This MBA student from the US came for his summer vacation, with a plan to go back soon. But his dad sent him to Cochin to earn a living with 3 very stringent conditions.
1. He could only carry 3 pairs of clothes, and ₹7,000 (only for emergency use, not for expenses).
1. He could only carry 3 pairs of clothes, and ₹7,000 (only for emergency use, not for expenses).
2. He could only work for a week at a place.
3. He could not reveal who he was.
Btw, the answer to the last part is that he is the son of a billionaire, Savji Dholakia, who owns a ₹6,000 crore diamond business.
3. He could not reveal who he was.
Btw, the answer to the last part is that he is the son of a billionaire, Savji Dholakia, who owns a ₹6,000 crore diamond business.
The Surat-based business tycoon was in the news for gifting his 1200 employees with very jaw-dropping Diwali bonuses - including apartments and cars!
So, why such a harsh treatment for his son?
"I wanted him to understand life and how the poor struggle to get a job and money.
So, why such a harsh treatment for his son?
"I wanted him to understand life and how the poor struggle to get a job and money.
No university can teach you these life skills except experience," he explains.
His son, Dravya, took up the challenge to work in Cochin, a city where he knew no one, couldn't speak the local language and had to start off from zero.
The first 5 days felt like hell.
His son, Dravya, took up the challenge to work in Cochin, a city where he knew no one, couldn't speak the local language and had to start off from zero.
The first 5 days felt like hell.
No place to stay. No money to buy food. He was rejected by 60 places.
Posing as a poor farmer's son, he finally got a job at a restaurant selling bakery items over the counter. And then a call center, shoe shop, and also McDonalds earning 30 ₹/hour.
Posing as a poor farmer's son, he finally got a job at a restaurant selling bakery items over the counter. And then a call center, shoe shop, and also McDonalds earning 30 ₹/hour.
At the end of the month, he earned princely sum of Rs 4000.
What did experience teach him?
Dravya lists down empathy, the value of money & human suffering. Money can buy a lot of things, but not experiences, he adds.
He specifically mentions two people he'll always remember.
What did experience teach him?
Dravya lists down empathy, the value of money & human suffering. Money can buy a lot of things, but not experiences, he adds.
He specifically mentions two people he'll always remember.
The senior citizen at the photocopy shop who did not charge him for photocopies. "You can pay me back when you get a job," he said.
And a security guard who shared his home and food with him, when everyone else had closed their doors on him.
And a security guard who shared his home and food with him, when everyone else had closed their doors on him.
Dravya is back to where he belongs, taking over and growing his dad's empire.
His LinkedIn profile just shows his BBA degree, no MBA. Maybe he never felt the need to go back and complete his MBA.
The Cochin experience will hopefully stay with him and keep him grounded.
His LinkedIn profile just shows his BBA degree, no MBA. Maybe he never felt the need to go back and complete his MBA.
The Cochin experience will hopefully stay with him and keep him grounded.
If that happens, it'll put him a notch above the other billionaire kids who have only seen the world through the lens of entitlement.
Well done, Mr Savji. And hats off, Dravya, for taking up...and more importantly living up to the challenge.
Sources: ToI, TheBetterIndia, NDTV
Well done, Mr Savji. And hats off, Dravya, for taking up...and more importantly living up to the challenge.
Sources: ToI, TheBetterIndia, NDTV
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