Inception
June 1991
Story
Life is amusing in that it never turns out the way you want it to. Who would have thought that two well-educated individuals who had lived in the United States for a number of years would decide to abandon their comfortable lifestyle and return to India in order to start a soap manufacturing company?
This storey is about two people who gave up a magnificent lifestyle and returned to their hometown to take advantage of one of the most significant opportunities of the twenty-first century. Meet Ashutosh and Ritu Rastogi, the Rastogi family.
I [Ritu] was born in New Delhi but went to the United States when I was four years old. I graduated with honours from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Ashutosh was born in Lucknow, India, and then travelled to Canada and the United States to complete his education.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur awarded him his B.Tech degree, followed by a Master's degree from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary. After several years of living and working in the United States, we both had a strong desire to return to our homeland.
We were both aware that we wanted to return to India, but we were unsure whether or not we would be able to do so when the time came. We, like so many other NRIs who have found a comfortable life in their adopted nation, dreamed of making a difference and giving something back to the place where we were born. The difference is that we actually went through with it.
This company came into our lives in June of 1991, while we were still residing in Houston. Ashutosh was a Senior Project Manager for a world-renowned engineering company at the time of his death. After the birth of our first son, Eshan, I had recently left my job as a Management Consultant and was seeking for something to do from home.
I came across this website. Even when working, I had the impression that I was being underpaid and overworked on occasion. Ideally, I wanted to locate a firm where I could work less hours and earn a greater income. We aspired to be the owners of our own company. However, after studying a large number of franchises and other small enterprises, we discovered that the start-up costs were quite high and the probability of failure was extremely high.
On the other hand, the business appeared to be in ideal condition; neither the investment nor the risk component appeared to be significant. Ashutosh recognised the potential of the concept the moment he laid eyes on it; nevertheless, it took me a little longer to grasp the full scope of this wonderful business prospect.
Briefly said, it was the ideal business, one that we could operate from the comfort of our own home during our leisure time. Further research into other traditional firms convinced me that there is no better business plan than the one that already exists: the business itself. That was exactly how our company got its start.
We developed a profitable firm in two years and learned the fundamentals of the industry from our mentors, the Crown Ambassadors of the World. In 1993, we returned to India and waited expectantly for Business to expand its operations into the Indian market. When the Indian market opened its doors in May 1998, Ashutosh and I re-started our company with a zealous commitment.
Our dedication and never-say-die attitude are what have catapulted us to the Founders Diamond level of achievement. Of course, our children Eshan and Aman have served as sources of inspiration for us. As the owners of Founders Diamonds, we believe that our success is due to our commitment to a noble and honest business.
The rush of achievement outweighs any and all of the difficulties encountered along the way. It is true that achieving this level has been a tremendously rewarding experience, but what makes me more happy is the knowledge that we have been able to touch a million people through our great and honest enterprise. Since then, we have been pleased with the options that have been made available to us by the organisation.
Never let anyone take your dreams away from you, and never give up. This company has only just commenced operations! Ninety percent of your company's assets will be acquired in the next few years. Consider the implications of that. Top
Myself and My Book Ashutosh Rastogi is an Indian businessman. Dr. Ashutosh Rastogi is a dynamic and highly qualified expert with a diverse range of experience. Formerly of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, he possesses a Masters degree in Applied Science from the University of Toronto, as well as a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, both in Canada.
A decade-long professional career in the United States preceded his hiring by the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), where he established the Research and Technology Development Department and served as group leader of its Strategic Planning Group, among other responsibilities.
He is a member of the Research Advisory Council of Engineers India Limited and the Research Council of the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, both of which are professional affiliations. In addition, he has served as a member of the Tata Energy Research Institute, an advisor on the PEERS programme, an invited member of the Indian National Science Academy, a member of the Technical Group on Hydrocarbon Exploration for Petrotech 2001, the coordinator for the Joint Workshop on Gas Hydrates under the Indo-Russian Long Term Program, and the founder and technical committee member of the National Gas Hydrate Program. In his current position, Dr. Rastogi serves as Chairman and Managing Director of the Quest Group of Companies. During the past decade his aim has been to provide a holistic contribution to the development of the country so that there arises the ‘India of his dreams’ with new sources of energy, no unemployment, reform in agriculture and human resource development.
The author of several patents, as well as numerous papers published in scientific journals and symposia, he is also the author of the bilingual book, The Foundations of Success: Human Relations, which was published in English and Spanish (Safalta ka Aadhaar: Lok Vyavhar).
Book
It is implied by the title that this book provides a glimpse of the India that we all wish to see – an India that is pollution-free, has abundant sources of clean energy, and provides the best opportunities for employment and human resource development in every part of the country, including remote villages.
The text concentrates on the actions that must be taken in order to attain that dream. In the beginning, it presents a picture of the "India of Today," discusses the myriad challenges and dilemmas that we face, and then goes on to explain the measures that we may take to fulfil our dream, no matter what walk of life we come from.
All of us who live in India, regardless of our economic or social standing, must walk along the same road, as the underlying message emphasises. We take in the same air and drink the same water as people in our immediate vicinity.
We all have the right to a common minimum but adequate level of education, food, and health care - regardless of where we live in the country, whether in the city or the country's countryside. We have rights, but we also have responsibilities that are legally obligatory, and both rights and responsibilities go hand in hand.
It is up to us to choose what steps we can take to ensure that we are able to exercise our rights. The work looks into the issues that affect the lives of all people who live in India in a methodical manner.
It includes success stories, tried and tested experiments, a description of the current and anticipated hurdles, and recommendations for how to overcome them.
Throughout the book, the author's confidence that we can make India better than the Western countries that we admire is evident.
We have the greatest resource — human resource – both in terms of numbers and in terms of intellect and skill. We may harness it ourselves, or we can delegate responsibility to appropriate agencies or the government — the choice is ours.
Downline Diamond
- Ritu & Ashutosh Rastogi, Founders Diamond 2008, Quest For Success, Winners International
- Nitish Dixit, Diamond 2005, BWW, India
- Shalini & Jitendra Pratap Singh, Diamond 2009, BWW, India
- Nair, Bindu & Sajeev, Founders Double Diamond 2009, Team one, Winners International, Terminated
- Abraham Varghese & Delfy Abraham, Diamond, Terminated
- Antony Varghese C & Nirmala Mar, Diamond, BWW, India
- Dr S S Manjunath & Dr V K Geeth, Diamond, BWW, India
- Manoj Kumar N. & Letha Manoj, Diamond, Terminated
- M P Mathew & Sleeby Mathew, Diamond 2009, Terminated
- M V Bharatan & NeelaDevi, Diamond, Terminated
- Vinod N Kumar & Rajalekshmi J, Diamond, Terminated
- Zeenath Beevi M & Nahas M, Diamond, Terminated
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