To the outside world Dhananjay Datar, chairman and managing director of Al Adil Trading Company, is one of UAE’s most influential businessman and a visionary who has not only understood the needs of his market – his loyal customers – but the need to establish a legacy. Among his loved ones he is a loyal friend and a devoted family man, a role he values and cherishes.
On the heels of the International Father’s Day, candidly speaks about what it means to him to be a parent and a role model to his children – sons Hrishikesh and Rohit and daughter-in-law Akanksha.
What does Father’s Day mean to you?
To me it is that one day when a father or any person who embodies the qualities of a father is recognised and appreciated for the significant role they play in the lives of those who look up to them. It gives people the opportunity to express their love and affection towards the most important man in their lives. Personally, I love the celebration. To me it feels like I get to celebrate my birthday twice a year.
Which brings us to the question, how did you celebrate the day?
My sons got me a delicious cake. I also received lots of gifts from the family and a feast of my favourite foods cooked by my wife and daughter-in-law. I couldn’t have asked for more.
As a father and a mentor to your two sons, what are the top five life lessons you would want them to always follow?
I am an accidental entrepreneur. I had no ambition to step into business. It was my father who dared to enter this unchartered territory and had the vision to establish it as a successful business. It was he who shaped my career as a businessman as well. He imbibed some important virtues in me – like discipline, punctuality and hard work – and taught me an important five-step strategy to succeed in business: honesty, hard work, patience, courtesy and customer service.
It was a valuable and time-tested lesson. Now as a father and a mentor to my sons, I am just passing on the lessons I learned from my father to the next generation.
Never step back when you enter a business
Serve your customers pure, unadulterated and authentic products
Respect your customers always and treat them well
Earn money with honesty and hard work; don’t chase it for greed
Health, friendship and social service are more precious than wealth, so always give them top priority.
When you were starting out in your career, what advice did your father give you – something that you still keep in mind and cherish?
My father was strict and taciturn. He would teach me from actions rather than words. When I joined him in business, he first assigned me the work of sweeping the floor of our shop, cleaning the tiles and carrying 50kg bags of produce on my back. I was surprised, frustrated and angered by his attitude. One day I mustered up the courage and asked him why he had employed me to do such ‘menial’ jobs. My father didn’t reply at the time and ordered me to continue working, instead. After a year he started sending me to the wholesale market to purchase spices and groceries. Then he taught me stock-taking. Finally, he made me serve the customers at the counter.
After a decade, when he retired and handed over the management of our shops to me, he said, “Look son, an owner should know his business from scratch and any activity in the business should not be graded as superior or inferior. When you do all kinds of hard work, you take your first step towards success’’. I never forgot this lesson.
So when my sons wished to join the family business after completing their education in Business Management, I first assigned them to work in our store like any other employee and do all the activities. When they were mature enough to handle the business, I handed over the managerial responsibilities to them.
How did your role of being a father change when your daughter-in-law Akanksha came into the family?
My wife Vandana and I always wanted a daughter. Akanksha fulfils that desire. When our second son Rohit’s wife enters our family, we will be blessed with two daughters.
