When a “Shock Becomes a Source of Inspiration”: The Entrepreneurial Success Story of a Bengali Village Boy*

When a “Shock Becomes a Source of Inspiration”: The Entrepreneurial Success Story of a Bengali Village Boy

In the afternoon of a warm June Sunday Mr. Sailen Ghosh (Sailen) sitting in a tiny but well-decorated air-conditioned office in his first-of-its-kind hotel business in Kolkata which was only a small part of his business kingdom, was discussing the stages of his business life over a glass of mango drink. A very ambitious yet spiritual and  humble person, a good speaker and a senior executive member of Mohun Bagan Football Club, a historic and prestigious football club of India based in the Kolkata city, he was not at all hesitant in unfurling his history.

Taldi Ghosh Para near Mograhat, South 24-Parganas district, around 53 km away from Kolkata in the state of West Bengal, was a remote village where Sailen was born in the year 1968. The place was so remote that even today it is very difficult to reach. It is around 4 kilometers from the Mograhat railway station. Post his primary  education in his village he came to Kolkata (Calcutta), passed Class XII (Higher Secondary Examination) and got admission in Jogesh Chandra Chowdhury College,  Kolkata (Calcutta) in the Commerce stream to pursue his Bachelor Course.

On the last day of his college, after filling in the form of final B. Com. Examination under the University of Calcutta, he along with a group of friends decided to spend the day in a memorable way. They began discussing their future plans. Sailen actively participated in that discussion with his friends Sajal and Shyamal. Suddenly Sajal asked a remarkable question “what is the value of our life?” ...........................

1. Shri Krishna Enterprise

1.1 Company Background

Sailen left his job with Kolkata Police in the year 1994 and started his full-fledged business of purchasing and selling land. He used to purchase land and directly sell the same to the buyer as an owner and not as a broker. At this point of time he did not own any Registered Company. In the same year, i.e., in 1994, he took a  proprietorship trade license from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation............

1.2 Restructuring Dacca Oushadhâlay

Sailen was rather philosophical in justifying his move from the spinning mills to re-structuring another sick company Dacca Oushadhâlay:

“We know that the Captain of a ship cannot run a boat, so, when I came back in 2001 from Orissa, I took the responsibility of the entire operation of the century-old ailing Dacca Oushadhâlay”

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2. The Trading and Other Businesses

2.1 The “Only Wheel” Saga

Entrepreneurship is the ability to predict or ascertain the various opportunities related to investment and then to evaluate these various opportunities and forming enterprise, the purpose of which is to give the maximum contribution to the company’s as well as nation’s growth. Strategically, entrepreneurs ignored theoretical know-how and moved ahead with enormous energy to forge new enterprise (Holt, 2000)............

2.2 The Rice and Flour Mills and the Steel Factory

After gaining expertise in rice trading he bought a rice mill in a small town named Debra in the district of West Midnapore, around 97 km away from Kolkata in the year 2011. The purpose was obvious that in order to carry out a smooth trading business regular flow of rice was essential. Also the location was strategic for the uninterrupted source of good quality paddy since the said district was known for good quality paddy cultivation........

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3. The Other Face of the Business House

nderstanding the absence of good quality mid-level hotels in the impending IT hub of Kolkata, the establishment of this hotel was quite captivating. Though Sailen mentioned the idea of starting the hotel in this location was a “childish” one, but situations furnished some other information. Interestingly enough, all the rooms of the hotel were “deluxe” rooms and had single, double and twin beds. Apart from the regular services that any good hotel would provide, some out-of-the way services were also interesting in this hotel, e. g. mini gym, city tour package, etc..............

4. Forward towards the Future Direction

We understand that entrepreneurship is the interaction of skills linked to inner control, planning and goal setting, risk taking, innovation, perception and understanding the reality, judicious use of feedback, decision making, human relations development and independence. In order to confirm his future business strategy, Sailen unhesitatingly stated that his first wish was to restart the operation of Dacca Oushadhâlay............

Exhibits

Exhibit I: Sailen’s Nature of Interest or Concern in the Real Estate Companies (Private Limited Capacity)

Exhibit II: Details of the Management Team

Exhibit III: Annual Transaction of Different Business Areas

Exhibit IV: Metropolis Inn Homepage Containing Links to Different Facilities

Exhibit V: Valuation of the Businesses

Exhibit VI: The Business Pathway

When a “Shock Becomes a Source of Inspiration”: The Entrepreneurial Success Story of a Bengali Village Boy

Synopsis

A young Indian, by birth a Bengali village boy, while trying to root about the value of his life during his college days was shocked to know that only a paltry value was associated with his whole life. This shock triggered him to lead a meaningful and pragmatic life and prompted him to start his own business venture of land dealing under the sole proprietorship scheme. Without borrowing anything from the financial institutions, through his behaviour and highly positive attitude, he dived into the business. He even left his government job to establish him as a business magnet. With every sincerity, tireless efforts, courage and path-breaking risk taking strategies, after twenty-five years of beginning, he has made a diversified business base of around INR350 crore (US$ ~ 58 million). Apart from his flagship business of land dealing and real estate, he made a very successful journey in trading of staple food items like rice, wheat and sugar and the high growing industrial product like steel. For the uninterrupted flow of materials in trading business, he purchased rice, flourmill, and a steel factory. A humanitarian, good orator and a football enthusiast, he also started a hotel business in a strategic business location in Kolkata. The success story of transforming the life of a small land dealer to a multi-millionaire will be discussed in this case study-covering strategy adopted with success and failure. All information in the case will be based on documenting the actual experience of a young entrepreneur working towards successfully transforming his small business idea to a well-developed  professional business house.

Prerequisite conceptual understanding

The case presupposes an understanding of the concepts of entrepreneurship and business strategies

Assignment Questions

In order to furnish a theme for discussion for 120 minutes class duration students can be given specific assignment questions to address on the case. The tasks set by us were:

• I. Explore the key potential areas based on which Sailen’s business progressed.
• II. In the light of the case, discuss the category of social motives of entrepreneurial behaviour.
• III. What are the dominant perspectives on entrepreneurship associated with this case?
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