July 1997
My father, not knowing what to do with life stepped on a train to Mumbai. It was a difficult ride traveling in the second class for a 12-hour journey. There have been times he returned even after boarding the train, with a doubt that he might not be able to survive in Mumbai. But this time, he did it. He boarded the train and managed to reach to Mumbai.
Weather here disappointed him badly. He wanted to onboard the train back. But, Mumbai has an air that makes a man dream big.
He entered the glorious corporate office of The Times of India. He was appointed as a sales consultant. He managed to do the job pretty well. In a span of 2-3 years got onsite opportunities and glorious increments. But somehow the air was still there. The dream to do something big was still in his mind.
One fine day, he got the path to travel that dream. A man in his forties inquired him about the accounts department. He was the supplier of ink that was used for newspaper printing of The Times of India. Somehow a deep conversation broke between them and my father enquired him everything about the ink business and chemical business in general. My dad was good with chemicals but he never knew that this could lead him to his dream.
He left the glamorous job at The Times of India and started working under that ink business person for a significantly lower pay with the sole aim of learning about the chemicals business and opening one for himself someday. Times flew and he learned a great deal about the business. Going forward, he started his own trading business in the chemicals sector.
He went on to be the pioneer trader for sodium sulfite (Birlasurf SS) by Aditya Birla Chemicals in Vasai-Virar belt (District - Palghar). From this, he got the perception that "Quality Sells". He started trading only the high-quality chemical products on a large scale even above his maximum capacity of selling. From a novice trader to smart entrepreneur, he managed to open his own manufacturing unit of detergent chemicals.
Aditya Birla Chemicals has been the sole reason behind him being a successful businessman today. In a span of 10 years, from traveling in second class coaches to catching national and international flights, perception of "Quality Sells" has totally changed him as a person.
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