India needs more & more Dalit billionaires

Notwithstanding facing the unending odds and hardships at every level, Dalits have not given up and started making their mark in business world that was so alien to them and their community. Caste-based discrimination and oppression have not made them bitter. They are role models for all irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

The likes of Agra-based Raveesh Pipal, who is into footwear business, and Rajiv Kain, the first generation entrepreneur manufacturing electric scooters and cycles in Noida, are breaking new ground in competitive world of business. While Pipal's family was in the leather trade for over one century in a very small manner, Pipal chosen the path of doing business and he carved a niche for himself.

While Raveesh Pipal knew about the leather business, his life was changed once he went to Germany to study footwear training in year 1988. He was only 20 then. And since then, he has been roaming around the world, making shoes for different brands in Europe and US as it has become his calling. Well, many manufactures make shoes for his company with his technical, design and marketing guidance and he exports them. With over 200 people from all castes working for him, he is big player of his field. "It takes little bit of courage, a good financial planning and knowledge of trade to be an entrepreneur. With latest technology the inventory can be reduced to minimum, hence less risk. Youngsters should look for business opportunities rather than for jobs," feels Raveesh Pipal, MD, Ruddaro International.

And in Noida, the bustling city at a shouting distance from Delhi, Rajiv Kain's company Pinaaki International is manufacturing electric scooters, cycles and many other such products with dealers across India. However, Kain's has very humble origins. His father had a road side scooter/ motor cycle mechanic shop in Krishna Nagar in east Delhi. The life was tough and hard during those days. Kain was working with his father to further the family's income and also studying in open school. It is his regret in life that he could not study in a regular school for obvious reasons. While learning the ropes of his trade while working with his father, he had dream to make scooter of his own brand name. His friends and family members laughed at his very thought of making it considering his precarious family and financial background. But he had proved all of them wrong when he set-up his own unit. In the interim period of his working with his father and setting up his unit, much water had crossed from the river Yamuna. He has not forgotten his days of hardships even though now he drives sleak cars. What is the meaning of Pinakki, his brand name? Kain says Pinakki is another name of Lord Shiva, the deity he worships.

Both Raveesh Pipal and Kain strongly feel that education can change the fortunes of Dalits and other under privilege classes of India. They invest heavily on the education of their kids and don't mind helping brilliant students in every possible way. While Piplal's daughter is a fashion designer from prestigious NIFT and son is going abroad for studies, Kain's son is studying in Italy and daughter is still in Noida's school.

In a changed scenario, not only Dalits like Raveesh Pipal and Rajiv Kain are becoming entrepreneurs, but Dalit women are also not legging behind. Take the example of Kalpana Saroj. She has tried her hand at producing films, real estate, and is currently the Chairperson of Kamani Tubes, a Mumbai-based company. Born in a village in Vidarbha, Kalpana got married at the age of 12. Living in a Mumbai slum, she was subjected to physical abuse by her husband's family members. She left her husband and returned to her father's house. Later, Kalpana returned to Mumbai and started working while living with her relatives. With some saving and seed funding she ventured into a small furniture business. This was the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. In 2001, she took over Kamani Tubes, and turned it into a profitable company. Even Raveesh Pipal's daughter, Ronika, is all set to launch her fashion design company.

Well, gone are the days when only people from certain castes used to do business. We have thousands of MSMEs (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises) in the country off which only few MSMEs are owned by Dalit entrepreneurs. So, there is an urgent need to create awareness the entrepreneurs among the Dalit.

The government is duty-bound to establish a separate cluster for Dalit entrepreneurs. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh are the largest Dalit entrepreneurs consists States in the country. God knows when we would see first Dalit billionaire. However, hope is there. If we can see Shiv Nadar founder chairman of HCL, we can see Dalit billionaire too in near future. He is from backward caste.

The Dalit entrepreneur can get huge push if big companies buy some stake in ventures of Dalits. The Tata Group has made an in-principle decision to pick up one-third equity in Delhi-based Chandan & Chandan Industries, a company incorporated to manufacture industrial helmets. Nand Kishore Chandan, a Dalit entrepreneur, will hold the remaining two-thirds in the company. Ratan Tata, paid a visit to the trade fair organised by Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) couple of years ago in Ahmadabad. Tata made a brief address to the gathered group of entrepreneurs: "I salute you for being entrepreneurs and contributing to Indian industry." The Tata Group has aligned with Dalit enterprises since 1945. Ratan Tata addressing the entrepreneurs pushes their morale and encourages more Dalit youth to set foot in the business sector. One hopes that other too follow Ratan Tata. After all, India is looking forward to see first Dalit billionaire sooner rather than later.

(The author is a Delhi-based journalist who closely follows South Asia, business, Delhi and Indian Diaspora)