11-01-2004, 12:57 AM
http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/oct/27inter11.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But no one can be naïve enough to think that any businessman, not just Reliance, will give any money that will not enhance their business interests.
I ask you, why have the Birlas set up so many temples? Why have Tatas created the Tata Institutes of Energy Research and Social Sciences? All Indian businessmen are not narrow-minded. Dhirubhai encouraged ideas and creativity.
I once put your question to him. He said, "I want Reliance to become a big company, it can become one only if India becomes a big nation. Then, Indians will buy my products."<b> It is as simple as that. We should get out of this anti-businessman thinking generated by Indian bureaucrats.</b> They think that businessmen are not concerned with national interests. Whenever I meet Indian businessmen I am telling them that the way American businessmen have done it, you can also build universities and participate in creating think-tanks. All the universities in America have been created by public philanthropy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This probably comes from the trait mentioned above (probably a more recent one) that makes the society feel guilty in being rich and once rich feel guilty in spending the money. I am from Ahmedabad - while growing up in Ahmedabad (Gandhiji's base) i had always seen this. I have heard other non-amdavadi gujjus (Suratis, Kathiyawadis and Mumbaikars) complain about this. We felt guilty or maybe are too cautious in earning money and then spending it. Happy to report however that atleast the last few times i visited my city thats not the case anymore - people are spending like there is no tomorrow. I dont know this is a long term thing or not but thats what i observed over the last few years.
Have to mention one thing about Dhirubhai - whatever his drawbacks he commoditised stocks. I dont have the numbers with me but atleast in gujarat Reliance must be one of the most held company. These are small investors - not crorepatis. He took the concept of earning money to the masses.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->But no one can be naïve enough to think that any businessman, not just Reliance, will give any money that will not enhance their business interests.
I ask you, why have the Birlas set up so many temples? Why have Tatas created the Tata Institutes of Energy Research and Social Sciences? All Indian businessmen are not narrow-minded. Dhirubhai encouraged ideas and creativity.
I once put your question to him. He said, "I want Reliance to become a big company, it can become one only if India becomes a big nation. Then, Indians will buy my products."<b> It is as simple as that. We should get out of this anti-businessman thinking generated by Indian bureaucrats.</b> They think that businessmen are not concerned with national interests. Whenever I meet Indian businessmen I am telling them that the way American businessmen have done it, you can also build universities and participate in creating think-tanks. All the universities in America have been created by public philanthropy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This probably comes from the trait mentioned above (probably a more recent one) that makes the society feel guilty in being rich and once rich feel guilty in spending the money. I am from Ahmedabad - while growing up in Ahmedabad (Gandhiji's base) i had always seen this. I have heard other non-amdavadi gujjus (Suratis, Kathiyawadis and Mumbaikars) complain about this. We felt guilty or maybe are too cautious in earning money and then spending it. Happy to report however that atleast the last few times i visited my city thats not the case anymore - people are spending like there is no tomorrow. I dont know this is a long term thing or not but thats what i observed over the last few years.
Have to mention one thing about Dhirubhai - whatever his drawbacks he commoditised stocks. I dont have the numbers with me but atleast in gujarat Reliance must be one of the most held company. These are small investors - not crorepatis. He took the concept of earning money to the masses.