There’s No Such Thing As A Self-Made Man

Pralhad P. Chhabria began his career at age 12, as a cleaning boy in a small cloth shop in Karachi for a monthly wage of Rs. 10.

Working his way through stints as a domestic servant, a collection agent, a trader in electrical accessories and a supplier of defence contracts, he flourished with the unrelenting instinct of an entrepreneur. Finolex, established in 1958 by P. P. Chhabria and his younger brother Kishan or K. P. Chhabria, is today the number one manufacturer of cables in India and second only to Reliance in the manufacture of PVC resin.

With no management mantras to follow, he applied a hands-on approach to his powerful vision, absorbing the various lessons of each step. His unassuming style attracted a devoted team to whom, as Finolex completes fifty years of existence, the company now belongs. He attributes his every success to this team, and to the forces of nature that guided him through difficult circumstances and helped him take decisions.

Perhaps it is this modesty and humility that inspires him with the energy to continue planning and envisioning so that even today, at age 84, he embarks on new large-scale projects with the same passion and determination as ever.

This fascinating story depicts a unique Indian businessman with an international business outlook and a very traditional personal life, and is a must-read for every student of management, every aspirant setting out on the rocky road of entrepreneurship and for every forward-thinking human being struggling various facets of existence.