The man behind the machines

MEET THE ENTREPRENEUR/SALIM ZARIWALA

From a boy who stopped going to school to help his family to one of the most successful powerloom and twisting machine dealer in the textile city of Surat - Salimbhai Zariwala's was a long journey marked by unflinched determination and business acumen.

The 35-year-old entrepreneur, popularly known as 'Salim Machinetex' after the company he owns, is one of the top players in the growing second-hand powerloom and twisting machine market in the city.

He stopped his studies in the eighth standard at the Anglo Urdu School to help his big family in their traditional 'zardoshi' (an embroidery) work.

But the overnight closure of Silk Palace, the firm that assigned the work to the family, Salimbhai started working as a supervisor in a powerloom unit and also doubled as a 'patharnawala' (garments hawker) during his weekly off. One of his uncles advised him to trading in a kind of machine used in the powerlooms of Surat.

"I used to visit various powerloom units in Surat and started this trade," Salimbhai said.

In the meanwhile, he also completed his ITI course in electric motor rewinding.

In 1991, the well-known Wintex Mill of the Dhamanwala family closed down. This almost proved to be the turning point in his life. Salimbhai purchased the entire second-hand machinery of the mill.

In 1994, the Gujarat State Finance Corporation (GSFC) started cracking down on defaulting weavers and acquiring the properties for auctioning.

"We purchased a lot of second-hand looms which were in great demand not only in Surat but in Varanasi, Mumbai, Bhiwandi and some textile pockets of the south," he said.

The daily turnover in the second-hand powerloom market of Surat is estimated to be Rs five lakh.

A leading Varanasi-based trader sounded Zariwala about his major interest in Icol and Honest brand looms which were in great demand in Varanasi.

"This was again a major turning point in consolidation of my business," Salimbhai said.

"Honour your word. That is my principle," Salimbhai said at his office in the Salabatpura area.

He is also on the managing committee of several institutions including the Anglo Urdu School.