Jain Spirit 2001 12 No 09

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 50

WORKPLACE
SHARAYU, A WOMAN
Shalaja Ganguly talks to Sharayu Daftary about the Jain influence on her business success
OU CANNOT IGNORE OR DENY the fact that a man and a
woman are like the twin wheels of life's carriage. That is why a husband and wife must nurture mutual respect and buffer each other at all times on their journey towards self-expression and fulfilment. For it
MEEVAL AGARWAL
is only in such secure and civilised 1981, Daftary has also earned the homes that an intellectually strong and
distinction of being the first woman emotionally sound new generation can to be elected President of the be raised, and a bright future ensured Automotive Components Manufacturers for our values and our culture."
Association in 1971, the first woman This is Sharayu Daftary - ace
member of the executive committee of businesswoman, caring wife, proud FICCI (Federation of Indian mother of three accomplished Chambers of Commerce & Industry, daughters and a staunch practising
New Delhi), and first lady Rotarian of Jain - speaking in her new avatar as a the Rotary Club in her area. In fact, committed editor of Jain Bodhak, an during her initial run at the IMC, she inspiring fortnightly
was President elect of paraphrasing the way
both its mainstream to live right, as per the "Rather than body and the Ladies' tenets of Jainism. In
appointing
Wing. this edit she is reacting
She is also founder to Prime Minister quality-control
and managing director Vajpayee's declaration inspectors.
of Bharat Radiators of 2001 as the
Ltd., an engineering and "Women's Rights always told my
ancillary unit to the Year” and elucidating workers that I automobile industry how gender equality is
which she established in had full faith in intrinsic to the Jain
1958, at age 25. She darma which grants
them.”
guided the fortunes of a woman as much
her company with a dignity, freedom of thought and
business acumen and opportunity, as a man.
humane approach that could teach a A lightning-swift mind, a wide thing or two to hothouse trained canvas of interests and achievements, MBAs, whose focus on upward ideas as crisp as the delicately mobility often makes them lose sight embroidered cottons she prefers, a of the shop-floor where the success tremendous capacity for absorbing story actually begins. information and learning, and a work
“For 32 years we had no strike, no ethic that is defined by "need not
go-slow and no loss of manpower." greed" has enabled this spunky inher- Now this is a record achievement for a itor of the Walchand family to go far helmswoman with a BA degree, who in a male-dominated arena with many worked on the machines in a sari (oh "firsts" to her credit.
yes!) and evolved her own play-to-win Currently injecting her special strategy with some credit to Peter spark of womanpower in her second Drucker, who asserts that the best innings as President of the Indian manager is one who can get everyMerchants Chamber (IMC), where thing done through worthy delegates. she had the honour of becoming the "I really believe in that. Rather first elected President way back in than appointing quality-control
Sharayu Daftary
46
Jain Spirit · December 2001 - February 2002