Herald: What made you get into business?
Sairaj Dhond: I am a trained criminal lawyer. This was because my uncle was a famous criminal lawyer and I wanted to be like him. However a year after practicing, I realised it was not for me. It was too black and white and the reality was something very different and I realised I needed to do something else to keep myself interested. My father has a hotel which was running smoothly and I could have joined him and just sat behind the table, but I wanted to do something on my own and that is when I set up my own company Sunrich Solars along with a partner. I later ventured into the lighting business as the authorised distributor for Samson Lighting.
Herald: How did you feel getting into business?
SD: Getting into solar is very good business. It makes sense but the awareness levels in Goa are pathetic. The government does nothing and yes you have to also understand that in Goa one gets the sun possibly 9 months in a year. A time came when the offer to get into lighting came and I had to choose. Lighting is something that is necessary; it is a necessity, whereas solar is a rich man’s indulgence though it makes a lot of economic sense. We are not into retail lighting but into projects. I would like to say that I am not a light designer but I have a few ideas. We promote LED because it is aesthetically better looking and consumes less power. I usually set up a business, make it sustainable and then move on after ensuring that the right people are in place.
Herald: What would you like to do in the future?
SD: I am quite enthused by the PM’s call to ‘Make in India’. I think it is great and we need to encourage manufacturing. As someone who went through several business proposals and rejected them I was very sure that I wanted to get into manufacturing despite the feedback I received from those in manufacturing in the state. Sometime in the near future I will start something in manufacturing. Another project I am very enthused about is heritage home restoration. I want to do it creatively so that it is good branding for the state. I don’t want to do this with anyone and everyone but with specific properties. I recently spent Rs 2 crore on a property which has to be restored. This market is very niche and we will be targeting people who have the taste and yes the money.
Herald: What are the hurdles you face?
SD: there is a great deal of discouragement when one tries to do business. The crab mentality that permeates this state is a problem. If one wants to expand the business then where can one do it? Getting land and electricity is a problem. These are issues that we need to handle.
Herald: What about the future?
SD: Despite what I said there is tremendous potential. The Marwadis and the Gujarati’s are doing business here and doing very well. The next generation of Goans are watching this and realising that the old ways will no longer work and they are certainly proving their mettle. I have been watching the growth of E commerce with great interest and I am looking around. I would like to do something in that space and I am looking at a few options. Apart from that in ten years time hopefully I would have set up more companies and hope to have the right people in the right place to handle the responsibilities.
