Success Story: Entrepreneur Kalpana Saroj serves as the chairperson of Kamani Tubes. An entire generation of entrepreneurs grew enamoured with her life story. For trade and industry, Kalpana was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013. Additionally, she is a member of the board of governors at the Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore.
Rags To Riches
Women face several challenges in the world. Women’s journeys are far too different (and harder) than those of the other gender in the race, from historical records of denial of fundamental rights to current difficulties in daily life. India is a place where it is harder for women to prosper and get by in life. However, the term “original slumdog millionaire” is used to characterize Kalpana Saroj, one of today’s most prominent business people and one of the most well-known figures in Indian business circles. Saroj is an Indian Dalit lady who attempted suicide once to escape prejudice, destitution, and physical assault. She is now the chairperson of a multimillion-dollar business.
String Of Obstacles
In India, Kalpana is a narrative that is rarely told and even less likely to inspire an entire generation of businesspeople and women. Her story has overcome so many obstacles to come to a happy conclusion, making her life appear like the plot of a Hindi movie. She was tormented at school, forced into a marriage at age 12, battled prejudice and peer pressure to divorce her husband, and attempted suicide.
Suicide Attempt
Growing up as a Dalit woman in a far-off hamlet, Kalpana’s gender and caste were obstacles in her path to success. These identities hung over her like a double-edged sword. She was made to live in a Mumbai slum with her husband’s cruel family after being married at the young age of 12, whereupon her father intervened to save her. To live with her parents, she returned to her village. After being shunned by the villagers, she made an attempt on her life there. She was in a serious state when her aunt entered the room and noticed her. Her life was saved because she hurried to the hospital. For her, the event marked a turning point. She returned to Mumbai at the age of 16 and moved in with her uncle.
Younger Sister’s Death
She began by stitching and working relentlessly to learn how to use industrial sewing machines, earning Rs. 50 a month. She was already struggling financially when her youngest sister got sick. Her family was unable to pay for the care. She was lost despite everyone looking for assistance and supplies. The episode that epitomized Kalpana’s entrepreneurial mentality was the fact that the money she made was insufficient to cover the cost of her sister’s treatment, which could have saved her life.
Turning Point
After spending several months working in a hosiery store, she made the decision to start her own business in the mid-1990s. She regularly listened to the radio while she worked. There, she listened to the radio to learn about various government initiatives before applying for a loan through the Mahatma Jyotibhai Phule programme. She started a modest furniture business in Ulhasnagar, Thane, with a meagre investment of Rs. 50,000, selling low-cost knockoffs of high-end furniture. She nevertheless kept up her sewing business. A person approached her with a deal to buy a piece of contested land for Rs. 2,50,000 at about the same time. Following the case’s resolution and the associated litigation, the land’s value increased to Rs 50 lakh, enabling Kalpana to enter Mumbai’s construction market.
Kamani Tubes Story
The horrifying circumstances of those who were jobless and struggling due to a lack of resources had a profound influence on Kalpana once she had some degree of financial stability. By this point, Kalpana had made a name for herself in the neighbourhood. A handful of Kamani Tubes employees approached her as her influence expanded, pleading for assistance in preventing the company’s complete closure. Kalpana contributed money to the faltering business. She later rose to the position of leadership inside the business and assisted in its turnaround following a string of litigation and huge debt. With her sharp business sense and ability, she improved Kamani Tubes and made it into a profitable company.
In every way, Kalpana Saroj is a true person of substance. Under her direction, companies like Kamani Tubes Limited, Kamani Steel Re-Rolling Mills Pvt Ltd, Saikrupa Sugar Factory Pvt Ltd, Kalpana Builders & Developers, Kalpana Saroj & Associates, and KS Creations Film Production have flourished to great success. Her existence, struggle, and success are evidenced by the fact that she owns more than six profitable businesses with a net worth of more than Rs. 1000 crores.