Manu Chandaria’s net worth today is $1.7 billion, which definitely reflects his successful journey as a businessman, but then, the story behind the scenes is even more interesting. From receiving the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 to the Elder of the Burning Spear award by former President Mwai Kibaki – one of the highest civilian honors in Kenya – the same year, and getting honored by the FORBES Africa Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, Chandaria has recorded multiple milestones in his name in the 70+ years of his professional journey.
Who Is Dr. Manu Chandaria?
Manu Chandaria is a name that pops up in the mind as soon as one thinks of the most successful businessmen in Kenya. Born on March 1, 1929, in Nairobi, Kenya, to Indian immigrants, Premchandbhai and Poonjiben Chandaria, Manilal Premchand Chandaria, popularly called Manu Chandaria, not only worked to make his nation proud, but also did whatever it took to build his family’s image worldwide as an Indian descendant.
Chandaria’s parents moved to Kenya from Gujarat, India, in 1915. His father was a merchant there, and he continued the profession by starting a provisions shop along Biashara Street in Nairobi. Business seemed to be in his genes since then, as he assisted his father in th shop from a very young age.
As the business expanded, his father acquired Kaluworks, along with some extended family members. This venture became a manufacturer of aluminum cookware and roofing sheets.
How Has Dr. Manu Chandaria’s Journey Been So Far?
Though he had it in him from childhood, Dr. Manu Chandaria still needed an official educational qualification to build the foundation that he needed to become what he was destined for. He started attending kindergarten at Jain Temple in Nairobi, and joined a primary school in the same city, first, and continued it further at the Alidina Visram Primary School, Mombasa. Later, he continued at Duke of Gloucester School.
His transition from secondary to higher secondary was a little difficult as World War II compelled the family to leave Kenya and return to India in 1940. Hence, he joined Navanagar High School in Mumbai, India, and then graduated with a BSc. degree from the Jamnagar India University, Bombay. Then, he moved to the United States and joined the University of Oklahoma, where he earned another Bachelor’s degree along with a Master’s in Engineering.
Again, the calling came from his birthplace, and Dr. Manu Chandaria rushed to Kenya in 1951 to improve its global status. The time he arrived couldn’t have been more perfect. The African nations were striving to build their place in the worldwide sphere; he joined the Comcraft Group, which Kaluworks was part of.
Comcraft was a business the family members acquired with the person who later became Dr. Chandaria’s father-in-law. These people were among the ten individuals who purchased Kenya Aluminum from an Indian merchant in 1929. By the time Dr. Manu Chandaria returned, Comcraft was already a key supplier of steel pipes, aluminum products, and roofing sheets.
Under his leadership, Comcraft became one of the most diversified industrial groups, which housed multiple organizations under its umbrella as a parent company.
What All Has Dr. Manu Chandaria Built?
Besides being a key player in Comcraft Group of Companies, Dr. Manu Chandaria is also a board member of multiple East African companies, including those owned by him and his family members. Some of these include Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd., Kenindia Assurance Company, Kaluworks Limited, Insteel Limited, Uganda Baati Limited (Uganda), Shumuk Aluminium (Uganda), Metal Products Limited, and Aluminium Africa Limited (Tanzania).
What’s Comcraft Group of Companies Net Worth? A Quick Glance
The Chandaria family net worth is approximately $2.5 billion, which not only includes the share of Dr. Manu Chandaria, but also the share of Praful and Paras Chandaria – his extended family members. While Praful’s net worth and Paras’ net worth figures are not publicly available, you may calculate their shares when Dr. Manu Chandaria’s personal net worth is known.
Today, Comcraft has more than 30,000 employees and is considered one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum and steel products in Africa.
Who Dr. Manu Chandaria Calls His Inspiration & Support System
In 1940, when the Chandaria family had to return to India, Dr. Manu Chandaria had an opportunity to listen to the stories where people sacrificed everything they had to make sure India got freedom. While the tales of each and every participant in the freedom struggle inspired him, the utmost influence came from the way of life that Mahatma Gandhi led.
“We were impressed by this man who had given all his life. And the principle that came up with was sacrifice. Whenever you sacrifice, it brings true happiness,” he says.
The inspiration went to the extent where Dr. Chandaria decided to give his whole life to the places he would live. For him, the progress of the community and nation he would be in would be his priority.
Talking about his support system, he has always admitted that if his parents and his wife weren’t supportive, he would not have achieved what he has today. While his parents showed him how working hard was important to achieve the goals you set, his wife Aruna Chandaria has been the backbone. It was her push that made him record so many breakthroughs and milestones in his career. The time he devoted to his work was the time she allowed her to be away. And that’s what Dr. Manu Chandaria always says, he would be grateful for.
When it comes to supporting in business, Dr. Chandaria feels blessed to have two very talents children, Neel and Priti Chandaria who help him in his family business.
How Does Dr. Manu Chandaria Give Back?
While he focused on building the industries in the nation he was born in, he never forgot the people across the globe who needed support, especially financial aid. To achieve the objective of giving back to society, Dr. Manu Chandaria founded the Chandaria Foundation in 1955. This organization became the first corporate foundation, which brought philanthropy to the forefront. The Chandaria Foundation covers more than 11 African countries. It works to improve the lives of people by introducing multiple initiatives to enhance education, ecology, healthcare, and sports infrastructure.
In fact, giving access to education has always been his primary goal. The Comcraft key player witnessed his parents being dependent on others to interpret pieces of information in their desired language, as they could not read or write that particular language.
“My father could not read, write or speak English – he was heavily dependent on others to assist whenever he had to do banking, mail, and the like…he resolved to educate his children to the highest level he could afford so that they could have a better future,” he says in an interview with Impact Philanthropy Africa.
The foundation also works toward meeting the needs of special children and never forgets to support the youth who are getting ready to write a more advanced future for the nation. Through the foundation, he has donated more than $100 million to date. The philanthropic organization partners with over 25 entities and manages charitable trusts in each and every nation where Comcraft operates.
Dr. Manu Chandaria became the first African and Kenyan to receive the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in the United States, recognizing Manu Chandaria as one of the world’s most transformative givers.
What Legacy He Wishes To Leave Behind?
Though he will always be remembered as a businessman who achieved whatever he aspired for, Dr. Manu Chandaria’s greatest legacy would be his contribution in making Kenyans lead a life of dignity, which they had missed for long. It is his participation in Comcraft that made it a billion-dollar venture in the nation, which has earned the trust of not only the home country, but also nations across.
When, despite being one of the well-known industrialists of Kenya, he describes himself as “just a social worker,” it shows how humble his character is. Per him, it is the kindness and empathy that must exist in a person no matter what milestones they achieve and how many awards they win. At the end, it’s humanity that matters. It’s the cooperation that keeps people together.
For him, it is not only what you build that creates your image, but your dedication toward keeping up with it and resolving anything that comes up, which ultimately strengthens it.
Final Thought
Dr. Manu Chandaria, given his achiever’s attitude, served as Patron of the Global Peace Foundation, Kenya, Chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), and Founding Chairman of the East African Business Council. The official positions he held throughout his professional journey are enough to show how much trust the nation placed in him as a citizen. Despite being an Indian descendant, Dr. Chandaria managed to build a reputation that many African descendants could not make.
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