Meet Indian Metals & Mining Magnate Anil Agarwal - Chairman Of Vedanta Group
A lot of people have to let go of their dreams because they don't have the privilege to fulfil them. But this man, with his hard work, made sure that he got what he desired, and in the end, achieved it.
As easy as it might appear from the outside, the starry world of business is not that easy a place to make a mark in. Many people come and go come and go but only a few have the courage to stay, and those are the people who make for a great inspiring story.
Today we share an extraordinary story of Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal, man behind the success?story of Vedanta Resources Limited, a globally diversified Natural Resources Company with interests in zinc-lead-silver, Iron ore, Steel, Copper, Aluminium, Power, Oil and Gas. Anil Agarwal journey from a metal scrap trader to one of the topmost business leaders of the country is awe-inspiring.
Who is Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal?
Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal was born in the lower-middle-class Marwari family on January 24, 1954, in Patna, Bihar. The financial condition of his family was not that strong. His father’s name is Dwarka Prasad Agarwal and he had a small aluminum conductor business.
His schooling was done at Miller High School. Lalu Prasad Yadav, ex Railway Minister was his batchmate in the school. In 1972, he quit studying and joined his father’s business of making aluminum conductors. But this was not it, he always dreamt of doing something big, so he left this job at 19 and went to Mumbai in search of better opportunities.
Came to Mumbai with only a tiffin box
Today, Anil Agarwal is a widely recognized name in the public sphere. Agarwal once lived a normal life in Patna, Bihar, he came to the City of dreams Mumbai with only a tiffin box and dreams in his eyes.
At the age of 19, Anil Agarwal left his father’s small business of aluminium conductors and came down to Mumbai to explore career opportunities.
Once afraid to check in at Oberoi Hotel as he didn’t know English
After coming to Mumbai, a 19-year-old young man looked for some accommodation to stay in and found the Oberoi Hotel in South Mumbai very attractive. The royal outlook influenced him so much that he aspired to stay there if not more, then at least for one day. But he was afraid to check in as he didn’t know English. So, he got hold of somebody to help him check-in at the hotel.
That was the time when Anil Agarwal's entrepreneurial spirit was aroused. Agarwal found it to be a potential address for starting his own business. Despite deciding to stay there for just one day, he spent a whole three months there at a price of Rs 200 a day. He made sure that his laundry and food were managed outside to keep the cost to a minimum.
Now, 68-year-old Anil Agarwal, founder and chief executive officer of Vedanta Resources Plc, does not make any fuss about eating at five-star places.
From a trader to an entrepreneur
Anil Agarwal is one of the very few living men who have literally started from scrap and reached this stature all by themselves. From riding a scooter in the late 1970s to flying across continents in his lavish private jet, and from copper to steel, aluminium, iron ore, zinc and power generation, Anil has come a long way.
Anil Agarwal founded Vedanta Resources in the 1970s, which is a global diversified mining company headquartered in London, England. It is the largest mining and non-ferrous metals company in India.
Anil Agarwal's Vedanta, recently sealed a deal with electronics manufacturing services giant Foxconn to form a joint venture (JV) for manufacturing semiconductors in India.
It became the first company to invest in the semiconductor manufacturing business after the government announced a Rs 76,000-crore program to boost the electronic chip and display ecosystem in the country.
Listed in Asia’s 2021 heroes of philanthropy list
Anil Agarwal was not only a prominent businessman but he also believed in helping others to the best he could from his available resources. He was influenced by several philanthropists. In the year 1992, he came up with the idea of setting up the philanthropic department “Vedanta Foundation” which would concentrate on social programs.
Indian metals and mining magnate Anil Agarwal is listed in the list of Asia’s 2021 heroes of philanthropy for his important contribution towards healthcare and animal welfare under his Anil Agarwal Foundation.
Anil Agarwal's life is full of small and great achievements at every step he takes. It was his hidden entrepreneurial talent that has made him a successful and prominent business tycoon in the industry. Anil Agarwal's leadership and managerial skills may inspire a lot of youngsters, who are able to withstand and tolerate any form of setback simply on their belief that they can reach their goals.
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