Much can be said about businessman Dhananjay Datar’s toil and resilience. From a young boy walking barefoot to school to owning one of Dubai’s most successful supermarkets, his journey is a rags-to-riches fairytale. When he sat down with our Editor-In-Chief, Kamiya Jani, for an inspiring episode of Stories From UAE, the conversation was packed with pearls of wisdom from this sharp-minded entrepreneur. The businessman also took us down memory lane and spoke of humble roots and love for Amravati. Scroll down to dive into Dhananjay Datar’s incredible journey from a middle-class boy from Amravati to Dubai’s masala king!
Dhananjay Datar Grew Up In A Middle-Class Family In Amravati
Our Editor-In-Chief was honoured to interview the astute businessman, after all, they both share the same hunger and spirit for entrepreneurship! Now, the proud owner of Al Adil, a Dubai-based supermarket that caters to selling Indian products, Dhananjay Datar was never a silver spoon man.
Fondly, known as the masala king of Dubai, he speaks highly about his humble beginnings. He mentioned that his father worked in the Indian Airforce which did not harbour a high salary. Due to his father’s postings, the family never stayed in the same location for more than two years. Eventually, Dhananjay found his home and heart in the city of Amravati.
The businessman mentioned that he lived in the Karanja Lad area in Amravati. He adds, “I often walked without chappals to school. During the rains, I wrapped a burlap sack over my head as we couldn’t afford an umbrella. We could only afford to have dal and dahi rice for food.” It was also a time of war, which meant that the family was exposed to tremendous risk.
Also Read: Dhananjay Datar Likes Collecting Cars; Owns Limited Edition Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Mercedes; More
Dhananjay Datar Failed His Mathematics Class Five Times
We can’t believe that this savvy smart businessman used to fail in mathematics! He revealed that he failed his mathematics class five times in school. Showing off his witty side he said, “When I started my business, I calculated my calculations twice just to make sure I haven’t gone back to my roots!”
At the age of 35, he shifted to Dubai to graduate with a Business Administration degree. Turns out, he scored a whopping 97% in his finals! Now we’ve got the perfect response for anyone who thinks being smart is all about acing math!
Want some life lessons and business advice from Dhananjay Datar? Click on the video linked above or visit our YouTube channel.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE.