Mark of a Man anik is a man at peace with himself. It is tempting to conclude that this tranquility stems from the material wealth and status that he has acquired. But such a conclusion does not stand the test when one considers the lives of several successful icons who have acquired name and fame, at the cost of their personal peace and well-being. From that pers-pective, it can be asked: What has enabled Nanik to "have his cake and eat it too?" Some exceptional achievers may operate with two different sets of principles — one for use in their professional lives, another reserved for their personal affairs. But this has never been the case with Nanik. There is no conflict between his busi-ness side and personal side. There is simply no divide, no clash of interests, attitudes, beha-viour or principles between his public and private persona. He feels: "It is one thing to become a successful businessman, but quite another to be a successful human being. I realized this vital fact from the beginning, thanks to the values imbibed in me by my wonderful parents. Even while I concentrated on my business activities, I gave equal attention to balancing them with my family life, as well as my social and spiritual pursuits."

From a shy youth to an  accomplished speaker

This chapter throws light on Nanik's personal qualities because many of his achievements are explained by his convictions, beliefs, practices and tastes, which have shaped his personality over the years.

Nanik is widely respected as a man with a rational outlook and a friendly disposition. However, there was a time when, as a youngster, Nanik tended to be brash and quick-tempered, always in a tearing hurry to do things or get things done. He would react impatiently against slowness or inefficiency. But with time, introspection and understanding, he transformed himself into an even-tempered, calm and composed man.

Now, he rarely loses his cool. When someone speaks, he listens patiently and then puts across his opinions in a very reasonable manner. He prefers to keep the windows of his mind open to new ideas, but also has the strength to stand his ground if the situation warrants. He counsels: "Never let pressure influence your decisions, and do not pressure others either. The mighty mango tree and the blade of grass in the same field — how did they both survive the tempest? Each one did so in its own unique way. The former refused to bow to the storm as there was great strength in its wood, but the blade of grass survived simply because it was flexible and could bend with the wind. Today, with powerful winds of change sweeping the world, one needs to stand firm so as not to be swept away, but at the same time be willing, flexible and adapt if circumstances demand it."

Nanik restates for emphasis a fact already illustrated in the foregoing chapters — to keep trying until one achieves his goal. Nanik has come to believe that there is no problem that does not have a solution. "If you avoid a problem, it will keep cropping up again and gain and there will be no end to it. Why not use the brain, which is a unique gift from our Creator! It far surpasses even a supercomputer. It is said that during a lifetime, a human being uses just a tiny percentage of his total intellectual capacity. So you must learn to harness the power of the mind and you are bound to figure out a solution."

Family Matters

Nanik and his wife Geeta function as a united team. Life has dealt them its share of pains and troubles, and they have faced these together, based on mutual support and respect. Nanik likes to share his ideas and plans with his wife. Yet there are times when he does not trouble her with his innermost thoughts because they unnecessarily add to her anxieties. "Many people use their spouses as sounding boards or shoulders to cry upon. Sharing certainly helps lighten the weight of a tragedy or a sorrowful situation, but doing so just for the sake of it and making one's partner unhappy or insecure is not a good quality. Over the years, the relationship between a husband and wife is that of perfect understanding that need not be conveyed through words alone," Nanik advises.

Nanik is equally caring of his two daughters, Neeta and Reena. He has always been a friend to them. While being a kind and involved father, he has never over-indulged his daughters. "I have always indicated the practical realities of life to my children — that problems will always crop up and solutions must be found according to the demands of the situation. That has equipped them to face anything in life."

Most parents, for the sake of discipline, try to force their own thoughts, attitudes and habits on their children. Nanik has always believed in building an atmosphere of total frankness and honesty in his relationship with his daughters. This, he feels, fosters not only mutual love and respect, but also forms their ethical and moral core.

His daughter Neeta says: "He is always there for us — with his reasoning, his guidance, his advice — but the one thing that really stands out is the fact that he has never ever enforced his will on us. The final decision is always ours. Even at a very young age — during our formative years — our decisions were always respected and when it came to vital family issues, our opinions really mattered. We were always made to feel important and useful."

Says Reena, Nanik's younger daughter: "God works through a chosen few, and Dad is definitely one of them. Dad has mentioned several times that he regretted not having pursued his studies. He therefore wanted to make sure that his kids got the best of education. But after having obtained an MBA from the US and working in corporate America for several years, from my own personal experience, I can confidently say that education is not all. A man's qualities are the most important. Man's success is not defined by his riches, but by the number of lives that are better off because of him. My dad is a wonderful example of that. The lives that he has touched and continues to touch through Priyadarshni Academy and his business operations are a great measure of his success."

Neeta adds: "My father gave me the biggest gift of all when he introduced me to my husband Sunil. He was convinced that he is the right guy for me and as always, he is abso-lutely right. He is a very good judge of people. If he has faith in someone, he will stand by him — no matter what — in times both good and bad. Today when I see him playing with my daughter Gehna, I re-live my entire childhood. I can see him teaching her the same values that he has instilled in me."

Gehna appears to be a chip of the old block and has already imbibed her grandfather's staunch values. Like her grand-father, Gehna is a strict vegetarian, even when the influence of friends and family has been otherwise. At this young age, she knows the benefit of exercise, particularly yoga, and practices it a little herself. She is a true nature lover and her tastes are as unassuming as her grandfather's.

Nanik marvels: "My granddaughter is seven years old and displays so much intelligence that I wonder how bright future generations are going to be. Our role is that of advisors and our duty is to give them proper guidance and education. The rest is left to them."

Due to paucity of time, Nanik is not always accessible and cannot interact frequently with extended family members due to business engagements or social activities. So Geeta has to maintain the larger family relationships, but he is always present whenever the occasion demands it. Till today, Geeta plays the role of a messenger between people and her husband, whenever they require his help.

Simple and Healthy Living

For a person who has so much wealth at his command, Nanik leads a simple life. He has learned to value the power of money because he understands how difficult it is to earn it. "Never disrespect Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, otherwise she will disappear," is his sage advice. Many people have asked Nanik how he performs the tough balancing act between work, family, social welfare activities and spiritual interests. Nanik's sense of stability and contentment comes from the fact that his needs are limited. He avoids expensive clothes, fancy restaurants and does not travel to foreign countries without reason.

Nanik's social calendar is usually full and he has to some-times attend two to three engagements in a single evening. But he always dines at home before attending any party, as he does not like to eat outside. He is a vegetarian and is perfectly content with the simple rice, lentils and curd that his wife prepares, along with some fruit. Being a teetotaler, there is no question of joining the drinking circuit. "Even when I was on my own in Ghana, my young colleagues and friends would ask me to join them for drinks, but somehow I found it quite a waste of time. I mean, is there any sense in getting drunk for fun?" His eyes gleam as he admits, "Ah, but I have a sweet tooth and indulge in desserts at all social get-togethers."

Nanik has always given health and fitness high priority in his life. He begins each day early, and goes for a brisk walk and a little jog in Priyadarshni Park, situated next to his residence at Napean Sea Road. He does so in the company of friends, which makes the exercise all the more refreshing and enjoyable. After his morning walk, he does pranayam  for 20 minutes, followed by yoga for half an hour. He has been accustomed to this health routine for decades now, and faithfully adheres to it even when he travels abroad. He makes sure he gets his exercise, even if it is on a treadmill in a hotel gymnasium.

He says: "I have heard of people who work so long and hard that they have no time even to sit down and enjoy a meal. What an unfortunate state of affairs! I fervently believe that good health is the greatest wealth that one can possess, which is especially true in the stressful and high paced times we live in. People say that they wish to slog while time and opportunity allow them to and they toil day in and day out. In doing so, they willfully ignore the physical needs of their body. The stress that they accu-mulate in their quest can cost them their health later on in life. And no amount of gold or fortune can bring back health, once lost. Even medical science, in spite of its best advances, cannot restore or replace the marvelous designs of the human body.

"So, you owe it to yourself to make time and maintain good health. After all, you can be an asset and do good to yourself, to your neighbours and your community only if you are able-bodied and healthy. Ill-health can be a burden, not only on you, but also on your family. And who enjoys carrying burdens? You have to keep all of this in mind even more so as your body ages."

Nanik also looks forward to visiting his bungalow at Khandala regularly on weekends. He takes refreshing walks and enjoys being one with nature in the green and tranquil surroundings. "Recently, my wife and I went to Amsterdam for a vacation. We had planned to stay there for 15 days, and even though Amsterdam was very pleasant, we returned home within a week!" he laughs. "Even when I am in Mumbai, the moment I go back home, it becomes a sort of vacation for me because our flat has a view of the sea from three sides. It is so relaxing to simply sit on a chair by the window and look out. At night, when the sounds of the city die down, one can hear the sweet music of the Arabian Sea!"

Speaking of music, he enjoys ghazals, classical music and film songs. However, he is no longer a film enthusiast. Geeta, on the other hand, enjoys movies, so Nanik encourages her to go and see films with friends or relatives. He loves to listen to the news, partly because he likes to keep abreast of world developments, and partly since he has friends in many countries across the world.

An avid traveler at one time, today he would rather let others in his team travel around the globe to look after business interests. He travels only when he has to attend important events. However, when it comes to his choice of good destinations, Nanik would still prefer to go to the United States rather than any other country. "It is beautiful, well planned and there is a lot of friendliness there. People are casual, they have a zest for life and they also work hard. The US is also economical since it offers a wide range of facilities at reasonable prices. It is as good for the budget traveler as for the one who is looking for five star luxuries. And somehow, I really enjoy my  morning walks when I am in America."

Finally, it is his ability to share that has provided him great inner satisfaction. "I would rather give to charity than indulge in vanities or spend on myself. I have never been extravagant just for the sake of getting noticed. The joy of extending support to someone who is in urgent need, is something that simply cannot be matched by money, palatial houses, or big fancy cars," he emphasizes. 

Formal Education — Prerequisite to Success?

There are some strong convictions in Nanik's heart when he speaks on the subject of education. Ever more so than before, the world places great importance on formal education. Holding a desirable degree opens up doors of opportunity, whereas the same doors are shut for those who do not hold them. Yet many of the latter are youngsters who are intelligent, talented and efficient in every way. So should such formal education, or the lack of it, be the determining mark of individual worth?

"It's a sorry picture!" Nanik laments. "In India today, we put too great an emphasis on degrees and diplomas. Some of India's most illustrious sons came from simple backgrounds and had little by way of university education. Names of such stalwarts that readily come to mind are the late Ghanshyam Das Birla and the late Dhirubhai Ambani — the stories of their lives are so illuminating and inspiring! Looking beyond the borders of our own country, we find shining examples like Bill Gates and Michael Dell. In spite of not having degrees or doctorates, look at the way each one of them has carved out colossal business empires that have benefited millions.

"Even those who showed little academic promise went on to prove themselves, in spite of being written off by others," Nanik continues with gusto. "Thomas Alva Edison, who patented over a thousand inventions including the light bulb, was told by his teachers that 'he would never make a success of anything.' James Watt whose invention of the steam engine started the Industrial Revolution was labeled 'dull and inept' by his teachers. Albert Einstein's performance in high school was quite disappointing.

"My decision to leave college education and go to West Africa for a job was highly displeasing to my family. My father did not appreciate or realize that I was driven by a desire to earn money and supplement the family income. Completing formal education was low on my list of priorities. Dropping out of college cast a long shadow of disfavour, both at home and on my career. During my interview with the Bhojsons, I was made to feel inadequate, even guilty. The interviewer behaved as if he was doing me a favour by giving me work in the company, that too at the lowest wage. I was constantly reminded that others who were graduates were always the preferred and better lot. Sometimes I felt that no matter how much I toiled, my chances would remain crippled.

"I grew frustrated that my good qualities and hard work were not recognized because I did not hold a degree. My leaving the Bhojsons and returning to India, though by my own choice, wasn't exactly a hero's homecoming either. Because I yearned to help my family financially, I soon immersed myself into our power loom business in Bhiwandi, as well as in my own ventures, many of which experienced turbulence. My family had written me off as a dreamer of the unachievable. They wondered aloud if I would ever be able to support myself, let alone support a family. It was disappointing to be constantly compared to others who had completed their college education, acquired degrees and were on the threshold of promising careers.

"It is not at all my intention to boast, but for the sake of countless young students who are under mounting pressure from their parents and teachers to excel academically, I must emphatically make this point: My classmates who were toppers, the sort I used to admire for their academic brilliance and achievements, the darlings of the teachers, the prize winners in elocution contests, the winners in school debates — where are they today? And I, the kind of student who would 'wake up' just a couple of months before the final exams and study with the sole intention of getting promoted to the next class —," Nanik pauses suddenly and gestures enquiringly, and the answer to his unuttered question is obvious. He has indeed outshone many of his contemporaries in several aspects of life.

Nanik resumes, emphasizing his point: "Parents and teachers should not pressure children to excel in exams, as if securing rank and percentage were the only criteria for excellence. Why compare one child to another? Or one student to another? Why run down or demean a child just because he may be different in some way? Instead, they should investigate the child's interests, his aptitude, and accordingly prod him to develop his talents. Each child is gifted, and if moulded properly, can excel in his own special way. That would be success. This is my message for the educational system in India: It needs reforming on the lines of our ancient gurukuls where teachers used to pay individual attention to each student, find out his strengths and accordingly encourage him to bloom. "

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