Dr Narendra Bhati
Founder, Supreme Pipes and Polymers Ltd
Founder, Dripking Industry Ltd | Lusaka, Zambia
Janam Bhumi:
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Dharma Bhumi:
Gajoo, Nagaur, Rajasthan, India
Karma Bhumi:
Lusaka, Zambia, Africa
1,000 Days of Effort, Lifetime of Impact
The ‘Narendra’ Factor: “Duty, integrity, and service come first, and if the foundation is right, growth and success will naturally follow.”
THE MAN
Like all children of his age, Dr Narendra Bhati dreamed of becoming a doctor, pilot, policeman, and when he saw his father work hard to build his business, Dr Bhati knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
Dr Bhati was born in 1984 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and raised in Pune, Maharashtra, where his father had moved initially in the 70s for a job and then set up his own business.
Both his parents were hard-working, rooted in their culture, and passed on the values of honesty, patience, and integrity to their three children. Educated in Pune, he completed his higher education and junior college studies at Shrimati Godavari Vidyalaya. Having followed his commerce degree with an MBA, Dr Bhati was naturally inclined towards business.
Instead, fate led him to follow his maternal uncle’s footsteps and pursue a diploma in physiotherapy, immersing himself in hands-on clinical work with paralysis, hemiplegia, and long-term recovery patients. “Even today, if someone asks me about physiotherapy, I can guide them,” he says. “It taught me the importance of empathy and patience.”
It was also physiotherapy that opened the doors to Zambia and a successful stint in entrepreneurship.
THE JOURNEY
Dr Bhati was introduced to his uncle’s friend, who lived in Malawi and wanted someone trustworthy like Dr Bhati to work for him. He moved to Malawi and then to Zambia to set up a business for his employer. In due course, he decided it was time to branch out on his own.
The first business firm he joined was Superstar Agro as director and shareholder, and then Magetsi Engineering and Construction, through which they started importing power backup systems, which became a much-needed service when the country dealt with its first power cut in 2015. Then came Supreme Pipes, a PVC and HDPE pipes manufacturer. To fund the latter two businesses, he sold the first one.
He also owns AfriPure Food and DripKing Industries, which is the first double emitter flat drip irrigation pipe manufacturer in Zambia, and has now ventured into construction with Gold Construction Ltd.
Moving to Zambia 18 years ago was more a matter of serendipity than careful planning. Today, it is a testament to a long-term journey of leadership and institution-building. The secret, he says, is his “1,000-day rule”: “Work tirelessly for 1,000 days without expecting any returns, and your business will reward you for the rest of your life.”
Known for his trustworthiness in Zambia and India, Dr Bhati has been on the advisory board of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers, is the International Director of the Federation of Trade and Industry of India (FTII) and is a Board member of the India-Zambia Business Council.
THE SPIRIT WITHIN
Everyone knows if they need help, they can call Dr Bhati, and he will stop whatever he is doing and be there for them, no questions asked. “To me, this is just a way of living. I saw my father do it, and I have followed it all my life.”
He believes that leadership is about showing up consistently for people. In Zambia, he is deeply involved in community service. He has been a long-standing supporter of the Home of Happiness orphanage in Lusaka, the Blind Association of Zambia, and initiatives focused on the welfare of the girl child, including the Home of Joy orphanage and school in Chongwe. In recognition of his sustained charitable work, he has also been awarded an honorary PhD in Philanthropy by the University of Cuneo, Italy.
As a member of the Indian diaspora, Dr Bhati has been at the forefront of bridging cultures by introducing Indian festival celebrations to the community. He has served as the youngest President of Maharashtra Mandal Lusaka and is now one of its trustees. As the Founder and President of Rajasthan Foundation Zambia, he continues to uphold his cultural roots as a Rajasthani while addressing real community needs. From organising large-scale cultural celebrations to supporting individuals in times of crisis, his involvement is hands-on and personal.
In India, he focuses on his ancestral village, where he has built classrooms for the school and supports education and orphanages, apart from the village’s Goshalas (cow shelters), by contributing resources and care for abandoned and rescued cows. For Dr Bhati, the philosophy is very simple. “If life has been kind to you, kindness must become your responsibility. Service should be natural, not occasional,” he says.
THE LEGACY
When he met his future wife, Suraj, as part of an arranged marriage set up, he took fifteen minutes to say yes. He says, “She’s the best thing that happened to me.”
Suraj has made every challenge lighter and has stood beside him through every phase. Their two children, son Rishabh, and daughter Bhavya, are being brought up to understand the value of life and the art of balancing tradition with modern needs. “Their father is setting up a legacy for them, but they must also understand that it does not come easy. We make sure that they understand the value of money and hard work before they can enjoy success.”
To Dr Bhati, success is relative. “Your thinking is shaped long before success arrives, and if the foundation is right, growth takes care of itself,” he says.
He has never consciously chased success, and perhaps that is why the young boy who once had ‘dreams’ of being a doctor, an entrepreneur, and a policeman has achieved all.
A former physiotherapist (Diploma holder), a serial entrepreneur, Dr Narendra Bhati is also the Assistant Superintendent (Reserves) in the Zambia Police Force. Need we say more?
MAPPING THE INDIA WITHIN
Bharat: Then and Now
“When I think of Bharat, I remember a life of ‘nothing to everything.’ I grew up in 1984 with black-and-white TVs, simple ambitions, and limited resources. We never imagined mobiles or Zoom calls. Now, when I return to India, I see a nation beyond imagination—moving fast, connecting globally, and preparing its people quietly for opportunities we never dreamed of.”
Bharatiya Values that Travelled
“What I carried from India was my values: honesty, ethics, and hard work. Even in Zambia, I believe in giving back whatever the country gives you. That’s why I mentor students, guide young people, and support communities.”
Generations Abroad: A New Bharatiya Identity
“I’ve lived half my life in India, half in Zambia, and both feel like home. Indians here form a family-like community, and I’ve never felt like a foreigner. The new Bharatiya identity, for me, means carrying our values wherever you go while fully belonging. We are teaching our children the same, and they spend at least two weeks in India every year.”
Pride, Progress, and the Spirit Of Bharat
“My pride in India is lived, not symbolic. I still hold my Indian passport by choice. India is in my heart—that’s why we celebrate Indian festivals along with the locals. When someone faces trouble, I tell them clearly, ‘Narendra is behind you.’ That spirit is unity, trust, and standing up for your people, and that is something that comes from my Bharatiya spirit.”
Dreams for the Youth and Future of Bharat
“My dream for India and youth is simple—survive first, then grow. Today’s generation has far more resources than we did. I tell them: don’t wait for jobs, think entrepreneurship. Survival is the foundation; profits follow later. If half the youth adopt this mindset, India—and even Zambia—can grow with dignity, independence, and purpose in the next 15 years.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE – IN FIVE MOMENTS
Food Cravings
THEN
Growing up in Pune, ‘vada pav’ and ‘pani puri’ were my absolute favourites.
NOW
We host ‘vada pav,’ and ‘pani puri’ parties at home – it’s so much fun!
Sport Spirit
THEN
School days meant cricket outdoors; I was never an indoor kid.
NOW
Cricket is still my passion—for fitness, friendships, and pure joy. I am also part of a cricket team in Zambia.
Music Tastes
THEN
Songs of those days were classics. We could sing them by rote.
NOW
Even now, ‘Asha Bhosle’ and other singers are part of my evening tea ritual.
Holiday Life
THEN
Summer holidays meant Pune and Rajasthan—friends, villages, endless play.
NOW
Holidays now revolve around children’s school schedules. But we make sure to carve out family time.
Leisure Habits
THEN
Free time meant playing outside all day, returning home exhausted.
NOW
My leisure is social work; giving back keeps me grounded.
AKA
Founder Supreme Pipes and Polymers Ltd | Founder Dripking Industry Ltd | Dr Narendra Bhati Supreme Pipes and Polymers | Supreme Pipes and Polymers Ltd | Dripking Industry Ltd Lusaka | Dripking Pipes Zambia
