STARTING OUT
At this age in life it's hard to look back when memories stretch beyond the remembrance of the mind. It was about 50 years ago when I arrived with my family from Karachi at the age of 10. We were traders, my father was quick in the art of buying and selling and what he learned locally was applied internationally by starting an import-export business.
He would deal in spices, basically agricultural produce and me and my brothers would go to school. I hated studies, couldn't care less about its untold promise, entered for Arts at Wilson College and unable to concentrate was penalised with poor quality grades. Dad saw this, more so my disinterest, and suggested I join the family business. I needed no second call and in '51 joined Madhavji Vishram and Co, started by my father along with his brothers.
We were content, staying in a small Rs 100 per month rented home at Masjid Bunder. It was a humdrum affair for each of us and I learnt to settle down without busting a gut.
TURNING POINT
Till in '55 when I tied the knot. My in-laws invited me to start a tea company called Glenmorgan Tea Estate Pvt Ltd and for the next 15 years I spent my life in the cool climes of the Nilgiris. This 70:30 partnership in their favour called for a total investment of Rs 19 lakh. I removed my savings, got Dad to back me up and throughout my tenure as a managing partner I worked hard to produce the finest green tea even receiving an award for exporting to the Japanese.
But that was not my cup of tea, my children were growing, they needed to settle down and so I decided to return to Bombay. Things had changed while I was away. My father split from his brothers, for a brief period stayed at a rented house at Bhuleshwar, increased his turnover to Rs 15 crore and then rented a 4,000 sq ft flat in Ratnakar Park at Breach Candy for Rs 550 per month. From dingy confines to spacious outlines, the transformation was exhilarating, to say the least. The 16-member joint family could move about freely, no bumping, no having to say sorry.
With my Dad's help, and along with my brothers I started Tanna Exporters Pvt Ltd in '76. At this point my eldest brother went his way and the company had three brothers, including myself, as partners. Our first year turnover hovered at Rs 15 crore, last year it touched Rs 60 crore. We split the profits, ploughing the rest of the money back into the kitty till in '83 when we acquired Bhor Industries Ltd from the Thackerseys for Rs 4 crore.
BRANCHING OUT
We streamlined the company into four cohesive manufacturing units, one each at Borivli, Baroda, Bhor and Satara. Bhor took its name from the village near Pune where the company's first factory was and is situated. The Satara plant will be commissioned next year in April with an investment of Rs 10 crore. Last year Bhor achieved a turnover of Rs 120 crore.
With a million under my belt in '76, there was nothing to stop me. In a collective effort decisions take long to be implemented. I was in a hurry so I decided to start on my own. I formed Tanna Agro Impex Pvt Ltd selling agricultural goods to clients in India and overseas. Basmati and non-basmati rice, tea, coffee, peanuts and cardamom. There is a line on the office wall which goes,