Meet 23-year-old Hitarth Dholakia, son of a Gujarati diamond merchant and a member of a family that owns a Rs 6000 crore company based in Surat. This company has a presence in 71 countries. But only a month ago, he was not the person he has come to be known now, but merely a ragpicker struggling to eke out a living on the streets of Hyderabad.
Completing his Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from a reputed university of New York (USA), Hitarth Dholakia had returned home in Mumbai in mid-June.
His plans of spending quality time with his family were dashed to the ground and Hitarth was left dumbstruck on being told by his kin that he should learn to fend for himself instead of living off his family's privileges.
It was a real challenge for the young man as he was never used too for this kind of life. however he been away from family for educational purpose for almost three years but he had no money or luxury crunch there in USA.
While he was he along with family was on his way to airport Hitesh was not at all aware about his next day life. at airport only he got to know that he is going to Hyderabad where he has to earn his life for next one month.
"I was not aware about where this city is..which part of the country it falls.. what is the language and culture there.. I was afraid but confident. with 500 Rs in my pocket no mobile phone or other luxury I reached Hyderabad and started my new life."
As part of the challenge Hitesh had to earn his livelihood in Hyderabad for next 30 days. he had to find new work in each week apart from arranging his fooding-lodging and other daily needs. he even can't use his family name or anything related to his original identity including his educational qualifications.
"I am an US educated youth with a Private pilot license and certificate holder of GIA Diamond Grading but nothing was helpful for me in Hyderabad.. from next moment onward I started searching jobs as I had meager money. Fortunately I got a stay in a lodge of Secunderbad by paying RS 100. I was shearing room with 17 people there. now3 my task to find out job. after 3 day of struggle I got a job in a multinational food joint which had a Rs 4000 salary. as a part of challenge I worked there for 5 days and left the job. "
It was his second week in Hyderabad and Hitarth. younger in his 8 brothers and 7 sisters had to find a new job. he says he was " Lucky enough " that he soon found a marketing job in a white board manufacturing unit. He again worked for 5 days and earned Rs 1500 as wedge. Hitarth journey continued and in four week he changed four jobs and earned Rs 5000 till the completion of his challenge.
Speaking to India Today Hitarth younger sister Krupali said "I was shocked when we came to Hyderabad and visited the places where my brother lived and worked. it was a really tough job and hard to believe situation for us, but I am proud of him and my family which is keeping such tradition to keep us grounded and respect human as well as money."
Dholakia Family is following this tradition of sending their kids for such "Exile" from years and 31 year old Pintu Tulis Bhai Dholakia was first in the family who experienced the "real life" now Pintu is CEO, of Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd. In the same fashion last year family had sent its 21 year old MBA son to Kochi of Kerala to learn the life .
The Surat-based billionaire diamond merchant Savji Dholakia and his 32 member family run business group is known for its employee family atmosphere. last year in Diwali the company had gifted 400 flats and 1260 cars to about 1716 best performers employees as bonus in 2015 the company had gifted 491 cars and 200 flats to the employees. Similarly, in 2014, the company gifted 491 cars, funds for 207 flats and jewellery to its 1200 employees.
