The Ambuja Story: How a Group of Ordinary Men Created an Extraordinary Company

HarperCollins

is proud to announce

a new perspective on business and life

THE AMBUJA STORY

HOW A GROUP OF ORDINARY MEN CREATED AN EXTRAORDINARY COMPANY

by Narotam Sekhsaria

Praise for the book

Mr Narotam Sekhsaria is among the most accomplished of the new-age industrialists who emerged in the free market-driven economy of post-liberalization India. This book vividly captures that engaging story, the determination and perseverance that went into building one of India’s finest companies.

– ANAND MAHINDRA, CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, MAHINDRA GROUP

 

A simple life of hard work, honesty, compassion and knowing when to let go of the reins is what makes him a truly unique leader. A must-read for India’s business leaders of today and tomorrow.

– DEEPAK PAREKH, CHAIRMAN, HDFC

 

Over the years, I have watched with admiration how Gujarat Ambuja was built brick-by-brick through dedication, persistence and constant innovation. This book is the story of the man behind this awe-inspiring journey. For a nation bubbling with entrepreneurial energy, the lessons from this book are invaluable and highly relevant.

– KUMAR MANGALAM BIRLA, CHAIRMAN, ADITYA BIRLA GROUP

 

From cotton to cement and beyond with the spirit of ‘I can’ is a truly amazing journey of one man. I find the book fascinating, representing the old spirit of Marwari and Gujarati joint family tradition transforming into modern corporate leadership.

– UDAY KOTAK, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO, KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK

 

Written with unusual candour and frankness that is rare in business autobiographies, this book is packed with insights on the evolution of Indian society and what helps entrepreneurs build and grow ever-lasting organizations that create value for society.

– KISHORE BIYANI, FOUNDER AND CEO, FUTURE GROUP

 

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On his forthcoming publication, Narotam Sekhsaria, says: ‘After much persuasion by family and friends, and fifteen years after I handed the reins to my successors, I felt it was the right time to tell the story of how a handful of colleagues and I built a wonderful company that everyone knows as Ambuja Cement. This book is also a tale of the highs and lows of entrepreneurship in India, spanning several decades. Most of all, it is a chronicle of the virtues of self-belief and trust in building an institution — my colleagues’ trust in me and my vision; and my belief in their ability to realize that vision. I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I did writing it.’

 

Sachin Sharma, Executive Editor, HarperCollins India, says: ‘Mr. Narotam Sekhsaria’s journey as an entrepreneur is a case study for our times’ young and restless startup builders. Here’s a man doing exceedingly well as a cotton trader when he decided to venture into cement in his early thirties. He knew nothing about the business, had never seen a cement plan, but trusting his instinct, he went ahead and created one of the best cement companies in the world. The Ambuja Story is a celebration of the spirit of entrepreneurship, and we are excited to be publishing this exceptional book.’