Dear Sahara Group,
I wish to say ‘Sahara Salaam’ to you.
Now, I know that the protocol is ‘Sahara Pranam’, but I am just bowled over by you and hence cannot help but saluting you.
Why the sudden respect?
I saw this ad in today’s Economic Times:
Sir, in as much as I am completely smitten by your success and business revolution, I am also a student of Business and Entrepreneurship and beg you for some clarifications:
Ps – I am just a B.Com so pardon the amateur questions. Also, I am a struggling philosopher and monk so I may ask some softer questions also:
Sir can you please answer these questions of mine:
1. When you say in the first lines ‘most of us give materialism…second priority’
Do u refer to people who live on this planet (earth) or some other planets that you may also have your operations on?
The reason is that on this planet (earth), most of the humans I know place materialism first…. but then again I live with down-trodden people, so it will be nice to know the angle from your side.
2. Is ‘Collective Materialism’ your term?
In my local college I learnt about the term ‘Collective Bargaining’ and have read a fair deal of Marx, Keynes, Schumpeter, Galbraith, Krugman and others but have never come across this term.
It would be an honor to understand it beyond a few words. It may well qualify for a thesis that may lead to the Nobel Prize in Economics etc etc?
3. Your Salary Hike of 60% ACROSS THE BOARD!
Sir, I run a very very small business and have been struggling for 13 years. We normally give increments between 10-30% MAX -depending on also the base salary.
As CEO, I probably get a 5-10% raise once in every 18 MONTHS.
Sir, can u simply explain your business model that lets you GIVE 60% hikes like this??
(PS – I am personally also quite tempted to join your ‘Parivar’ – I mean a 60% would really change my world for me).
4. Sir, why are the KIRANA SHOPS ‘OWED’ to your DEPOSITORS?
I did not understand the connection.
If I have loaned you money as a fixed deposit, then why should you be obliged to sell me milk and fruits and vegetables?
Sir, I thought you will grow my money by investing in big businesses etc. My local kirana guys is quite fine – sir…for buying tomatoes and carrots etc..
5. Sir, if you are going to employ 2.5 LACS new people and pay them salaries between 8 k and lacs, then even assuming a mean salary of 20k, thats 5000 CRORES PER MONTH.
Assuming that your Salary cost will be 30% of monthly expenses, your ‘NEW OPERATION’ will cost you 15,000 CRORES TO RUN.
Now Sir, to give me return on my deposits etc, you have to make money.
Sir, to earn say 18000 CRORES REVENUE per month ( so that you earn a modest 15% return on that and also manage expenses of 15,000 CRORES), that makes the TOP LINE 4 BILLION US$ per month or 50 BILLION DOLLARS IN YEARLY REVENUE
SIR – that will mean that you will almost be bigger than RELIANCE INDUSTRIES and just under ONGC !!!
See this link for the top revenue Companies in India as per revenue (2009 Wikidpedia data) – https://bit.ly/trh-topindiancos
Sir, I am enamored by your vision, business models, style of Investor protection and transparency. It will really help if you can answer these questions also so that we can ALL be part of this MIRACLE on earth.
Your faithful follower,
Alok ‘Rodinhood’ Kejriwal
alok@rodinhood.com