Marwari community and the brains behind the business

Marwari community and the brains behind the business

When speaking of communities that are deeply rooted and firmly seated in folklore, one cannot miss but mention the gregarious Marwari community that is synonymous with business in India. From starting out as traders and graduating to a flourishing industrious community, the Marwaris played a pivotal role in changing the face of independent India. Saluting the contribution of this traditional yet progressive community, Society lets some of India’s prominent Marwaris do the talking...

India is a mixed bag of culture. One that not only holds within it a myriad of communities, but one that has also continually reaped the benefits from its multi-cultural existence. One community that pays the perfect ode to the business of India—the Marwaris—cannot be skipped. Geographically, Marwaris are people who belong to the western region of Rajasthan, particularly the areas in and around Jodhpur (Marwar), Pali and Nagaur and other adjoining regions of the state. While all Marwaris are Rajasthanis, all Rajasthanis are not Marwaris. The term ‘Marwar’ dates back to the Sanskrit word ‘Maruwat’ in which ‘Maru’ means desert. Although Marwaris can be baniyas (business community), Brahmins or even Jains, it’s the Marwari baniyas who travelled to other states and even countries and developed successful businesses, thus gaining popularity over the other Marwari sects.

HISTORY

The Marwaris have had a long standing association with Bengal. In fact, the term ‘Marwari’ was coined by the Bengalis for these inhabitants of Rajasthan when they were brought into the state by the Mughal emperor, Akbar. Circa 1564, when, as a part of Akbar’s camp, the Rajput soldiers were in Bengal, the contract of supplying the essentials lay with the merchants of Marwar. They often sported a pagri (turban) because of which they were also referred to as the pagridhari Marwari (turbaned Marwari).

This merchant class commanded a great deal of respect in its hometown. Often, rulers of different states would vie for their attention and lure them to their own state with fertile land that these merchants could till, without paying taxes. Under a similar circumstance, Maharaja Ranjit Singh had then extended an invitation to the Marwaris to settle in Amritsar. As a response to which, 32 businessmen shifted base to Amritsar and were given one shop each to form the Batti Hattan, a mini market that exists till date in Guru Bazaar in Amritsar. Ranjit Singh wanted his city to benefit from the assiduousness and the business skills of the Marwaris, a trait that has stuck with the community even today. Owing to the economic support the rulers drew from the Marwaris, their opinion was given due weightage when it came to the governance of the states. Such was the clout of this emerging trading community even before the British era. The community in turn would offer extended loans to rulers and even invest in the various public projects.

Around the same time, the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan was battling a combined force of war between capitalism and feudalism, where capitalism dominated. The internal strife amongst the Rajput had weakened them, and the impoverished Thakurs had begun resorting to looting the caravans of the Marwari traders. As their trade routes became more and more unsafe, and fear and insecurity gripped the trading community, they needed very little encouragement to venture out and explore safer terrains in the country. Thus began the spread of this enterprising community to the different parts of the country, regions that soon became home grounds to them. Their accepting ways merged them with their new homes effortlessly. Some more progressive Marwaris like Bhagwandas Bagla, one of the first known Marwari millionaires, even proceeded to Burma and settled in Rangoon.

By the early 20th century, apart from most domestic trade routes that were in the hands of the Marwaris, they also had the opium trade, bank

business and selling of clothes in their control. By 1911, Surajmull Nagarmull established the first jute factory, following suit, the Birlas opened the first Indian jute export office in London in 1917; while the Sekserias set up textile mills, Ramkrishna Dalmia established cement factories. Soon, the Marwaris even replaced the Khatris and the Bengalis as brokers.

The Marwaris now worked diligently towards strengthening their hometowns by building schools, temples, wells, hospitals and colleges—all in the memory of their forefathers, primarily for the development of its people. Institutions like the Birla Institute of Technical Training, the IITs, Ruia College, Poddar School are all by-products of their sentiments towards charity and their acts of generosity.

By 1947, when the British were booted out of the country, the new-found India had already found its new breed of business tycoons who were set to change the fate of the country. The rise of independent India saw this peace-loving community, with its water-like property to fit into any given mould and an astute sense of business, resurrect its own economy and industries. Families like the Birlas (now Kumar Mangalam Birla of the Aditya Birla Group and Yash Birla of the Yash Birla Group), the Goenkas (RPG Group), Dalmias, Poddars (Siyaram Silk Mills) and the Singhanias (Raymond Group) began their lives parallel with India and continue to form an integral part of our lives even in modern day India.

BUSINESS

As an old saying goes, “Jahan naa pahunche rail gaadi, wahan pahunche bail gaadi, aur jahan naa pahunche bail gaadi, wahan pahunche Marwari... (Implying that nothing comes in the way of the Marwaris and their business, not in the least, the inaccessibility of a place…). The saying stands true to the fact that nothing can shake the grit and determination of a Marwari. Hailing from the Dhoot family that successfully runs the industrial conglomerate, Videocon, the scion Anirudh Dhoot says about the Marwari business sense, “The men of our community were mostly farmers, traders or merchants and they could never compromise with their business acumen. This unparalleled acumen is passed on to generations and that’s how our knack for business can be justified.”

Contrarily, Ajay Nahar, Managing Director of Nahar Projects, part of the Nahar Group, believes that it is not the caste, community or background that makes for a successful businessman, but a person’s education, IQ, intelligence and upbringing that does. But, having said that, he also observes, “I also think that most Marwaris that I have come across are excellent in negotiations while doing business, have the confidence to crack great business deals and are able to take calculated risks in their projects, thus giving themselves the business community tag.”

Adding that the children in Marwari households often grow up listening to business talks between the elders of a family, Nirati Agarwal, Deputy Editor of Marwar magazine says, “It is no wonder they (Marwari youngsters) excel when they take the helm, after all, they’ve practised thinking like business owners for at least 10 years more than the average businessperson from any other community. It’s simply that the Marwaris are very practical about business and treat it as an important part of day to day life.”

Highlighting Videocon’s remarkable contribution to India’s growth since the industrial revolution, Anirudh elaborates, “The name Videocon is synonymous with every household in India. Ranging from consumer durables to digital broadcast, Videocon has enhanced the growth of the country by actively making innovations with a consumer-centric approach.”

The Nahar Group, founded by Sukhraj Nahar, championed the cause of the growth of their native place, Bhinmal in Rajasthan. Says Ajay, “I am working towards new ventures such as developing a 75-bed charitable hospital, spread across one lakh sq ft, while also already running another set up there for medical needs. In Rajasthan and Mumbai, we have also built many Jain temples like the famous Sarvodaya Nagar Jain Derasar at Mulund West in Mumbai, where I am an active trustee.”

It’s not only holding key business houses that has helped the community sail through, but also their “hard work, perseverance and their undeniable ability to dream and achieve, while maintaining respect and order that has helped them carve a niche for themselves,” says ace Marwari fashion designer Raghavendra Rathore. Speaking of the ‘Marwari ways of business’ that have guided them, while Ajay owes his success to being ethical and a man of his words, and delivering exactly what they promise their buyers, Anirudh says, “Ethics like leadership, accountability, reputation and morale, abiding by the law, respect for others and loyalty have helped Videocon sail through. All the individuals in the organisation follow these ethics, resulting in tremendous success.”

Some of the other prominent names that cannot be missed and have contributed to the business of India include Lakshmi Mittal of ArcelorMittal, Indian telecom mogul, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Enterprises, Subhash Chandra (Zee Network), the Lodhas, Piramals, Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways, the Jindals, Hindujas, Bajajs, Kajarias, Dokanias of Durian, Firodias of Kinetic, Biyanis of the Future Group, Motilal Oswal of Motilal Oswal Securities, RK Somany of Hindustan Sanitaryware and Industries Limited (HSIL) and Hindware, Atul Ruia of High Street Phoenix and the Kasliwals of S Kumars (a business that split in 2008). Not only businessmen, the corporate world has also seen successful Marwaris like Chanda Kochhar, CEO of ICICI Bank.

ENTERTAINMENT

While Bollywood isn’t particularly known for being communal or discriminating, the community seems to have given the industry a miss, what with only a handful of them making their presence felt over the years. Even if films religiously had Marwari characters playing the loyal munshis to the umpteen thakurs, the industry itself doesn’t boast of many Marwaris. A few names that feature on the charter are Bharat Bhushan, yesteryear singer Hemlata, Anu Agarwal, Rajeev Khandelwal, the Barjatyas, Sachiin Joshi, Ram Gopal Varma’s protégé Nisha Kothari, late film director Jag Mundhra, and singer Roopkumar Rathod. On being a Marwari, actor and businessman, Sachiin Joshi, says, “Being a Marwari makes me feel royal. It brings a lot of cultural values and belief. People feel Marwaris are conservative. But it is not so. They are very open-minded, but at the same time, value their beliefs and follow their principles.”

FASHION

Over the years, the community has shed a considerable bit of its image of being traditional and orthodox and has subscribed to a lifestyle that is chic and modern. Fashion forms an integral part of this chic life. The fashion industry on the whole has seen a number of Marwari fashion designers like Surily Goel, the Delhi-based Ravi Bajaj, Sangita Kathiwada, Hyderabad-based Anand Kabra, Kolkata-based designers Ekta Jaipuria Kandhari, Ruchira Kandhari and Shantanu Goenka, Shraddha Murarka of Vizyon, Payal Singhal, Divya Mohta and Anju Modi, among others. Speaking of some of the distinct qualities of being a Marwari, Raghavendra says, “An inherent characteristic of people from Rajasthan is a deep sense of connection with their roots, culture and heritage. Somehow, it is reflected in our work ethics and the relationship that we share with peers. I believe in culture and tradition, however, I also believe in the need to adapt with changing times.”

Raghavendra also adds that his brand Rathore Jodhpur itself is a reflection of the ethos of his community. He emphasises, “The genesis of every design idea born in the design studio draws the heritage of a bygone era.” He also believes that many of the clothing traditions, old-fashioned motifs and other elements from the community’s rich culture have been readapted in modern fashion statements. “It is encouraging to see the new generation resurrecting old techniques not only in clothing, but also in textiles, home furnishing and furniture,” says the designer with a vision who holds the fond memories of spending Holi and Diwali with his family closest to his heart.

JOURNALISM

As Nirati likes to put it, “What really distinguishes the Marwaris is that for them, business is inseparable from life. Whether they view it as a passion or a reality is up to the individual in question.” Nirati believes that an insatiable appetite for risk, a proclivity with all things numerical, especially demand and supply, are qualities ingrained in the Marwaris. However, despite such deep-seated sentiments, when it came to profession, Nirati chose journalism as her driving force.

Her editorship has made her realise that the Marwaris today are traditional but not stodgy. they are creative. “I’ve met filmmakers, artists and graphic designers who are Marwaris, they are open to new ideas, they are generous and they care about social change and want to make a difference in the lives of others. I’ve also noticed another side to this community: their love for luxury and art! They are connoisseurs and hold workmanship and exclusivity in high regard.” Other prominent Marwaris in the field of journalism include Ramnath Goenka and his son, Viveck Goenka of the Indian Express, Shobhana Bhartia of the Hindustan Times, Gulab Kothari (and his father Karpoor Chandra Kulish) of Rajasthan Patrika, Kamal Morarka of the Afternoon Despatch and Courier and the Jains of The Times of India group. Other Marwaris who have made a mark on the literary front include Himani Dalmia, who wrote Life is Perfect, Neelima Dalmia Adhar of the bestseller Father Dearest and Ashwin Sanghi of The Krishna Key.

ART

The Marwaris have also had their fair share in the field of art. Some of the prominent names in the field are Lekha and Anupam Poddar, the well-known mother-son art collector duo, Abhishek Poddar of India’s first photogallery, the Tasveer Art Gallery, and art curator Priyasri Patodia.

Speaking of the Marwaris’ contribution to art, Priyasri speaks of the popularity of miniature paintings that have continued to fascinate art lovers in India and across the world. She says, “From 16th century onwards, there flourished different schools of paintings like the Mewar School, the Bundi-Kota kalam, the Jaipur, Bikaner, Kishengarh and the Marwar schools. In fact, frescoes were initially introduced by the Shekhawat Rajputs in their forts and palaces.”

POLITICS AND SPORTS

Since their migration from their hometowns in Rajasthan to the various states across India, the Marwaris have worked hard towards

making India a stronger nation. Their contribution, therefore, is remarkable even in politics and top government positions. Some prominent faces in the political sphere include Arvind Kejriwal, one of the prominent faces of Anna Hazare’s Lokpal campaign and now a founder of the Aam Aadmi Party, Bimal Jalan—former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Bijoy Singh Nahar—former Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal and Puranmal Lahoti, the first member of the Rajya Sabha representing the business community. The world of sports also boasts of chess champion Abhijeet Gupta and table tennis champion Niraj Bajaj, besides Lalit Modi, the former head of the Indian Premier Cricket League.

Professions apart, the Marwaris are known to be a community that loves their traditional fill of mouth-watering delicacies. Ajay, Anirudh and Sachiin in unison name the good old dal-baati choorma, gatte ki sabzi, kher sangari, papad ki sabzi and bajra roti kadi while speaking of traditional Marwari delicacies they savour and mention sweet delicacies such as mawa, besan laddoos, ghewar and moong dal ka halwa, generously topped with desi ghee.

About the communities’ love for its daughters, Priyasri informs, “Girls are thoroughly pampered by the Marwaris. We have a separate festival called the Sindhara to pamper them. Mehendi (henna) is applied on the hands of the girls and their favourite cuisine is also cooked. Brahmin women or the misranis, as they are called, come and sing to the girl while her mehendi dries. And finally, she is gifted with jewellery and clothes. My fondest memory of childhood is of the Sindhara festival celebrated at my naani’s (grandmother) in Ajmer.”

Another notion that is synonymous with the community is that they are careful how they spend their money. While Anirudh believes it is the quality to not spend a penny more than required that gives people such a notion, Nirati insists, “Marwaris came from Marwar, the land of ‘death’, located in south-west Jodhpur today. The harsh climate and the lack of opportunity drove the Marwari migration at the beginning of the 19th century and I think, ‘conservation’ became the key word for the community, and with good cause.” Echoing similar sentiments, Priyasri adds, “They came from the land of the desert with economic hardships, accustomed to limited resources. I think this makes them genetically sharp to acquire the best in the least. The Marwaris learnt to live frugally and can’t be called stingy.”

Despite changing times, the Marwaris have held onto traditions while still progressing with the generation of today. Nirati says, “A Marwari’s respect for his family and his forefathers encourages him to respect traditions; after all, those are all he has left—a sort of legacy if not in gold then in riches far greater. But, they may be traditional in manner and speech, but they certainly aren’t in terms of thought

and perception.”

Marwaris in Bengaluru

The earliest Marwaris settled in Bengaluru about 60 years ago. Coming mainly from Rajasthan and Haryana, the Marwari communities are now settled all over the city in areas like Vijaynagar, Sanjaynagar, JP Nagar, HSR Layout, Basaveshwarnagar, Kumara Park, Basvangudi, Yeshwantpur and Banasvadi. Explains Ravi Singhania, a businessman, who has been a Bengaluru resident for the past 17 years, “Marwari is an umbrella term which includes Agrawals, Sharmas, Jains, Maheshwaris and Oswals, among others. This difference in surnames is based only on location of origin and the deity they worship.” Bengaluru also has more than 100 Marwari associations like the Karnataka Marwari Samaj, Marwari Yuva Manch, Maheshwari Samaj, Agarwal Mahila Mandal, Jagriti Mahila Mandal and above 10,000 Marwari residents.

The Marwari community is known not only for its business acumen, but also for its humble and charitable nature. The older generations are mostly engaged in family run businesses and are into trading and manufacturing. The younger generation is taking up jobs in fields like IT, real estate, law and medicine. “The community, for the past many years, has been organising various charitable events like donation drives, eye and artificial limb camps for the underprivileged,” says Vimal Saraogi, who runs a family-owned textile business in Bengaluru and is also the Programme Director of the Karnataka Marwari Samaj. The Manav Vidya Kendra, adopted by members of the Marwari community, provides free education to over 100 underprivileged students.

Being a very traditional and custom-oriented community, festivals and other religious occasions hold great importance among the community members. Says Manoj Poddar, a Chartered Accountant living in Bengaluru for the past 11 years, “For the Marwaris, some customs are deeply attached with the native place. For example, a child’s mundan ceremony (when the baby’s hair is shorn off for the first time) will only be done at the family’s native place. This is a custom which every Marwari follows.”

Holi and Diwali are two major festivals celebrated by the Marwaris. While during Holi, the members of associations gather at their respective associations to celebrate, Diwali sees families visiting each other’s homes. Besides these, the women of the community celebrate Karva Chauth, Sawan Jhula Puja and gangor (celebrated only by newly married girls). A majority of the Marwaris are strict vegetarians.

Marwaris in Chennai

When the first families moved out of the drought hit Marwar state in Rajasthan almost 180 years ago, one would not have imagined the impact they would have in shaping Tamil Nadu. “There are (Marwari) families living in small villages and towns all over; their forefathers set up pawn broking businesses. My family came 90 years ago to Madhuranthakam, where I grew up,” says J Jayantilal Challani of Challani Jewellery Mart and President of the Chennai Jewellers and Diamond Merchants Association. “With our honest reputation and fair trade, we have become well-respected and an integral part of Chennai. One thing that sets our community apart is that many of us speak fluent Tamil and have absorbed Tamil customs. When in school, my Tamil pundit would scold other boys stating my example—a Marwari doing better in Tamil than them!”

The Marwaris have also played a big role in the fields of cinema, media, shipping, education and banking sectors. With a presence already in the Sowcarpet area of the city, there are now urban Marwaris dotting even the northern parts of the city. Many prominent business houses and institutions were promoted by famous Rajasthani residents of Chennai. The Indian Express Group was founded from Chennai by Ramnath Goenka. Rated as the richest Indians in the world, Shashi and Ravi Ruia of the Essar Group, whose origins are in Chennai, still nurse a penchant for idlis and dosas. The Marwari community is also known for the abundant charity it does. “The leaders of charity have been the Chordia family, starting with Agurchand Manmull, for having set up the AM Jain College 60 years ago,” says Jayantilal Challani. “We also sponsor free operations, medical treatment, scholarships, etc. But, our focus is education and we sponsor poor students through books and clothes banks. During disasters like the tsunami, and even recently when a fire gutted parts of north Chennai, our people were the first to respond to rally aid. We receive a lot of goodwill from people because of this.”

Living in Chennai since her marriage a couple of decades ago, Divya Solanki, a legal journalist, says, “The people of Chennai really embrace us and this is the friendliest city I have lived in. I don’t feel like an outsider here or that I am Marwari.” Before parting, she mentions her love for spicy Chennai delicacies. “I love going to south Indian weddings, especially for the Tamil food and the yummy sambar. We enjoy south Indian food just as all my friends here wait for our sweets!”

Marwaris in Delhi

Delhi encompasses a lot of India’s prominent Marwaris who have excelled in the fields of business, art, culture, fashion, politics, sports, writing and medicine. Some of Delhi’s famous Marwaris are Sameer and Vineet Jain (owners of Times of India), Harshpati Singhania (MD, JK Paper), Abhishek Manu Singhvi (politician and senior lawyer), Naveen Jindal (MP from Kurukshetra, Chairman, Jindal Steel and Power Ltd and polo player), Shallu Jindal (Kuchipudi danseuse), Sunil Mittal (Bharti Telecom), Deepika Jindal (MD, art d’inox), Rashmi Poddar (artist), Dr Kiran Lohia (Dermatologist) and others. 

Hailing from Rajasthan, their close proximity to the capital gave way to a lot of Marwaris in Delhi decades ago. Also, the arrival of the Delhi-Calcutta railway in the 1860s facilitated their migration from Calcutta to Delhi. The archetypal Marwari business class of brokers, traders, financiers and businessmen has a major hold in Delhi. As philanthropy is a prominent quality of the Marwaris, the well-known Delhi Marwaris are considerably involved in charity and community service.

Although perceived as conservative in their approach, the Delhi Marwaris are flexible and progressive. They have not confined themselves to traditional, old-economy businesses and are joining the new age ones. “They are active in every field, be it art, culture, writing or entrepreneurship. They have actively contributed to the Indian society right from the freedom struggle and even after independence,” says Shallu Jindal. She is a Kuchipudi danseuse and social activist. Fashion designer Anju Modi agrees, “Their root lies in Shekhawati, an arid part of Rajasthan. Hailing from this hot region, the Marwaris are persistent and patient. They do not leave anything incomplete. All these qualities make them the best in every field, especially business.” Jindal insists, “The key ingredient of a Marwari is hard-work. They are very down-to-earth and grounded. I have seen my family and my husband Naveen Jindal working hard day and night and being passionate about what he does. We have been nurtured this way,” she continues, adding, “There are no boundaries for Marwari women too. If they are passionate about something, they are free to pursue it.” Modi says, “The Marwaris are progressive people and that is the reason they have been successful.” They have blended well in the Delhi culture and happily share their festivals and cuisine with the cosmopolitan culture of the city.

Religion is an essential part of Marwari life. Marwari festivals like teej and chhoti holi are also celebrated by the other communities in Delhi. Being staunch vegetarians, there are a number of Marwari restaurants like Rajdhani, Suruchi, Thaal Vaadi and the newly opened Shraman at The Ashok Hotel that cater to Marwari cuisine. Modi says, “Marwari food is liked by the Delhiites as it’s different. It’s time consuming to cook Marwari dishes, hence a lot of people don’t know how to make them.”

Delhi’s old Marwari Library, built in 1915 in Chandni Chowk, is a piece of Marwari history that stands tall as one of the oldest public libraries in Delhi.

Making a Mark in Hyderabad

No city or town can do without a Marwari grocery shop; but of late, the Marwaris have moved on to bigger arenas and with a keen business sense, have conquered that too. The Marwaris came to Hyderabad around 200 years ago. According to Vinita Pittie, a well-known designer, who belongs to one of the first families that made Hyderabad their home, “They were mainly five to six families like the Pitties, Ganeriwals, Lahotis, Badruka and Malanis who decided to make Hyderabad their home. Most of the Marwaris are mainly involved in trading and finance. Now, their population has risen to around 10 lakhs. The Pitties and Malanis also had titles bestowed on them by the Nizam of Hyderabad.” The very notable families in Hyderabad are the Patodias of GTN Textiles, Surekas of Hartex Rubber and Construction Activities, the Suranas of the Surana Udyog, the Agarwal family of the Suryalata and Suryalakshmi Mills, MK Agarwal of GATI and Transport Corporation of India and Prashant Lahoti, one of the well-known businessmen, who also runs an art gallery and has been honoured by a prestigious French order. The Pittie family too is involved in various philanthropic activities and is involved in the maintenance of heritage temples.

साभार : magnamags.com/society/features/marwari -community-and-the-brains-behind-the-business/507, By Ujwal Salokhe