What do you think?
Rate this book
Havells: The Untold Story of Qimat Rai Gupta
The story of a man who began his journey with Rs 10,000 and built a Rs 17,000-crore empire
From beginning his career as a small trader in Delhi to building Havells, one of India’s largest electrical goods company, Qimat Rai Gupta’s story makes for an inspiring read. Told rivetingly by his son, Anil Rai Gupta, this is the account of how QRG, as he was fondly known, braved poverty, ill health, competition, corruption and bureaucracy to turn his dreams into reality.
Havells faced stiff competition from companies that couldn’t tolerate a modest trader challenging them. Despite legal battles, family feuds and severe shortage of funds, QRG never gave up.
During his last years, Havells acquired German giant Sylvania which was twice its size. When Sylvania’s losses pushed Havells to the brink, QRG fearlessly decided to keep the company nonetheless. It was under his tutelage that Anil Rai Gupta, present chairman of Havells, turned Sylvania around.
QRG’s life is proof of the adage ‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve’.
From beginning his career as a small trader in Delhi to building Havells, one of India’s largest electrical goods company, Qimat Rai Gupta’s story makes for an inspiring read. Told rivetingly by his son, Anil Rai Gupta, this is the account of how QRG, as he was fondly known, braved poverty, ill health, competition, corruption and bureaucracy to turn his dreams into reality.
Havells faced stiff competition from companies that couldn’t tolerate a modest trader challenging them. Despite legal battles, family feuds and severe shortage of funds, QRG never gave up.
During his last years, Havells acquired German giant Sylvania which was twice its size. When Sylvania’s losses pushed Havells to the brink, QRG fearlessly decided to keep the company nonetheless. It was under his tutelage that Anil Rai Gupta, present chairman of Havells, turned Sylvania around.
QRG’s life is proof of the adage ‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve’.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2016
46 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 16, 2021
Very good read. It’s inspiring to know journey of a entrepreneur and at the same time India’s growth story in last 50 odd years.
August 12, 2018
A true fan boy account and offers nothing to the readers other than a son promoting his father to be a legend. Qrg could a great business persona but the book is pushing the limits.
October 21, 2020
Written with beautiful simplicity, and an unassuming demeanour. Definite addition to the burgeoning list of engaging Indian biographies.
May 8, 2020
Very well captured the while story of QRG and the lessons to be learnt from his magnificent life. Thanks ARG for taking efforts to pen down the story in words and sharing the background of different instances shared in the book that helped reader to get the connection of the things. Book was thought provoking and helpful in a way to get into the mindset of QRG to feel what he would be feeling while taking some hard calls.
July 31, 2022
The story inspires me to start my own business sooner rather than later.
Please do give it a read if you wish to build a business.
Please do give it a read if you wish to build a business.
July 22, 2017
Very good book..the way QRG has invested his heart and soul into building this global brand is commendable. Very good narrative by QRG's son..Read it know about Havells and it's journey to build a consumer electrical brand..
March 24, 2021
Indeed a very good read. If you have the vision, the hunger, faith in your judgements and most importantly never give up attitude, you can achieve anything.
QRG's (QIMAT RAI GUPTA) story is nothing less than the above.
Many reviewers have mentioned about how a son has praised his father nonstop in this book. But what QRG achieved in his life especially his critical thinking changed the whole course of the company to a different level altogether. Had i been his son, even i would have bragged about it nonstop.
There are a few instances in this book where it is clearly shown how QRG didn't bother about money (be it in millions) if it gave/could give good returns in the long run but the author has also shown instances where he would call his uncle O P GUPTA at 5.45 am every morning since STD calls before 6 am costed only 25 paise against a higher cost after 6 am.
The reason why i gave 4 stars....is because the book covers only havells growth story but has not covered any CSR activities or charity activities done by the company.
This makes me feel as if the company was just interested in its growth and bottom line and brand.
But overall a must read. Impossible is nothing is the motto.
Finished the book in 3 sessions.
QRG's (QIMAT RAI GUPTA) story is nothing less than the above.
Many reviewers have mentioned about how a son has praised his father nonstop in this book. But what QRG achieved in his life especially his critical thinking changed the whole course of the company to a different level altogether. Had i been his son, even i would have bragged about it nonstop.
There are a few instances in this book where it is clearly shown how QRG didn't bother about money (be it in millions) if it gave/could give good returns in the long run but the author has also shown instances where he would call his uncle O P GUPTA at 5.45 am every morning since STD calls before 6 am costed only 25 paise against a higher cost after 6 am.
The reason why i gave 4 stars....is because the book covers only havells growth story but has not covered any CSR activities or charity activities done by the company.
This makes me feel as if the company was just interested in its growth and bottom line and brand.
But overall a must read. Impossible is nothing is the motto.
Finished the book in 3 sessions.
November 25, 2018
A son's ode to his father, the 281-page book offers an insight into the 77-year life of a first generation entrepreneur Qimat Rai Gupta(better known as QRG) and the making of a brand called HAVELLS from scratch to one of the top 5 electrical companies in the world.
QRG was undoubtedly the pioneer of brand building and made HAVELLS synonymous with its superior product quality and extensive dealer network and personal relationships.
One thing is clear. Luck favours the brave. The story of QRG is that of sheer conviction, risk-taking and charting unconventional paths, defying logic and following one's own instincts and most importantly, making huge sacrifices along the way, believing it will all reap dividends in the end.
A must-read for future entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts. If you do understand the financial terms used, the book will be an even rewarding experience.
Thank you Mr Anil Rai Gupta.
QRG was undoubtedly the pioneer of brand building and made HAVELLS synonymous with its superior product quality and extensive dealer network and personal relationships.
One thing is clear. Luck favours the brave. The story of QRG is that of sheer conviction, risk-taking and charting unconventional paths, defying logic and following one's own instincts and most importantly, making huge sacrifices along the way, believing it will all reap dividends in the end.
A must-read for future entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts. If you do understand the financial terms used, the book will be an even rewarding experience.
Thank you Mr Anil Rai Gupta.
May 4, 2019
This is the biographical story of Qimat Rai Gupta (QRG) who started from humble origins and grew Havells to a several thousand crore group. It is written by his son Anil Rai Gupta and sounds most of the time like a fanboy account. In some respects he was ahead of his time when it came to branding and market segmentation. He also was an innate risk taker. The only notable takeaway from the book was his conflict management within his family and how he handled the dealer network to grow his business. Also the dynamics between the first generation self-made entrepreneur (QRG) and his professional sons (Ajesh and Anil) is written about well.
September 27, 2020
Since my childhood, I have been fascinated by HAVELLS due to its appeal as a foreign brand. For the first time, I was surprised to know that it is a complete Indian Brand, which made me more proud.
Further book has been written in a very lucid, chronological and engaging manner relating with contemporary Historical Facts, this shows that author is well read person too.
The book is very inspiring and motivating however at some chapters it becomes more the history of Havells than Qimat Rai Gupta (QRG). But being an Accountant, I enjoyed that part too.
I recommend it for MBA programme, Commercial Enterprises, and readers searching for a inspiring biography.
Further book has been written in a very lucid, chronological and engaging manner relating with contemporary Historical Facts, this shows that author is well read person too.
The book is very inspiring and motivating however at some chapters it becomes more the history of Havells than Qimat Rai Gupta (QRG). But being an Accountant, I enjoyed that part too.
I recommend it for MBA programme, Commercial Enterprises, and readers searching for a inspiring biography.
February 23, 2023
It is a beautiful story narrated by a son about his father's journey from a small kerosene seller on a bicycle in a small village in Punjab to the founder of an Rs. 8000 Crore business, valued at the time of his death in 2014.
Despite suffering from many health ailments, his passion for the business was infectious. He knew how to strategically hire talents of professionals from the industry to run his enterprise well and used to trust them as well.
This journey of an entrepreneur with almost no formal education but a strong will to learn, and hence, transforms his fate, the fate of his family, and the fate of the nation by bringing up a multinational corporation.
This capsule is full of motivation, vigor, and the will to prove your mettle in life! A must-read if looking for inspiration from the Indian business world...
Despite suffering from many health ailments, his passion for the business was infectious. He knew how to strategically hire talents of professionals from the industry to run his enterprise well and used to trust them as well.
This journey of an entrepreneur with almost no formal education but a strong will to learn, and hence, transforms his fate, the fate of his family, and the fate of the nation by bringing up a multinational corporation.
This capsule is full of motivation, vigor, and the will to prove your mettle in life! A must-read if looking for inspiration from the Indian business world...
July 3, 2018
Amazing time reading this. The story was always something i wanted to know about and Anil Gupta had done a great job in capturing it. For a bhagirath palace trader to build a global company of this scale is not just guts and perseverance, it is also hard calls, tough times and relentless passion.
Its nice to also see the negativity that historically surrounded the marwari businessmen and their ways of doing business.
A good read if you want read about a brand built right in front of you. This company will continue to do wonders.
Its nice to also see the negativity that historically surrounded the marwari businessmen and their ways of doing business.
A good read if you want read about a brand built right in front of you. This company will continue to do wonders.
August 21, 2018
Inspiring story
Very fast and engrossing read. I could finish it is just two sittings.
Anil Rai Gupta has done a great job narrating the story of Havells. Typically a biography many a times fails to inspire to a degree as compared to an autobiography. But in this case, written by QRGs son, who also worked closely with him at the helm for more than 20 years, brings out all the richness and depth the story deserves.
As an aside, Anil Rai comes across as a great author - the writing style, vocabulary etc. Hope he writes more books!!
Very fast and engrossing read. I could finish it is just two sittings.
Anil Rai Gupta has done a great job narrating the story of Havells. Typically a biography many a times fails to inspire to a degree as compared to an autobiography. But in this case, written by QRGs son, who also worked closely with him at the helm for more than 20 years, brings out all the richness and depth the story deserves.
As an aside, Anil Rai comes across as a great author - the writing style, vocabulary etc. Hope he writes more books!!
January 28, 2020
Simple writing and a good balance of the truth and a little embellishment in narrating a 50 year+ story.
Notes:
- On family separations
- On health of QRG
- On an odd sort of business to make a success of
- The family's evolution in understanding the nuances of a successful business
- On an acquisitive/ bold strategy in figuring out new markets
- Riding the India success story
- On branding
- On the Sylvania debacle
I would have liked some deeper truths, but all in all - quite an honest book on a great business success story
Notes:
- On family separations
- On health of QRG
- On an odd sort of business to make a success of
- The family's evolution in understanding the nuances of a successful business
- On an acquisitive/ bold strategy in figuring out new markets
- Riding the India success story
- On branding
- On the Sylvania debacle
I would have liked some deeper truths, but all in all - quite an honest book on a great business success story
March 30, 2022
Good easy read. The book is a fitting tribute to Qimat Rai Gupta or QRG as he is addressed in the book.
The chapters covering the Sylvania acquisition and turnaround were the most engaging.
It is an inspirational story which pushes one to think outside their comfort bubble.
Shutting down a profitable business unit, overseeing three amicable family splits, acquiring a global company with different culture and turning it around made QRG an icon.
It is wonderful to know such maverick businessman who built this big empire without much fanfare and show off.
The chapters covering the Sylvania acquisition and turnaround were the most engaging.
It is an inspirational story which pushes one to think outside their comfort bubble.
Shutting down a profitable business unit, overseeing three amicable family splits, acquiring a global company with different culture and turning it around made QRG an icon.
It is wonderful to know such maverick businessman who built this big empire without much fanfare and show off.
May 10, 2022
Elegant narrative
Liked the simplicity of the writing. A good read for those trying get a peek into the world of business houses, what they are faced with and how various hurdles are overcome and how failures are dealt with.
The rating is primarily for the simplicity of the writing, the timelines and global businesses and related people covered that helped to put things in perspective as one read along.
Some of the chapters had repetitions that could have been avoided, if not intentional and not needed as mandatory for completeness.
Liked the simplicity of the writing. A good read for those trying get a peek into the world of business houses, what they are faced with and how various hurdles are overcome and how failures are dealt with.
The rating is primarily for the simplicity of the writing, the timelines and global businesses and related people covered that helped to put things in perspective as one read along.
Some of the chapters had repetitions that could have been avoided, if not intentional and not needed as mandatory for completeness.
Want to read
April 21, 2018How the dealer network in India works
How Qimat Rai had to partition his business thrice-once with his uncle, then with his own brother and then finally and shockingly with his own son
How family businesses are run and the ‘Aurangzeb Syndrome’
Why fathers and sons distrust each other if running the same business
How Mumbai distrusts every person and every company from Delhi
How cash flow management can be optimized
Lots and lots of pithy advice/insights & anecdotes
How Qimat Rai had to partition his business thrice-once with his uncle, then with his own brother and then finally and shockingly with his own son
How family businesses are run and the ‘Aurangzeb Syndrome’
Why fathers and sons distrust each other if running the same business
How Mumbai distrusts every person and every company from Delhi
How cash flow management can be optimized
Lots and lots of pithy advice/insights & anecdotes
July 2, 2020
A simply written effective book of the rise of Havells and its founder, QRG. I was looking to read a book on old Indian family businesses, and this was a perfect fit. Its a surprisingly honest peek into QRG's life, how the business divided the family and more. Messy acquisitions, bitter fights - everything's laid bare. But still, it is a son's account of his father's journey, so there is still some fanboying, which is acceptable.
May 27, 2018
A well chronicled account of a remarkable promoter and how we set about creating an iconic brand. Family values, foresight, long range thinking, courage and passion are what the author conveys about his promoter father (QRG). A good book to read about how old world entrepreneurs came about and their struggles and victories to create institutions that will last.
August 26, 2021
A riveting story of a man with great ambitions whose years of hard work yields extraordinary results. Having said that, I found the recurring praise a little irksome. I mean he was a human after all and all humans have positive and negative aspects. The book portrays that QRG was an all-knowing man who always did the right thing, which is somewhat unbelievable.
January 15, 2022
Journey of Mr. QRG who started as a small trader and built such a big empire as Havells. It showcases various decisions that he made for family & for the company at various phases of life. Lot of business concepts at play!
Overall a must read for any Indian interested to know on how companies grow & how business decisions are taken.
Overall a must read for any Indian interested to know on how companies grow & how business decisions are taken.
February 6, 2023
The story starts from QRGs early days of selling kerosene and explains multiple chapters of his life, such as starting Guptaji & company, entering into bigger contracts, and then getting into manufacturing.
The book details the contrarian bent of QRG's behavior and long-term thinking - how it helped Havells get into different businesses, such as wires & cables, and higher ticket-size fans.
The book details the contrarian bent of QRG's behavior and long-term thinking - how it helped Havells get into different businesses, such as wires & cables, and higher ticket-size fans.
February 12, 2021
Excellent narration , Inspiring for all dreamers
I strongly recommend this book to all youngsters who dream of achieving something big in life. Anil has put the story of QRG struggle , thinking big ideology so beautifully , full marks to him.
I strongly recommend this book to all youngsters who dream of achieving something big in life. Anil has put the story of QRG struggle , thinking big ideology so beautifully , full marks to him.
June 4, 2017
A decent read on the Havells' story with useful insights. Misses out on reasons for some of the critical decisions made by QRG which made Havells what it is today.
May 15, 2018
Very nice ..inspiring
Amazing Path taken by HAVELLS to reach the stage it is today ..excellent read.Few or management lessons are not taught in any books are taught by QRG.
Amazing Path taken by HAVELLS to reach the stage it is today ..excellent read.Few or management lessons are not taught in any books are taught by QRG.
May 17, 2018
Life of a person who started from scratch and built a brand.Inspiring and simple management lessons from a simple and yet a strong personlaity
August 17, 2019
Gives a good insight on the journey of an entrepreneur QRG.. the trials and tribulations of life & business and sheer grit required to overcome them.
March 31, 2020
An interesting and inspiring account of a rags to riches story of a small town boy who single handed created a 5000 crore empire and a huge brand in electrical appliances industry
June 25, 2020
Great Book,
Learned about the life of QRG, how he built brand Havells and his dynamic moves, moved by the family story.
Learned about the life of QRG, how he built brand Havells and his dynamic moves, moved by the family story.
July 17, 2020
We need more books on Indian real life stories.. in all fields. So much more relatable.
Great read.
Great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews