COLVA: The path of entrepreneurship is often marked by challenges and hurdles, a fact that Dayanand Lotlikar of Colva knows all too well. His story is one of determination and the unwavering spirit to rebuild his ancestral business from the ground up, even after a devastating fire consumed his well-established candle making enterprise.
For over five decades, Dayanand Lotlikar’s family has been entrenched in the art of candle making in the Vanelim ward of Colva. Under the banner of ‘Radha Industries’, Lotlikar embarked on the journey of candle production, an art he learned from his mother who crafted candles by hand at home.
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Inheriting this ancestral trade from her, Lotlikar shifted the traditional manual approach to mechanised production as competition in the industry grew. However, a major setback struck in September 2018 when a fierce fire engulfed his candle making unit, gutting his machinery and materials, amounting to a loss of lakhs of rupees.
Amidst the challenges, Lotlikar and his family chose the path of rebirth for their business, undeterred by doubts and naysayers. With resilience as their guiding light, the family gradually resurrected the venture. Within a year of the tragedy, the business was reborn with one machine; now, it operates with four machines and two workers, churning out 35 to 40 tonnes of candles annually.
The candles, which were initially marketed in Maharashtra, have now expanded their reach to Karnataka. While government schemes exist to aid businesses, Lotlikar revealed the hurdles they face in obtaining necessary documents and certificates, prompting them to navigate the journey independently.
Lotlikar emphasizes the essence of hard work, self-improvement and meticulous financial management in business ownership. Furthermore, he asserts that relying solely on workers isn’t sufficient; adapting to technological advancements is pivotal in ensuring product quality and overall success.
“Without taking advantage of the State government schemes, we have set a goal to expand this business little by little with the money we have, by maintaining the good quality of goods and using new technology,” he quips.
