LONDON: The fascinating growth of a small Pune shop selling electrical cables into a Rs 1,800-crore Finolex group was recalled when its chairman Pralhad Chhabria was honored by the prestigious Institute of Directors. Chairman of the UK-India Business Council Lord Karan Bilimoria presented a silver platter to Chhabria in recognition of his contribution to "entrepreneurship" at a function organized to celebrate the launch of his autobiography.

'There's No Such Thing as Self-Made Man' narrates Chhabria's fascinating rise from a humble beginning to Chairman of a leading Indian business enterprise. About 220 dignitaries from the diplomatic, political and business community attended the function hosted by Srichand and Gopichand Hinduja, Chairman and President respectively of the Hinduja Group.

Launching the book, leading NRI Labor MP Keith Vaz said Chhabria's success story was an example of the contribution being made by prominent Indian business people around the world, including many NRIs based in the UK. "He is an example to us all for how hard work, integrity and customer service will bring success," Vaz said. Praising Chhabria's visionary outlook, Lord Bilimoria said he identified the importance of infrastructure development in India "well before most of others."

The Finolex Group is now one of India's leading business conglomerates with interests in diverse areas such as Telecommunications, Petrochemicals, Irrigation and Education. All proceeds from the sale of the book would be donated to the pediatric unit at the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Pune. Srichand Hinduja focused on the many lessons in the book for the business community around the world. "This man's quiet approach reflects a relentless focus on the important tasks on hand.

Further, his model that growth comes from the grassroots and relies upon the team, not I, but we, are lessons for business success worldwide," he said. Prominent among those present at the function were India's Acting High Commissioner Asoke Mukerji, Ambassadors of Thailand, Belgium and Egypt and some members of the House of Lords including Lord Bagri, Lord Brennan, Lord Hameed and Lord Marshall.