Engineer honoured by Delhi had begun business after being insulted by boss

Abu Dhabi: An engineer-turned-businessman selected for a prestigious India government award says an insult by his former boss in 1980 spurred him to quit his job and launch his own company that has helped him get the honour.

"The insult from the boss hurt me, because he disregarded my contribution to the successful completion of two major projects," said J.R. Gangaramani, President and Executive Chairman of Al Fara'a Construction, Properties & Industrial Group, who was chosen for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award on Sunday.

"That 'hurtful experience' prompted me to establish my own construction company," he told Gulf News on Monday.

Gangaramani was selected for the award for his contributions to building close links between India and the UAE, said a statement from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The award is conferred on Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin or on institutions established by them.