Meet Surat's richest man, Savji Dholakia, who is the founder and chairman of Hari Krishna Exports, a renowned diamond manufacturing company. Here's all you need to know about this business icon.
Surat is the business hub of Gujarat, and the man, who rules it is a 61-year-old businessman, Savji Dhanji Dholakia, commonly known as Savji Dhanji. The renowned businessman is the Founder and Chairman of one of the biggest diamond manufacturing and export companies in India, Hari Krishna Exports Private Limited. The company is headquartered in the famous 19-storeyed building, The Capital in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex.
Savji Dhanji established the company, Hari Krishna Exports back in 1992 along with his three brothers. Despite considerable competition in the diamond manufacturing sector, the way Hari Krishna Exports has emerged as one of the most successful companies is quite exceptional and noteworthy.
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Despite so much success and fame, Savji Dhanji Dholakia is a humble man, who prefers to live a low-key life. However, young entrepreneurs should know a series of things about him, which can surely inspire them both as an entrepreneur and as a person. From his strategic decision on the work front to laying a solid foundation for his son, Dravya Dholakia, in the hardest way possible, Savji Dhanji is indeed one of the rare crop of business people in India, who thrive on hard work and humility. So without further ado, let’s get inside the life of Savji Dhanji!
It was on April 12, 1962, when Savji Dhanji was born to a farmer’s family in Gujarat’s Dudhala, which falls in the Amreli district. Savji has three brothers, Tulsi, Himmat, and Ghanshyam. As per reports, their family's financial condition wasn't good. The entrepreneur had only studied till the 4th standard, as he dropped out of school at the age of 14.
The young teenager joined his paternal uncle, who was running a diamond business in Surat. Soon, he was joined by his brother, Himmat and Tulsi at their uncle’s company, where they all learned a lot of things about the diamond business. It was indeed a business school for all three of them, as they learned all the important aspects of business, diamond manufacturing and sales at their uncle’s diamond company.
It was in 1992 when Savji Dhanji and his three brothers, Ghanshyam Dholakia, Himmat Dholakia and Tulsi Dholakia joined hands and established their diamond manufacturing company, Hari Krishna Exports Private Limited in Surat. While the company’s diamond-cutting and polishing unit was opened in Surat, the export office was opened in Mumbai. By 2014, they’d already become a major name in the diamond manufacturing sector and had a team of 6500 employees.
Savji Dhanji is renowned for his visionary approach and a glimpse of what everyone saw back in 2005 when he launched a jewellery brand under his company, Hari Krishna Exports, by the name KISNA. As of now, it is the largest diamond jewellery brand in India, as it has over 6,250 outlets in different cities across India. From rings, earrings, bangles, nose pins, and bracelets to necklaces, pendants and much more, KISNA is almost everyone’s favourite jewellery brand.
On one side, the domestic business was growing at a remarkable pace, while on the other, a sudden rise in the diamond exports somewhere around 2003-2004 skyrocketed their profits and made Hari Krishna a major player in the diamond sector. As of now, Hari Krishna Exports is exporting diamonds to 79 different countries. Talking about their monthly manufacturing, they produce 40,000 carats of diamonds every month.
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People often say that Savji Dhanji is the best employer in the country. Well, the reason behind it is the gifts he gives to his employees on Diwali. The businessman is renowned for gifting expensive jewellery, cars, flats, and FDs to his employees as a Diwali bonus. It was in October 2018 when Savji Dhanji broke all the headlines after he gifted 600 cars to his deserving employees.
The Surat-based businessman is one of the most-loved businessmen in India. As per reports, the car costs from Rs. 4 to 4.5 lakhs. Also, in 2016, Savji Dhanji’s firm gave 400 flats and 1260 cars as a Diwali bonus. When the entrepreneur was once asked about his decision to give such expensive Diwali bonuses to his employees, Savji Dhanji stated that he knows that every person dreams of having a home and a car, and he was just helping them to achieve this target.
The famous businessman, Savji Dhanji is happily married to Gauriben Dholakia. The couple hardly makes public appearances as they prefer to keep their personal lives private. Savji and Gauriben are blessed with four kids, Mena, Nimisha, Dravya, and Kisna.
There’s a tradition in the Dholakia family which began 12 years ago when the entire family was having dinner at a hotel in London. The family inadvertently incurred a hefty bill, after which they decided to experience the hardships of life for one month to make themselves realise the importance of money. With time, it became a tradition, and when Savji Dhanji and his brothers were blessed with kids, they taught them the same lesson.
For instance, Savji Dhanji Dholakia sent his son, Dravya Dholakia and refrained the youngster from using his name. As a result, Dravya worked at a shoe shop, McDonald’s outlet and even at a call centre. There was a time when Dravya could not afford a meal worth Rs. 40. But soon, he embraced the hardships and learned the survival lessons that his father wanted him to learn. Savji Dhanji’s son, Dravya Dholakia, found a well-paid job in a hotel, where he worked in the bakery department. Currently, he is working with his father after learning the necessary aspects of money and struggle.
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According to multiple reports, Savji Dhanji’s net worth is estimated to be around the whopping sum of Rs. 12,000 crores. With years of hardships and consistency, Savji has managed to create this mammoth wealth. There’s no denying that he truly deserves it all, as his journey from being a farmer’s son to becoming Surat’s richest man is not an overnight success.
We are in love with how Savji Dhanji Dholakia and his entire family run their business and prepare their sons and grandsons for the same in the most unique and effective manner. What are your thoughts about them? Let us know.
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