New Delhi: The world’s richest ‘Bihari’, the head of Vedanta Group conglomerate, billionaire Anil Agarwal revealed for the first time, how he rose from being a Patna scrap dealer to join the World Forbes list of billionaires.
In a freewheeling interview with Rajat Sharma in the latter’s iconic show ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ telecast last night on India TV, and to be re-telecast tonight, Anil Agarwal explained how presentation, timing and taking entrepreneurial risks matter.
“I dream of the day when every youth in India will have a choice of jobs before him or her…. Mother India has abundant natural resources which are yet to be exploited…Like Mother Cow, if you do not milk her daily, she won’t stay healthy, and proper care will make her life better”, Agarwal said.
“I appeal to all of you to start a movement. India has no shortage of oil, gas, copper, gold.”, he said.
“Hindustan Abhi Khul Gaya Hai. Hamari Sarkar Bahut Acchi Hai. To aane wale dinon me isme kshamta hai. Hamare paas 15-20 defence ki factories hai. Aanewale dinon me mujhe lagta hai human resource, natural resource… poori duniya me aaaj Hindustaniyon ne Naam Kiya Hai aur main bhi unme hoon. Agar Hindustani kisi company me naukri karta hai, us company me koi gadbad nahin ho sakti.”
( I appeal to all of you to start a movement. Let us extract our abundant natural resources. India has no shortage of oil, gas, copper gold. India has now opened up. Our government is very good. In the coming days, we have the capability to do this. Today we have 15-20 defence factories. In the coming days, human resource and natural resource will count. Indians have brought fame to our country. I include myself in that. If any Indian works in any multinational company, he never cheats)
SEMI-CONDUCTOR
Asked why he backed out of his semi-conductor plans, Anil Agarwal replied: “Mere Ko Samajh Mein Aaya Ki Jo Kaam Main Samajhta Hoon, Wahi Mere Ko Suvidha Deta Hai, Aaj Poori Duniya me Hum Kaam Karte Hain, hum oil, gas nikalte hain, aluminium, zinc, copper ka kaam karte hain, Toh Yeh Saari chezen Meri Pasand Ki Hai. Mere collaborators Bahut Acche They, Isko Aagey Badha Rahe They, Meri ek hi Beti hai, 11 saal ki grand daughter, Hum bahut dukhi Ho gaye they, Hum North India Ke Hain, aur usne South Indian se Shaadi Kar Li…Main 6 Mahina depression Me tha, Lekin baad me pata chala, Woh Itna Achha Ladka Hai, Mangalore Ka Hai, top engineer hai, MBA kiya hua hai, Woh Bhi Hamara beta hi ho gaya. Woh Technology Me they, Isliye semi-conductor me gaye they, Ye Jo Chooti-si Zindagi Hum Kar Rahe Hain, Wohi Theek Hai.
( I realized the work that I know is convenient for me. We work throughout the world, we extract oil and gas, make aluminium, zinc, copper. We are going ahead with these. I have a daughter, a 11-year-old grand daughter, We were sad when she married a South Indian. We are North Indians. For six months, I was in depression, but later I came to know that the boy is so good. He is from Mangalore, a top engineer, did his MLA. He has now become our son. He was in technology, That’s why we wanted to go into semi-conductor. Since it is a a small life, we decided to stick to what we are doing).
Rajat Sharma: You want to say you want to stick to your areas of core competence?
Anil Agarwal : Ji, Ji…Chhota Mota Kuch Kar liya, Woh Alag Hai, Lekin main focus Us Par….
HOW BALCO WAS BOUGHT
The billionaire revealed how his company Sterlite acquired the government’s Navratna company Bharat Aluminium in 2001 during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s rule.
“Atal Ji ke time me Bharat Aluminium ko Rs 550 crore me liya, hamare jo Finance waale they, boley, sir bank me to sirf Rs 5 crore hai. Maine kaha, le lo. Aaj main yahan disclose kar raha hoon, Humne sab banks ko chithi likhi ye keh kar ki Navratna company BALCO hmum kharidenge, jo bank pehle aayega, usse hum pehle paisa lenge, Humen Rs 550 crore ki jagah Rs 2000 crore ka offer aa gaya. Arun JI )Jaitely ) mujhe Atal Ji ke paas le gaye, Atal Ji ne kaha itni badi company hum aapko de rahe hain. Atal Ji bole, aap ek bhi worker ko nikalengey nahin. Humne kaha, hum 5 goona workers badhayenge. Arun JI bahut suljhe hue aadmi they. Unhone mujhe kaise PM ke saamene present kiya, Ye Ishar Ki Badi Kripa thi”
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