He is better known as the father of India’s rifle sensation Abhinav Bindra, but Dr A.S. Bindra has made quite a name for himself as a food-processing entrepreneur. His ready—to-eat foods, especially curries, have found acceptance in international markets and he supplies meal packets to UN forces deployed in places as distant as Bosnia and Sierra Leone. Now his Hi Tech Industries (headquartered in Chandigarh) has got orders for exporting earthworms. Some consignments have already been sent to several Asian countries and export inquiries have come even from Germany. Bindra’s vermiculture (rearing of earthworms) initiative stems from the increasing demand of vermicompost, which is an organic fertiliser. “Vermicompost is the excreta of earthworm and is rich in humus. Earthworms eat cow dung or farm yard manure along with other waste and convert it into vermicompost,” says Bindra. Countries all over the world are struggling to get rid of refuse. The thrust is on recycling in an environment-friendly manner. Earthworms are helpful in converting municipal wastes, non-toxic solids and liquid waste of industries and household garbage into vermicompost. “Earthworms not only convert garbage into valuable manure, but keep the environment healthy,” adds Bindra.

Driving politicians around

JCBL, a coach-building company based near Ambala, can claim to be literally providing wheels to the political campaigns of several well-known politicians. For example, when leader of Opposition L.K. Advani undertook his rath yatra, his vehicle (rath) was designed by this company. Similarly, campaign vehicles of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, to name a few, have been designed and fabricated by this company. Offering “total mobility solutions”, the company has also made special vans for the United Nations Development Programme. At the time of the Kargil war, the company made special vehicles for the Indian Army in less than three weeks. The political and humanitarian experience has motivated the company to go corporate and it has now got orders from top houses, including Sahara and Samsung. “This is a highly creative job. The need of every client is different. Every vehicle is unique for us,” says Rishi Agarwal, director of the company. For example, while designing the vehicle for Parkash Singh Badal, it was kept in mind that the Punjab leader was suffering from joint pains that hamper his movements. So a special lift was installed within the vehicle. Similarly, L.K. Advani’s fascination for movies was kept in mind when his vehicle was provided with ample space for television, DVD racks and couch. “You cannot follow a straitjacket approach. As I mentioned earlier, each vehicle is distinct. My father has extraordinary creativity. His ingenuity with designs has helped us to make coaches that have been appreciated by the patrons,” adds Aggarwal.

Spinning gold from the old

First he was Army Infantry officer, then he joined a public sector bank and finally he decided to make gramophones. In fact, Captain Satinder Sharma, MD, UMA Exim Private Limited, has made a name for himself by exporting antiques. Things which were dismissed as relics of the past are today being exported all over the world. These include swords, sheaths, warrior metal caps, grandfather clocks, ornate chests, big brass mirrors, etc. The usage isn’t merely decorative. As Sharma says, “Our antique weapons are highly appreciated. In fact, the steel cap worn by Russel Crow in the climax of Gladiator was made by us. Similarly, our products were used in the movie Alexander as well.” But amidst all his product range, the piece de resistance is gramophones. The company gets regular bulk orders from the United States, Malaysia, Europe and Australia. In the past five years or so, this company, which has an annual turnover of around Rs 6 crore, has exported close to 70,000 gramophones. As regards people who purchase gramophones, it includes a small minority of audiophiles, who prefer vinyl records over digital sound. But the majority includes antique connoisseurs who like to use this exquisitely created contraption as a decorative item. A buoyant Captain Sharma is all set to expand his retail chain. He already has one showroom in Panchkula and intends to open one in Mumbai as well.

Home to croquet

Despite its appeal with India’s abiding sporting passion, the game of croquet remains unknown in India. In fact, internationally, too, it is an exclusive game played by the crème de la crème of society! Remember Howard Hughes and Katherine Hepburn in the movie Aviator? But the fact remains that the largest exporter of croquet equipment in the world exists in India. Sports Syndicate, based in Jalandhar, exports croquet kits to Australia , New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. “The best of the players use our equipment,” claims owner of the business, Naresh Kohli. His business model is primarily outsourcing where he makes and exports equipment to international sporting brands like Oakley Woods. Despite his product range being accepted internationally, Kohli says plans to launch his own brand are on the backburner. But wouldn’t it better to have an Indian brand on international grounds? So if his equipment is being used internationally, why doesn’t he launch his own brand? “It is not easy to capture foreign markets. It becomes all the more difficult if you are not financially strong. Moreover, we have a good relationship with the existing brands and they have assured us big orders,” says Kohli.

Meaty business