What sense does wealth make?

A piece of news surprised me while at the same time left me optimist thinking: at the end of the day, what sense does wealth make? Have I ever met a happy rich man? Or does wealth bring worries and unwelcome experiences?

The news was about a businessman from Surat, India, the capital of the diamond cutting and polishing industry. He came from northern Gujarat with basic education and started working at one of the local companies. In 1991 he founded his own business in the same sector. It mushroomed in size to become a 5,500-employee company that sells diamonds and jewellery worth over US$700M to 75 countries.

In 2012 he decided to gift 3 cars and jewellery to his employees to mark Diwali (the light festival that usually takes place in October). Traditionally, in India presents are exchanged during this time, generally a box of sweets or chocolate. 

Two years later he handed out 207 apartments and 491 cars. 

In October 2016, 400 apartments and 1260 cars were distributed, besides the jewels, as ever.

“Our aim is that each employee must have his own home and car in the next five years. So we have decided to gift cars, homes and jewellery to employees”, Savji Dholakia, owner of Hare Krishna Exports, told France-Press. He added that the “gifts seek to reward the outstanding service and dedication of employees over the last 5 years”.

Anyone can feel great empathy for Savji and think that a lot of wealth should be showered upon people like him. They know how to spend their money by helping others to enjoy a better life. Savji seems endowed with deep wisdom shaped by his own life and circumstances, especially the hardships he endured.

Having arrived almost uneducated, he found work and built his own business now providing employment to 5500. This is in itself a major achievement.

He is creating wealth and employment and is obviously paying his taxes.

  Savji gifted 3 cars and jewels in 2012; wasteful spending, an intellectually-prone miser might say. But he ‘touched’ the happiness of his recipients; and therefore increased spending on gifts and number of beneficiaries in the following years. He does not do so ill-faced as if it were an obligation. He does so willingly, giving away higher-value gifts every time.

“I don’t have words to describe the happiness we see in them, and the happiness we feel”. “If we keep our employees happy, God will keep us happy”, Savji told CNN, with conviction.

Self-made Savji will have thought that had he pursued further studies, he could perhaps reach higher and deliver more to society. That could be the reason for his generosity towards his employees enabling them to provide a decent life to their entire family and to send their kids to school.