Gurmeet Singh Kular
Managing Director, Kular International
President, Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organisation (FICO) | Ludhiana, Punjab (INDIA)
Ancestry:
Sandhilianwali, Punjab (undivided British India)
Birthplace & Residence:
Ludhiana, Punjab (INDIA)
Wheels of Fortune His Way
District hammer-throw champion for two years, plus the bonhomie and magnet of a large joint family of 60 members, since over 70 years has given this industrialist and politician a different sense of fulfilment and balance.
In 1948, after the partition my elders, great-grandfather, Sardar Uttam Singh Kular, along with his family, came to India from Sandhilianwali in undivided British India to Jagraon (a town near Ludhiana), where they started the job at M/s Muni Lal Kalsi & Sons.
In pre-partition times, my great-grandfather and grandfather, Sardar Rattan Singh were the construction contractors renowned for building wells. My father and his three brothers – two elders to him, Ajit Singh Kular and Pritam Singh Kular, and a younger brother, Mukhtiar Singh Kular – joined Munjal Brothers (a unit of Hero Cycles) in Bahadurgarh, which manufactured bicycle mudguards. My eldest uncle, Sardar Ajit Singh Kular was the foreman and elder uncle Sardar Pritam Singh Kular was the Plant Head of the company. After relocating to Ludhiana, they set up their business and started manufacturing bicycle mudguards at rental unit M/s Devki Nandan & Sons. In 1962, they started their own unit M/s Kular Cycle industries, where first they developed the machinery and then started production of bicycles mudguards and rims.
Happiness in childhood was just different
I was born on 27 August 1971 in Ludhiana. My parents along with all their children, all the uncles and their wives, their children all lived in a big haveli. At its peak in 1976, as many as 60 persons were living in this one house. In my own family, we are six siblings. I was the fifth among four sisters and two brothers. And to think that for over 70 years we’ve all been living in perfect harmony. In recent times, the number has gone down to 45 people. But even then, 45 is no less of a substantial number.
I remember we used to be a group of 25 children from one household – brothers, sisters and all cousins, of different ages and different sizes – all walking together to school and back every day.
Over the years, this huge family became the talk of the town, until finally in 1986 we were felicitated by the President of India with the “Self-Made Industrialist” award.
While we all got along with each other very well, there was one particular cousin, Gurcharan Singh Kular, who was of my age group and so we were very close. I started my schooling from a government primary school with him. The place was close to our house, not more than a kilometre away. From here, I took admission in the Central Model High School and studied up to grade 6. I did my matriculation from Guru Nanak High School and Senior Secondary from the Government Senior Secondary School in 1988.
While I was in school, I took an equal interest in sports. My sports coach Mr GS Gahi, who encouraged me to go for athletics; thanks to him, I was the unbeaten district champion in the hammer throw for two years, from 1992 to 1994. It was because of my sports performance that I was able to secure admission in Government College, Ludhiana for my graduate studies in Public Administration and Psychology. Later I completed a two-year Diploma in Information Technology and Management from the Uptron Academy of Computer Learning in 1996. Then I did my masters in e-commerce from Aptech.
Dad played a crucial and unique role in my life
Once done with my formal education, I went to work fulltime in the family business. My father guided me through the process and got me trained in Business Accounting along with the practical work on the factory’s floor shop. I remember how he would always stress “the importance of training can never be overstressed; if you are trained nobody can fool you.” He made sure that this part of the training was thorough and sound. However, I must add that I actually started working with my father since I was 15, but it was just to get a feel of the work in the factory and spend a couple of hours there, observing and absorbing.
After 1994, my elders started a unit called Saimbhi Cycle and Auto Industries which is still running. At that time, there was a huge demand of bicycle rims and mudguards. We had developed these products after Independence and are still manufacturing them. Eventually, we came in contact with Sardar Onkar Singh Pahwa, the Chairman of Avon Cycles. I consider him as my business guru because he has mentored me everything about how to do business. We are still supplying rims and mudguards to Avon Cycles and Hero Cycles.
Things were all well until in 2003 I lost my father. For me, that was the saddest day of my life. I wasn’t sure how I was going to carry on with all the responsibilities and duties that my father had been shouldering until then. The prospects of handling all these responsibilities on my own seemed daunting. It was the time my mother became my bedrock of strength and comfort. Her gentle support and guidance were the beacon of hope for me and helped me to overcome my misgivings.
I along with my younger brother Sardar Jagdev Singh Kular; have five units under our supervision: M/s Saimbhi Cycle and Auto Industries, M/s Darshan Udyog, M/s KularSons, M/s Kular International and M/s Kular Industrial Corporation. And I’m also running a multi-specialty 120 bedded hospital in Ludhiana that opened in 2012.
Of all the home remedies, a good wife is best
Jaspreet Kaur, a graduate, comes from a small town in Patiala. Her father, Sardar Ishar Singh, is the Director of Kartar Combines. Jaspreet and I were married on 15 February 1994. She is my lifeline and support in everything I do.
We are blessed with four children: a set of twins, Jasmeet and Pavneet, and the younger ones, Amaneet and Gurmehar. Jasmeet joined one of our factories as a Director right after his BTech. Pavneet has completed her BCom from Aurubindo College and a course in Fashion Designing from International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD). She has also participated in London Fashion Week. As opener, Amaneet is on her way to be a doctor, studying MBBS at Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Bhatinda while Gurmehar is in grade 9.
Be charitable and indulgent but yourself
In 2015, the Punjab government has nominated me as the Chairman of the Ramgarhia Welfare Board, with the rank and status of a state minister. I joined politics, contesting for an MLA’s seat from Atam Nagar Constituency; however, I was not successful, but I remain an active member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (BJP). I am a recipient of the Punjab Rattan Award. On 26 November 2018, I was also conferred a Confluence Award (Skill, Talent & Leadership) by the British Parliament.
I am also the President of Federation of Industrial & Commercial Organisation (FICO), Member of Bicycle Development Council of India, Director of Punjab Board of Technical Education & Industrial Training (Govt of Punjab), Chairman of PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Ludhiana zone), Chairman Regional Council MSME – ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India) and serve many more organisations. In the past, I have been President of United Cycles & Parts Manufacturers Association (Asia’s largest body in single trade), Chairman of Industrial Training Institute Women, Phillaur (Jalandhar), Chairman of Industrial Training Institute, Ranike (Amritsar) and Chairman of Ramgarhia Welfare Board (Punjab).
The three mantras of my life are…
… first, I believe a leader is the one who knows the way, who shows the way, who goes the way. Second, business never stops; it always continues and entrepreneurs who use new ways and techniques will replace the entrepreneurs who do not. Third, excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.
Philosophy
Respect your elders and love the youngsters.
I love…
My wife and children. Whenever I have time, I give it to my family.
I’d suggest the youth…
To work hard with dedication. It is the only way to achieve success.
Success Mantra
If you want to be something, you have to do more than something
The world doesn’t know that…
I think each successive day is a new gift of life from God. What can be a more precious and valuable gift than life itself? That’s why I cherish each day as the happiest one.
AKA
Managing Director, Kular International | FICO President Gurmeet Singh Kular
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695