DHANDHA : HOW GUJARATIS DO BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

Name:                  Dhandha: How Guajarati’s do Business

Author:                Shobha Bondre (Translated by Shalaka Walimbe)

Publisher:             Random House India

Price:                   Rs. 199

Shobha Bondre is a celebrated and much-published Marathi writer. This book is translated in English by Shalaka Walimbe. The book starts with a message by Mr. Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat and the Introduction is written by Amitabh Bachchan, (Brand Ambassador,Gujarat Tourism). This is a non-fiction with a brilliant cover designed by Sourav Das.

 This book is basically success stories of five Guajarati’s and all of them are first generation entrepreneurs who are successful with their enterprise starting from a starch. The first story is a “Rags to Riches” story of Bhimjibhai Patel, which exemplifies his journey a farmland in village of Gujarat to the helm of the Diamond Industry. However, his journey was not as easy as it sounds. It was the determination of Bhimjibhai and the courage to face all odds that helped him to go ahead it life. He was supported by his wife, and his three brothers.

The next story is of Mohanbhai Patel, who loves experimenting and he was able to produce Aluminum tubes, at failing 30 times, at a cheaper cost. This was a great revolution as it happened for the first time in the World. Not only he is active business-wise, but also socially as transformed the life`s of Adivasis. Till date he is the only non-adivasi who has become the Chairman of the Adivasi Development Board.  The third story is of Dalpatbhai Patel, who had eventually started by running a Motel in The United States of America, but he went on become a popular mayor. The fourth story is of Jaydev Patel, who is a Chemist turned Best Salesman New York Life Insurance Company has ever produced and finally is a story of a Shah family, Hasu and Hersha Shah, who started from an eleven room motel to over hundred hotels spread all across United States of America.

SHOBHA BONDRE

One thing which is common among all the five personalities is that the business should not slow down at any cost. However, rich they are, they did not forget their village roots and contributed a lot towards their village and society. They did not hesitate to look for beyond the borders of India. All the stories are written with a flashback. The author has gone into minute details of each and every aspect. This book can be compared to Rashmi Bansal`s I have a dream and Stay Hungry, Stay foolish. The language is very easy to decipher and you can complete it in only eight hours. The target audience is the youth and young entrepreneurs.

Expectations: - As a reader, I expect more than five stories. Though, the author extensive research with every story but if compared with the books by Rashmi Bansal which has 20+ stories. Another thing I think should have been included was a message or suggestion for young Entrepreneur’s else it is fully worth of Rs.199 you pay for it.

Ratings:- 7.5/10