chandralok Building on Janpath. Subsequently, his agency functioned from multiple locations, with the Headquarters in `G’ Block of Connaught Place. Goel has the distinction of being the youngest DUSU president and has his both daughters as his partners in his venture, which represented his undying spirit and deep resolve. STIC is a landmark of Delhi and its success story also demonstrates how a successful DUSU president became a successful entrepreneur as well.
