Gurinder ‘Rishi’ Singh Aitaan
Managing Director , SKA Group
President, All India Prajapat Samaj (Youth Wing) | Amritsar, Punjab (INDIA)
Ancestry & Birthplace:
Lahore (undivided British India)
Birthplace & Residence:
Amritsar, Punjab (INDIA)
AMRITSAR’S ‘GO-TO’ MAN
A man the whole city loves, the man every needy heads to, the leader a society would want, he is the man who lends a hand of help to everyone, and he gives it for free!
Since the last five to six generations, the sustenance and survival of our forefathers has solely depended on soil that Mother Earth has always given us, so freely and in such abundance. Our ancestral profession has always been with bricks and brick kilns. The day I got to know that the bricks used in the construction of sacred sarovar and other part of the Golden Temple are from our kilns, I swelled with pride and fulfillment.
My parents were my first teachers
Except for my great-great-grandfather, who was born in Chunian, Lahore, near the birthplace of Guru Ram Das ji, all successive ancestors on my father’s side have come from Amritsar. I was born in Amritsar – Guru di Nagri – on 16 August 1977 and named Gurinder but my mother, Sujit Kaur, has always called me Rishi. So common did this name become that everyone, be it students, friends, teachers or the school principal, all called me Rishi.
As a child, I was very naughty and mischievous but in spite of all that I managed to do well in my studies. Changing many schools up to grade 10, I finally completed schooling from Cambridge School, Amritsar.
By then, my mind was set on joining the armed forces and I completed my NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) and had also participated in the Independence Day parade at the Red Fort before my graduation from the DAV College, Amritsar, finished. All these would have entitled my interview-based selection into the Indian Air Force, under the Officer Training School (OTS). But my father, Sardar Dharma Singh, who had always been in the construction business, had different dreams for me so I joined him in the business.
Papa initially ran a successful brick kiln business before he went in for expansion and diversification, in relative fields like construction, demolition, etc. I had begun to assist him in his various projects right from my school days. The qualities of dedication and application are now my second nature as a result of the early and invaluable lessons I have imbibed through close and consistent interaction with my father as my teacher, guide, mentor and guru. Or rather you might say it became an integral part of my upbringing or sanskaar2.
For generations, we have never ever severed our ancestral connections with the soil of the Earth, no matter what. In 1992, when Papa was upgrading his business, he became the first person to start using JCB machines. At that time, we were transporting soil with the help of tractors, trucks and trolleys. People from far off would come to see the machine! Shortly after coming into the business full-time, I decided to take up the work of demolishing and dismantling old buildings, having learnt the ropes of the business from Papa.
From small projects to bigger ones
Gradually picking up momentum and speed from there, we moved on to bigger projects and, after establishing our credibility, I branched out into construction and kept working hard to grow it. Till date, I’ve successfully been able to take on large and prestigious projects like shopping malls, branded hotels, development of colonies, highways, sewage and drainage, bridges, schools, colleges and hospitals. All of these have given my company a strong brand identity. We were first to do Ready Mix Concrete business in Punjab. In this achievement, my younger brother, Didar, who had also joined us, has always been my big support.
But never does success come alone. There was a time of slump when many were committing suicides. My business too had reached its nadir and I too contemplated suicide. However, my forever partner, Jaspreet, with me since 30 December 2000, made me realise that bringing an end to life is never a solution to any problem. Didar also came to my rescue and, with their support, I gained my willpower back and was able to rebuild my life and business again to its previous heights. What happened next is history!
As soon as I was on my feet again, I decided to do something for the poor and underprivileged of society. The large financial turnover and the success of my various enterprises made me think about the things I could do for my community, for my ward, for my city and for my country. But for all of these things to materialise, it was imperative to have a large platform. Politics was the answer. Among the highlights of my life, the one which I consider the most memorable is my victory in the elections in which I beat the mayor of the town hands down. Voluntarily, I declined my five-year salary as the Councillor and also encouraged other political leaders who have other means to support themselves to forgo their salaries.
My experience taught me that while it may alleviate want and penury for some time, it also tends to make people dependent. That’s why I hit upon this idea of giving deserving and physically challenged people a kind of an interest-free, start-up loan, which may be returned as per the convenience of the beneficiary.
Doesn’t charity increase dependency?
My father had served the cause of the community as the President of the Punjab Prajapat Samaj. He had had a dharamshala built for the community, with all the money for the initiative going entirely from his own pocket. However, his failing health made it difficult for him to keep abreast with all his commitment. I’m happy that I’ve been able to step into his shoes and fulfil the role as the President of the Youth Wing of the All India Punjab Prajapat Samaj.
I also started the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Club in 2005, an NGO doing a variety of community welfare services, including free clinics and ambulance service and langars. Along with this, 520 families from the weakest of society and widows are being given free ration for the whole month, free medical consultations and free medicines. The whole idea is to ensure that people get the maximum succour and relief.
Seeing this, my daughter, Sukhmani (16), and son, Sahib (12), have also imbibed the art of giving. Jaspreet always inspire in them the devotion towards selfless sewa. She herself is a pure soul, who takes care of my parents as her own and looks after the kids in my absence. Both my kids are studying in Millennium School and Sukhmani has been to NASA twice for a project she is working on.
The comfort and security that comes from the strong bonds of a joint family compares to nothing. I feel blessed to be living in one large joint family, with the head of the family, my mother, Didar, his wife, Manmeet, with their two children, Sahej Kabir and Simreet. It is a pleasure to see Jaspreet and Manmeet live with much love, while all the children are growing up listening to stories from their dadi3 with the appropriate exposure to tradition, culture and values.
Philosophy
Help, but let them realise what it comes for. Those who show the will to work are the ones we need to help.
I love…
To travel, whether with friends or family. And get-togethers with friends and family.
I’d suggest the youth…
To build their dreams on solid ground.
Success Mantra
Success is smartly clubbing hard work, determination and passion.
The world doesn’t know that…
I actually wanted to become a pilot!
AKA
Managing Director, SKA Group | Indian business & youth leader Gurinder Aitaan
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695