Bharat Entrepreneurs

With the Indian economy poised for a giant leap, despite certain pressures on account of inflationary trends and a strengthening Rupee, there is no doubt the next few decades are going to be dominated by us, Indians. True China, with its more than treble rate of growth and FDI, is going to be our challenger. But to my mind, the intrinsic strength of our economy, the head start we have in the area of skilled, English-speaking work force ( true China will cover up this loss in another five years time), and the policies which we have been following which are more open and more visionary will ensure that we march ahead of this giant across our border. The reason why our Left parties are making such a big issue about our Nuclear deal with the US ( which would place us way ahead of China in nuclear fuel capabilities) and trying to put a spoke in every progressive decision that the UPA government is planning, is not far to seek. The hidden agenda is to ensure that China does not lose its present advantage and head start to us. Of course, you mention this to the Lefties, the whole world will come down.But I am convinced, the reason is what I have mentioned.

With the focus of the government having rightly shifted to Social security and Agriculture, I feel our journey ahead of China is going to be accelerated and by 2018 ( a decade from now) the world will be vying within itself to be a business partner with India than any other country. The only area where we are still lagging behind is our attention to Infrastructure and Convergence. I am sure in an year’s time which ever government is going to be in power will focus on these two also much more than what has been done so far. When that happens, Indian entrepreneurs and Foreign Investors are going to line up an array of projects in these segments. But a look at the scene now will reveal a Hercules in the making- already concentrating on Infrastructure, Communication,Visual media and Natural Resources. yes you guessed it right. I am referring to Anil Dhirubai Ambani, the star in the making.

When Reliance of Dhirubai Ambani was split down the middle, the elder of the 2 siblings walked away with the cake, the wealth and of course the support of the Delhi Political boses. Anil, who, in my opinion was the business brain behind Dhirubai’s wealth creation, wasleft with much less and lot of political enemity to cope with. His brother and friends have been trying all tricks in the trade to snub his growth. Even the bombing of his first major IPO shares on listing, was also not an accident acccording to me. But Anil, the financial wizard has hit back with the bonus offer. The growth in wealth of the Reliance group,post split, and Anil DA group will reveal the staedy pace at which Anil has been creating wealth.He has already focused on the key areas od development in the Indian economy, viz. Convergence sectors and Infrastructure. With the growth in Indian economy in the coming yeras.Anil is going to end up the winner and all those who have reserved faith in him are going to reapthe dividends. In another five years, barring political interference ( as we saw in the case of the Airports renovation bids), will catpult Anil as the highest wealth creator in the Indian economy, may be evn more than what his illustrious father achieved.

Hence, he, AnilDhirubai Ambani, is the person to be watched in the next decade.

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How big that would have been, was of course not very clear for a young entrepreneur who was starting with a very small capital in 1976. From 1976 till about 1984-85, there was a great deal of struggle. In 1992, Bharti Enterprises was all of a sale of 25 crores, a reasonable amount but nothing significant even in 1992. But clearly, something had to be done to take a grand stand position on the national stage. 1992 offered me an opportunity to move into my main love at that time, telecommunications. I was one of the early entrepreneurs who took a pole position in 1987 by manufacturing telephone sets and I took my first call in position in mobile telephony launching India’s first mobile phone in 1995-1996 in Delhi. Airtel was born at that time.

As they say, sometimes you need one good break and its my belief that all of us will get a chance to get that one good break. In enterprise, in career, in life. We need to be there, to grab it. John, a chairman, who once had a big bet with me, told me, that “there is no doubt that you have to have exceptional luck to be extremely successful at a young age. But it is our duty to align himself or herself in the line of luck. “And that meant you had to persevere and work towards it.

Airtel upped the ante and went on to expand all over India. Today airtel is present in 5,200 towns, 270,000 villages. Every highway and every railway of this country has an airtel radio signal. Today Airtel has a position at number 3 in India in terms of market cap. Having a market cap which is not only big for India but is considered on an international stage to be a market cap worthy of some recognition.

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