Growing Up With Junior Chamber efore getting into the narrative of Nanik's business endeavours, it is appropriate to talk about an organization that played a dominant role in shaping the man that he is today. In spite of his business acumen, Nanik was painfully aware of the fact that he had not completed his formal education. This made him shy and reserved, making him feel that he was not competent enough to interact with the educated classes of society. He marveled at speakers who spoke and gave presentations with natural ease in front of large audiences, and wondered if he would ever reach such levels of confidence and poise himself. Nanik also wished to act upon his yearning to contribute to social welfare. This desire was kindled when he experienced family hardships in the wake of the Partition. He felt empathy for the underprivileged in their trials and tribulations. Moreover, the social disparities he saw firsthand in Ghana had left a deep impression upon his mind. Nanik felt that such disparities could be bridged only if the affluent realized and fulfilled their obligation to give back to the society from which they had taken so much.

Nanik being sworn in as President of the Wadala Junior Chamber

Nanik looked out for an avenue that would help him overcome his personal inhibitions and at the same time give him an opportunity to do social work. Junior Chamber became the perfect channel. It served as a 'finishing school' that fine-tuned Nanik's personality and taught him how to champion social causes.

The Junior Chamber, that later came to be known inter-nationally as Jaycees, is a non-profit organization that was established in 1920 in the United States. It gradually grew to have a global spread. In India, Segunde Mapa in Calcutta founded the Junior Chamber in 1949. The organization gives young people, irrespective of their colour, caste or creed, the tools they need to build bridges of success for themselves in the areas of business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. It provides opportunities for them to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others. For more than eighty years now, the Junior Chamber has been a force for good, and its presence can be felt in all walks of life.

Becoming President

The year was 1968 — a year after Nanik's marriage to Geeta — a point in time when he was struggling to establish himself financially. Nanik relates: "A group of people got together under the leadership of Gangaram Joshi to start the Lion's Club of Wadala. Joshi was the past Sheriff of Bombay and had fine leadership qualities. He was elected President of the Club, and I was appointed Treasurer. The Club engaged in community development projects, a sphere of activity close to my heart. But due to the priority of running my business, I was able to spend limited time with the Club."

A few months down the line, a dispute arose that split the members into two factions. Many members resigned from the Club as a result of this. Nanik continues: "I kept supporting Gangaram Joshi. He led us to form the Wadala Junior Chamber. Gangaram Joshi was the President and I served on the managing committee. I continued in this capacity in addition to fulfilling my private business responsibilities."

In 1971, Joshi took ill and had to discontinue as President of the Wadala Junior Chamber. The quest for a new President began. Nanik was unanimously elected to fill the vacant post.

"I had no choice but to accept this responsibility, although it went against my own wishes. I had a wife and a young daughter to support; my time and energy was consumed by my struggling business. I had pressure on the home front too, with my father wanting me to take up the traditional family business. Moreover, I was a novice compared to Gangaram Joshi. He had excellent oratory, networking and social skills. He had financial muscle. I had none of these qualities. Understandably, I was a little anxious about leading the Wadala Junior Chamber," Nanik admits.

Fulfilling His Pledge

Circumstances quickly arose that tested the new President's leadership qualities to the hilt. War broke out between India and Pakistan in 1971. Bombay became a vital point of transit for the jawans (soldiers). Daily, thousands of them left Bombay's railway stations to serve on the nation's border. Thousands returned by rail to the city from the war front en route to their various destinations.

"Those who went made great sacrifices. Some of them never returned. The ones who did were either exhausted or wounded. I felt that something must be done to help them." So Nanik called an emergency meeting of the Wadala Junior Chamber. The question of how best to help the jawans was seriously discussed. It was unanimously decided to run a canteen that would serve refreshments to the soldiers in transit. Since Dadar was one of the major railway stations of Bombay, it was decided to set up the canteen at Dadar Railway Station.

The managing committee next considered the question of raising funds for the project. Nanik relates: "To give out free refreshments to thousands of troops at Dadar Station was not an easy proposition! Considering my own delicate financial situation, I was hardly in a position to put my hands in my pockets and contribute. One of the members of the managing committee announced that he would be happy to donate Rs. 10,000 — a significant sum in those days. Yet another member who was closely affiliated with the Jana Sangh (currently known as the Bharatiya Janata Party — one of India's main political parties) volunteered to erect a canopy to house the canteen."

Nanik approached the railway authorities with details of the plans and they agreed to extend their full support to this project of the Wadala Junior Chamber. Help also came from Manohar Kotwal, a leading union leader at the Bombay Port Trust. He offered a ground floor flat, very close to Dadar Railway Station, where food items could be conveniently housed. "With such enthusiastic supporters," says Nanik, "the managing committee felt elated and assured that the project would run smoothly without a hitch."

Losing no time, he convened a press conference to announce the good news. There was an impressive turnout by members of the press. Nanik's statement was greeted with a lot of interest and excitement.

This was soon followed by a sober question to the President: "How long will you be able to run this Canteen?" “As long as the war lasts,” was Nanik's passionate and emphatic reply.

The news was given tremen-dous coverage by the media. In just a few days, the Canteen, powered by 250 zestful volun-teers, was ready to roll. They worked selflessly day and night, many of them without a break. More and more people app-roached Nanik, expressing their desire to enrol as volunteers — such was the fervour to help the jawans. Nanik was informed by the railway authorities to gear up for a trainload of soldiers arriving the next evening at Dadar Station. At this juncture, Nanik approached the Wadala Junior Chamber member who had promised the generous sum of Rs. 10,000. The man responded: "What's the hurry?" "He sent us a bagful of sugar. Yes, that is all we ever got from him," Nanik sighs at the recollection.

The failure of this member to honour his word threw the Canteen's plans into disarray. The day saw Nanik spend hours on the phone frantically calling up friends — pleading with them to donate generously. By evening he was able to collect Rs. 7,000. "It was a huge relief!" Nanik explains. "With this money, we were successful in catering to the first trainload of jawans. Volunteers even went inside the trains to reach out to those who were badly wounded, to pep them up. They were given medicines and served refreshments. Some volunteers even sat down besides the jawans to write to their families about their welfare."

Nanik illustrates the eager and willing spirit of the volunteers who were ready to do even tasks considered menial, in the service of the jawans. Shanti Sagar (son of the leading film producer-director, Ramanand Sagar) served on the managing committee of the Wadala Junior Chamber. He asked Nanik what his duties would be in the scheme of things. Nanik told him that he would have to wash the innumerable cups and plates after they had been used. Shanti Sagar religiously carried out this important role.

"Yes," Nanik recalls pensively, "such was the commitment on the part of the volunteers! All the jawans as well as onlookers were happy and impressed. We received a lot of praise."

"Right after we catered to the first train of soldiers", Nanik resumes, "the railways told me that another trainload of jawans would arrive the next day. Taking care of the first trainload had nearly exhausted all the funds. That whole night I stayed awake thinking: Here I had spent the greater part of my day, pleading with and begging people who were slow to respond. The very thought of repeating the same exercise was nightmarish indeed! I just could not think of anybody else whom I could approach or call for aid. I was already beginning to regret my word that I had given out at the press conference."

The following day Nanik had to wade through the same process of contacting and pleading with people for funds. He managed to raise Rs. 10,000 that met the expenses of supplying food to the second train full of troops. "With the fresh inflow of cash and food, we were able to welcome the train. This time too, everyone com-mended us on the excellent job that we were doing. The soldiers had smiles on their faces. They totally appreciated the Herculean task we were accomplishing. Passers-by showered us with praise. As I stood watching all this, I could feel the overwhelming burden of a piece of paper that I was clutching in my hand. My own words kept ringing in my ears: As long as the war lasts. The brashness of that statement was now hitting me with full force. I felt an enormous amount of strain and despair, which I could not share with anyone. It was such a stifling feeling. I knew I did not have the strength to carry on any more. I was on the brink of calling a second press conference to retract my words and admit defeat, when God sent some help."

A gentleman came up to congratulate Nanik as he stood there confronting his anxious thoughts. Warmly, he commended Nanik with what must have sounded like just another round of praise: "I have personally seen the hard work you and your volunteers are putting in. All of you deserve nothing but admiration for your courageous and selfless service."

The tribute had little power to quell Nanik's fears. But there was something about that man and the manner of his speaking that made Nanik want to confide in him: "This Canteen — I don't suppose it is destined to see the light of another day. We don't have the kind of finances needed to cater to another train full of troops anymore. See this list?" Nanik asked, as he opened up the sheet of paper that was in his hand, "We require Rs. 15,000 for these food items if the Canteen is to remain functional even for the next few days. And it was our resolve that it would run and serve the troops for the full duration of the war. How and from where can we get such money?"

The gentleman looked at the list and saw the genuineness and magnitude of the young man's predicament. Looking up in a manner that inspired hope, he said: "Don't worry! What you fear will not happen! The Canteen shall continue as long as our troops are in battle."

Nanik met his words with silence. Was this just another reckless assertion unaccompanied by the power to deliver, or did the man really command the authority and wealth to make it happen?

"Do you know who I am?" the man asked, as if he had read Nanik's mind. More silence — the two had never met before.

"I am Devji Ratanshi, President of the Grain Merchants' Federation. This fine work that you are doing — we should have done it as our responsibility towards our jawans. As President of the Federation, it is my duty to ensure that food is properly distributed all over the country. As I said, this Canteen will continue to run. You can count on me."

Taking the list, the gentleman proceeded to go his way. That evening, two trucks arrived at the doors of the Canteen's storeroom at Dadar. They were full of food items like grains, tea, biscuits and flour. Devji Ratanshi had sent them. There was no lack of funds thereafter. Contributors queued up to help Nanik. Medicines, food, blankets and voluntary help kept rolling in; so much so that some donors had to be turned away! "I then realized that for a good cause, there is no dearth of funds in God's Bank. It's an unlimited account!" This has since then become one of Nanik's favourite mottos. The seeds of faith and determination had been sown — Nanik would later go on to form a social organization of his own: Priyadarshni Academy.

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