Known for using novel strategies that have become a boon to his brainchild of 1996, Unique Industrial Product Company, he is aggressively leading his work family to success. A family-owned and operated business, they have till now developed and shipped more than 10,000 different products to a wide range of companies and industries in Europe, Asia, the US and continue to serve worldwide.
Redefining success in his own terms, Jugal became the man behind the Howdy Modi! – an event welcoming the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Texas. Right when Modi had announced his travel plans to New York, he, along with other US-based volunteers, sent an invitation to Modi. They knew they would manage a huge gathering, and mobilizing a large group of volunteers to help organize the event, they created history! More than 50,000 people chanted Howdy Modi at the NRG Stadium.
The First Step
Born into an affluent Marwari business family, he was fourth in the line of six children. His father, Pandharinath ji, was a grain merchant and his mother, Champa Bai, was a prudent homemaker. “We lived in a quiet and calm Bidar and all of us siblings studied at the only school in our village. Not too sure but my teachers probably believed I was very much into sports,” shares Jugal, talking of his childhood. For his engineering degree, he went to the Central University of Karnataka in Gulbarga, four hours away.
Although not highly educated themselves, his parents prioritized education. “I still think my father’s sole aim behind all his hard work was to provide us with the best possible education!” In fact, his parents maintained rather progressive views that eschewed gender norms. All the children were encouraged to study. “My mother and I still are extremely close. She has been my number one supporter and we still carry the values and life lessons she taught us.” The family experienced a financial crunch when a local riot destroyed their shop and everything it had. Yet, the senior Malanis put their kids to education. His elder brother, Shivrathan, had to quit his studies to help his father nurture the family. “It was a hard choice for him but he chose it happily and that brought me the comfort of enrolling in university. I knew I had to study hard and prove myself – I couldn’t let all their efforts go in vain!”
Starting to work in 1976, with Rs 300 per month salary, Jugal got involved with one of his brothers-in-law, Ramesh Bhutada’s US-based import-export company, Star Pipe Products. He was asked to manage the company’s Calcutta leg. “It was a surreal feeling back then – I had become the manager of a big trading firm. Life was comfortable and I thought it was the best. But my wife, Raj, didn’t agree. She decided I could do better. And whoever doesn’t listen to wife is doomed (laughing).” Raj pushed him to take up more challenges and later asked Bhutada to invite Jugal to the US.
On the stairway to success, once he was supported by his sister and brother-in-law to take the first step and thereon, his Marwari business acumen took lead. “We moved to Texas in 1981. I couldn’t ever thank Kiranben and Ramesh ji enough.”
Eat, Sleep and Dream Business
“Business has become my hobby; it is my passion. I am always planning for new products. One needs to have an affinity with business and personally go to the warehouse and see, feel and understand the product you are working for. There is no secret to successful business – it just is hard work. Eat business, sleep business and dream business!”
Jugal started his own independent entrepreneurial journey with Unique Industrial Product Company, which he co-founded with business partner, Pradeep Gupta. “We were fierce competitors but we understood each other’s passion. When he left his business, I proposed partnership to him. The rest is what you see today!” They were the only two employees of Unique. They worked out of their two-offices; though they were doing every menial thing at the office on their own, their focus was always on importing high quality engineering equipment from overseas and distributing them to manufacturing companies in the US.
The difficult times taught him the art of detachment. He believes that to move forward, one must learn to not get emotionally invested in something or someone that takes a toll on your mental and physical health. “I found the solution in Vipassana. I was an angry kid and would get all heated up on trivial matters. But, with Vipassana, I am able to think clearly and keep my mind calm. It is a lifelong process and benefits both emotional well-being and overall health.” His intense focus helps him excel in golf – a hobby he pursues with passion.
Having seen quite some ups and downs, he has formed his own key to success; he keeps himself occupied with work without caring about things that do not matter. “Raj motivates me still. She has now, in fact, joined Unique as the chief financial officer and the closest advisor.”
He claims that his simple yet rigorous upbringing, with an emphasis on family values, has shaped him in a significant way. At the same time, he is all praises for the second generation of Indo-Americans for the way they have adapted and diversified in this country, not necessarily following their parents’ example. Raj and Jugal are blessed with two children, Pankaj and Nikita. Pankaj earned a degree in advertising from the University of Texas and is now the CEO at Unique. He is married to Avnie, Assistant Physician and they have two kids, Kiaan (4) and Karina (7 months). Nikita studied medicine and is a Pediatric Neurologist at Texas Children’s Hospital. She is married to Atman Shukla, a corporate lawyer, and together they have two kids, Aavya (5) and Yash (3).
Though he has taken a break from the everyday grind of business and chooses to enjoy time with his grandchildren and family, he is heavily involved in Ekal Vidyalaya, an education-prime charity operating mainly in rural India. It supports Magic Bus and Pratham charities in India that provides education to underprivileged children in urban areas.
“I am also involved in a variety of temples and other voluntary organizations that serve to meet our local needs, like I am the Trustee of India House, an organization created by Indo-Americans to serve the needs of the local community. It offers after school programs, free medical services, free yoga classes, as well as language lessons for underprivileged children. For the privileged ones, there are cricket and soccer grounds.”