Pioneer of Plantation Hospitality in Wayanad Leaves Behind an Unforgable Legacy
By Ravisankar K.V.
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Victor Bernard Dey, General Manager of Aswathy Plantations and founder of Tranquil Homestay and Amaryllis, Wayanad. In losing Victor, Kerala’s tourism industry has lost not just a pioneer, but a gentleman whose warmth, vision, and unwavering commitment to hospitality shaped the very soul of Wayanad’s tourism landscape.
Within a month, Wayanad has lost another beloved pioneer. A fellow traveller and colleague of Mr. Victor, and a founding member of the Wayanad Tourism Organisation, Mr. Raveendran (Raviettan) of Pranavam Homestay left us just a month ago. The void left by Victor’s absence will be deeply felt by all who knew him, worked alongside him, and were fortunate enough to experience his legendary hospitality.
The Man Behind the Legend
I first met Victor in the 1990s when Kerala Tourism assigned me to document some of the finest offerings in the state’s emerging tourism sector through my camera. Those were the formative days when Victor and his beloved wife Ranjini had just begun transforming a century-old traditional building at Aswathy Plantation in Kuppamudi, Wayanad, into what would become one of Kerala’s most authentic plantation homestay experiences. I captured many images of Tranquil, which were featured prominently in several of the “God’s Own Country” brand campaigns.
I can still see him clearly: tall, well-built, distinguished by his grey beard, wearing his signature Planters (Gypsy) hat, Photographer’s jacket, and always – always – with that warm, genuine smile that could light up any room. That first impression never faded; it only deepened over the decades.
A Relationship Built on Respect
Throughout these long years, Victor and I shared a good and respectful relationship that transcended business. He was one of Tourism India Magazine’s valued clients and loyal well-wishers. Whenever we met during Kerala Travel Marts at Kochi or the Splash Monsoon Festival at Wayanad, his strong, warm handshake and that distinctive high bass voice would greet me with genuine care: “How are you, Ravi? How’s Rajani?”
Those words still echo in my ears today – a reminder of a man who never forgot the human connection behind every professional relationship. Victor didn’t just remember names; he remembered families, stories, and the little details that made each person feel valued.
The Visionary Who Transformed Wayanad
Victor Dey brought one of the finest plantations stay experiences to Kerala Tourism during its most formative years. Along with the late Ravi Ettan, he was a founding member of the Wayanad Tourism Organization. His vision and dedication helped shape the region’s tourism landscape, introducing visitors to the authentic charm of plantation life and setting standards that inspired countless others to follow.
For 55 years, Victor lived and breathed the plantation life – first as a tea and coffee planter, then as a pioneer who understood that this unique lifestyle could be shared with the world without losing its authenticity. When he and Ranjini opened Tranquil Wayanad in 1999 after renovating their old Colonial Plantation Bungalow, they weren’t just creating a business -they were sharing their home, their heritage, and their hearts.
“Tourism in Kerala was opening up, and this prompted us to share our home and lifestyle with the discerning traveller,” Victor once told interviewer Philippa Kaye. “Being a very sociable couple, we looked forward to interacting with people from across the world.”
That generosity of spirit defined everything Victor did. Tranquil became a pioneer of homestays in Wayanad, and in later years, Amaryllis at Deydreams Farm, Narikund near Ambalavayal in Wayanad) continued that legacy and tradition, setting a benchmark for authentic hospitality that others could only aspire to reach.
A Gentleman in Every Sense
Victor’s father once advised him: “No matter where you are, be a gentleman.” Victor didn’t just follow this advice – he embodied it completely. His professionalism, ethics, fairness, and the perfect balance of working hard and living well made him a true planter in every sense of the word.
Those who worked under him speak of a man who was deeply loved by his workers, who appreciated good work instantly, and who dealt with people with remarkable grace. His writing, his conversations, his way of connecting with everyone he met – from plantation workers to international guests – revealed a man of substance, compassion, and genuine humanity.
“Beyond his exceptional planting skills, his writing, way of dealing with people, and conversations were remarkable,” recalled Mr. Krishnakumar Nambiar, one of his junior colleagues, who left the plantation sector to assume charge in the forest department. “When I left his service, he advised me that honesty is the best policy, a principle I have followed ever since.”
The Professional Who Never Forgot the Personal
One conversation with Victor remains particularly poignant. He told me, “I am going to take my second retirement, and from now onwards your contact will be Ajay at Tranquil. But please, you must visit us at our new abode at Amaryllis.” His voice filled with pride as he described it: “Set amidst the serenity and timeless beauty of Wayanad’s famed mist-shrouded mountains, Amaryllis is our new home. We look down on the backwaters of the Karapuzha Reservoir, and with the Western Ghats in the background, the views are truly spectacular.”
Even as he prepared to step back from active work, our personal connection continued without any break. He and Ranjini invited Rajani and me to Amaryllis many times – invitations I now deeply regret not fulfilling. Some opportunities, once lost, can never be reclaimed.
That was Victor – always thinking of others, always extending warmth, always keeping those human connections alive even as business relationships evolved.
Victor worked with the Rajaram family through 49 years of ups and downs, through buying and selling estates, remaining loyal through five generations of the family. “He was most excited when my son had a baby girl,” Mr. Rajesh Rajaram recalled, “and proclaimed, ‘I’ve seen 5 generations of the Rajaram family.'”
That dedication, that loyalty, that genuine investment in the lives of those around him – these were not business strategies. They were the natural expressions of Victor Dey’s character.
The Legacy He Leaves Behind
Victor was instrumental in inspiring and encouraging fellow planters to initiate farm stays within their plantations, contributing significantly to experiential tourism across the region. His influence extended far beyond his own property; he helped create an entire movement that transformed how visitors experience Kerala’s plantation country.
He served as a director of the Ootacamund Club, Ooty, and was a cherished member of the Bygone Plantation Days community. His resorts in Wayanad, his famous MM550 Jeep, and the many documentaries made around his estate will serve as lasting testaments to his vision and excellence.
“A gentleman in every sense – warm, kind, gracious, and always carrying himself with quiet dignity,” one friend remembered. “His handsome smile and gentle presence are etched in my memory.”
What He Valued Most
The famous English author and traveller Philippa Kaye remembers: When I asked Victor what he couldn’t live without, his answer was simple and revealing: “Wide open spaces – and a couple of dogs.”
She also recalls his favourite quote, which captured his philosophy perfectly: “The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.”
Victor lived by this principle. He didn’t just talk about hospitality, heritage, or humanity – he practised them daily, in countless small deeds that added up to an extraordinary life well lived.
A Personal Farewell
Victor, my dear friend, I will forever cherish the memorable times we shared, the conversations we had, and the example you set. Your strong handshake, your warm voice asking about my family, your genuine smile – these memories will stay with me always.
I regret deeply that I never made it to Amaryllis as you and Ranjini so graciously invited us. That visit will now remain an unfulfilled dream, a reminder to never postpone time with those who matter.
You showed us all what it means to be a true gentleman, a dedicated professional, and a genuinely good human being. You proved that success in business need never come at the cost of kindness, that professionalism and empathy are not opposites but perfect complements, and that the greatest legacy we can leave is not in properties or profits but in the lives we touch and the warmth we share.
In Loving Memory
Victor Bernard Dey is survived by his beloved wife Ranjini, son Nikhil and daughter-in-law Deepa, daughter Nisha and son-in-law Ajay Mathulla – a family that carries forward his values, his warmth, and his legacy of genuine hospitality.
To Ranjini and the entire Dey family: our hearts break with yours. Victor touched so many lives across continents and decades. The outpouring of tributes from plantation colleagues, tourism professionals, and guests from around the world speaks to the extraordinary impact of one remarkable life.
Mr. Vanchy Easwaran, the former President of WTO, said, “To the Wayanad tourism community: we have lost a doyen, a pillar, a pioneer, a guiding light. But Victor’s vision lives on in every plantation homestay, in every authentic experience shared with travellers, in every moment of genuine connection between host and guest.”
To all who knew him: let us honour Victor’s memory by living as he did – with integrity, warmth, generosity of spirit, and unwavering commitment to treating every person with dignity and respect.
Rest in Peace, Dear Friend
“The smallest deed is better than the greatest intention.”
Victor, you lived a life of countless small deeds that added up to something magnificent. Your handshake was strong, your voice was warm, your smile was genuine, and your heart was big enough to embrace the world.
May your noble soul rest in eternal peace.
You will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and never forgotten.
With profound grief and heartfelt respect,
Ravisankar K V
On behalf of the entire team at
Tourism India Magazine
“His advice to me, and later to my son, was no matter where you are, be a gentleman.”
– Victor Bernard Dey, quoting his father’s wisdom – wisdom he lived every single day.
Rest in Peace, Victor Bernard Dey
Pioneer | Planter | Gentleman | Friend
1947 – 2025
The plantation hills of Wayanad, Nilgiris and Coorg are quieter today. Heaven has gained a remarkable soul.
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