Dhandha: How Guajaratis Do Business

Dhandha, meaning business, is a term often used in common trade parlance in India. But there is no other community that fully embodies what the term stands for than the Gujarat is.

Shaba Bonder’s Dhandha is the story of a few Gujarat is: Jaydev Patel-the New York Life Insurance agent credited with having sold policies worth $2.5 billion so far; Bhimjibhai Patel-one of the country's biggest diamond merchants and co-founder of the ambitious 'Diamond Nagar' in Surat; Dalpatbhai Patel-the motelier who went on to become the mayor of Mansfield County; Mohanbhai Patel-a former Sheriff of Mumbai and the leading manufacturer of aluminum collapsible tubes; and Hersha and Hasu Shah-owners of over a hundred hotels in the US. Travelling across continents-from Mumbai to the United States-in search of their story and the common values that bond them, Dhandha showcases the powerful ambition, incredible capacity for hard work, and the inherent business sense of the Gujarat is.

Shobha Bonder is a celebrated and much published Marathi writer. She has been writing for the last 25 Years and has published13 books many of them bestsellers that have gone into over 25 editions.

The non Marathi reading word is now keen to read her work and her book are being translated into English Hindi and Gujarati. She has written articles, short stories and columns for prestigious publications like the Maharashtra Times Lokprabha Maher Kirloskar etc. She has also written dialogues for many poplar Marathi T.V series like Abhalmaya Manasi Oon Pause and Ardhangini.

In the last few years personality profiles of from various walks of life has become Shobha’s forte for this she interacts closely with her subjects understanding them in their social familial emotional and economic settings. She has won many literary awards for her work including the Maharashtra State Awords for Best Novel in 1997, for Saata Samudrapar.

It is nice to receive an appreciable effort by shobha Bonder in the translated version of the book named Dhandha. The success stories are narrated nicely glorifying Gujarati culture and courage. Their ways to tackle tough situations with tenderness and to enter the word of entrepreneurship are unique but diverse. The traits, tricks and tolerance for success are the inherent business sense of Guajarati’s with hard work and habit to toll till the road to success and path for progress is caved out.

The reasons for the roaring success of the Guajarati is their sharp intellect tremendous will power and incredible capacity for hard work Success has instilled in them the sound values and high sense of responsibility for society, Caring attitude and humane approach elects in their Professional dealing and dedication to service. Once the challenge is taken, there is no looking back self confidence .Once the challenge is taken there is no looking back self confidence is something to be treasured and lasts for a lifetime.

The characters depicted in the book possess the grace glory, and guts as expected of Gujarati cloture. The honesty and hopes the respect of relationship and fairness in dealings are directing forces for each one’s success. The lively language and warm words picked up to portrait the personalities will touch every heart.

I compliment Random House India for a worthy publication as well as the Marathi Granthalaya Association for awarding the best book Award to the original version.

I hope Dhandha will inspire all to explore and expand the instinct to go ahead in life, ahead the Gujarati way of branding an bonding.

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As one travels across the length and breadth of Gujarat one comes to know how kings had built their massive empires from humble beginning. Today It’s the Gujarati businessmen who have repeated history by building business empires.

Business acumen is something that Guajarati’s seem to inherit rather then acquire. Did you Know that it was Ranchodlal Chotalal,a Gujarati, who brought the textile industry to India? Or that it was Gujarat’s Gondal Maharaja who Collaborated with the British for laying down railway track for trains? There examples tell us how business flows in the veins of Gujarati Community.

In this book Shobha Throws light on some of the stellar performers in the Gujarati business community. Man who didn’t just create wealth for themselves but the nation as well. Men who didn’t just earn money but respect too.

Let’s hope this book serves as a source of pride and inspiration for people all over the world