S P Bajaj had always nurtured the dream of floating his own architect firm. A professional by qualification, with a post-graduate degree in city and regional planning, Bajaj had literally no experience in entrepreneurship when he decided to give his dreams a shape.Family opposition was the first obstacle Bajaj had to face when he started off. "As most of my family members are government officials, they were strictly against my starting a business."
So, Bajaj left his hometown Pathankot and came to Delhi to try his luck in the Capital. "I had only Rs 11,000 in my pocket," says Bajaj.
In the first year Bajaj had no work but he did not take the help of influential relatives who lived in Delhi. "I always believed in doing things myself."
Bajaj's perseverance paid off when in answer to an advertisement given by him in the newspaper, orders started trickling in. "The dead lock was finally broken." In the beginning Bajaj faced problems in recovering payments from his clients but time and experience taughthim how to overcome it.
The year 1995 proved to be a big one for Bajaj. He designed seventy factories in a period of three months which was a record of its kind. After gaining confidence by designing a number of buildings including a number of factories, commercial areas, farm houses etc, in 1996 he decided to do turnkey projects. Says Bajaj, "The risk in a turnkey project is high. But so are the returns.
Recently Bajaj has floated a company, Sourya Housing Ltd., for undertaking colonisation projects. Bajaj plans to increase his company's turnover to Rs 200 crore by the end the century.
For new entrants, Bajaj has a word of advice. "Architecture has technical intricacies, but for a person with good reference and contacts, the future is bright."
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
