While most veterans join or set up private security companies, this veteran is succeeding at entrepreneurship the Army way. Adhering to the motto that the Indian Army is not just an army but a way of life, 61-year-old Major Sanjay Shinde (retd), who took early retirement from the Indian Army, has set himself as a model entrepreneur by using his Army training to manufacture FMCG products in Kolhapur.
After graduating from the Sainik School, Satara, Maj. Shinde enrolled at the National Defence Academy (NDA) where he was adjudged the ‘Best in Specialist Army Training’ in his year and awarded the prestigious UP Cup in 1982. After being commissioned into the Army in 1983, his skills and talents earned him awards such as ‘Best Young Officer’, ‘Best Weapons Course’ and ‘Best Command Staff’. He was also selected to be part of the Indian Peacekeeping Forces in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan in 1987-88 and was awarded two medals for his outstanding service.
However, after serving the country for 12 years, Major Shinde took early retirement from the army due to financial problems and decided to embark on the path of entrepreneurship. He started a candle manufacturing unit in Kolhapur and began earning money from small scale industry. He wanted to work with the Army canteen department but was denied the opportunity due to easy availability of candles and having a bank guarantee, so he came up with a unique spring to hide creases in shoes.
“In the Army, we take shoes very seriously and due to excessive activity, shoes get wrinkled very quickly. We used to stuff socks or newspapers inside our shoes to hide the wrinkles. So, this spring was an instant hit. The officers also realised that this was an important material not only for the soldiers but also for themselves and the advisory board accepted my product,” Maj. Shinde told the Free Press Journal.
This was just the beginning of this serviceman’s entrepreneurial journey. He expanded his manufacturing range to incense sticks, fertilisers, hand washes, sanitisers, brooms etc. but what helped him in his journey was his army training which he applied in business too. His punctuality, mental strength and communication skills from his army days proved to be a turning point in boosting his business.
While monthly durbars held in Army regiments help in building a bond between soldiers and officers, Major Shinde also holds monthly durbars to know about the problems his men are facing. “Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw held a durbar to know about the problems Pakistani prisoners are facing in prisons. They are my family. I am just following the methods I learnt in the army as this cannot be taught in any management course,” he said.
