'मैं अकेला ही चला था जानिब-ए-मंज़िल मगर, लोग साथ आते गए और कारवाँ बनता गया'.
These words by Majrooh Sultanpuri capture my my journey at FIGSI so well. This journey has been so dear to my heart thanks to each and every one of you.
Dear office bearers, colleagues and friends from our illustrious Federation, today is an extraordinary day for me. As my term as FIGSI President comes to an end, I am overcome with many emotions and memories of our time spent together and of our collective achievements.
When I became President for the first time, my Late father had inspired me to act boldly in the interest of the industry. He always encouraged me to lead by example and to leave a lasting legacy through my works.
Today, as I stand before you, I believe I have done everything in my capacity to fulfil that advice from my Late father. I have worked passionately for our collective dreams as a family. I have given this Presidency my heart and soul.
It has truly been an honour and one of the greatest privileges of my life to be given the opportunity to lead the Federation for two consecutive terms. I will forever be thankful for all your support.
Today, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and nostalgia. I am grateful for the support of our Founder President, Immediate Past President, past presidents, the Executive Committee and all members who have shown confidence in my ability to lead the Federation. I am also thankful to the FIGSI Secretariat and administrative staff for their dedication.
It is on the foundation of your support and the works of the past leadership that this Presidency has worked with unwavering dedication to power the Indian stone industry into a new era of sustainable growth.
I have had the privilege of working with dedicated individuals from every corner of our country as FIGSI grew as a brand that is recognized at regional, national and international levels.
We have not only increased our global footprint, but have also grown our domestic reach, connecting more stone businesses and regions than ever before across the length and breadth of our vast and rich country.
On this journey, we faced many challenges, especially with the unprecedented Covid pandemic throwing life out of gear. There were also policy issues and industry challenges. We together worked on them all effectively.
I am particularly proud of how our industry came together in the time of need during the pandemic and supported each other. We stepped up as a Federation, contributed to the national effort to fight Covid and also helped stone clusters build capacity for healthier living and working standards.
Such efforts leave a lasting mark on society. Our contributions on the CSR front are highly appreciated by governments as well, and many organisations look up to FIGSI for inspiration.
FIGSI now has an upgraded digital presence, a revamped magazine and we also completed a video documentary on Indian stones and stone clusters, something that was on the Federation wish-list for a long time.
Throughout my journey at FIGSI, I have worked with conviction for the prosperity of our industry. And I have been abundantly supported by a talented Executive Committee.
From boardroom meetings to exhibition hall setups – we have worked at every level on the ground to gauge the pulse of the stone market, to support stone businesses and to provide the right support to the industry.
The impact of our efforts is visible in the big strides the industry has made and the power that brand FIGSI holds. Over the long term, our exports have risen, domestic industry has diversified and we are now positioned to lead as a global stone and skill superpower.
Skill development has particularly been an area of deep interest for me. It is skill that has the potential to lead incremental change for any industry.
And thus I have focussed especially on creating the right ecosystem and infrastructure to upskill our industry and human capital. We’ve transformed unproductive assets of the Federation into productive assets that will continue to generate real value for the industry.
The skill centre at Mahindra SEZ, Jaipur is already operational and the doors at Hosur will open soon as well.
Once we unlock the power of skilled human capital, we are certain to take a leading position in not just stone production and processing, but also as a global skill capital in the industry – strengthening the Indian position across the entire value chain of the stone industry.
In fact, stone associations from South Korea and many European countries have been enquiring about hiring skilled manpower for their industries, and business partners from counties like Iran have asked how can they collaborate with the FIGSI Centres for Stone Excellence.
I have always said – we have the material, we have the machines, and now we will have the right manpower as well. We are poised to be a Stone Superpower.
People say chase dreams that keep you awake at night. Making India the stone and skill capital of the world is that dream for me. Even as my term as President comes to an end, I will continue chasing that dream. Together, we will make India the centre of innovation, skilling and sustainability in our industry.
Statistics speak for themselves, but I hope when my tenure is judged, people also see beyond numbers and recognise the sheer commitment of this Presidency and Executive Committee.
FIGSI today is globally recognised as the voice of the Indian stone industry. We hold an important seat at the table when industry matters are discussed. Government bodies respect our commitment and members of the media appreciate our expert opinion. FIGSI has truly become a force to reckon with.
Every kind of growth though comes at a price.
There have been many sacrifices that have been made by me and members of our Executive Committee to ensure the prosperity of the industry. I have devoted all my time to the industry, sacrificing on many professional and personal avenues.
In this quest, my family, especially my wife and sons, stood by me like solid rocks, offering their unending support and understanding. They have been my pillar of strength, allowing me to devote time and energy to our industry.
When they say there’s a strong woman behind a successful man, they are not wrong – in fact, there’s been a strong family behind all my efforts. Thank you my dearest family, I will always be indebted to you for your support. I dedicate my professional life’s efforts and achievements to the industry and to all of you.
During these two terms, my door has always been open to anyone who had new ideas, suggestions or issues they needed support with. As I move on from this Chair, I assure the entire stone community that my passion for the industry will never end. My door continues to be open to you all.
As I now pass on the baton, I wish the incoming President and Executive Committee the very best to continue taking the industry and FIGSI from strength to strength. I am always with you.
The office of the FIGSI President is not a mere bed of roses. Where there are roses, there are always thorns. And it is in navigating those with maturity that lies a true test of leadership.
For me, this journey has been challenging, yet immensely satisfying. The synergies we have cultivated create long-term value, and I am confident that the industry will continue to flourish.
My term as President ends, but our journey together continues with the same dream and determination. May the stone industry of our great nation continue to shine.
I bid farewell as FIGSI President with a few lines in Hindi that capture my emotions today.
होंगे जुदा अब वो तारीख आई है,
दिल है बेचैन, आँखे भर आई है,
कभी नौसिखिया थे, फिर कितने लायक बन गए,
देखो हम मिलकर क्या क्या कर गए,
आप ही बताओ अब कैसे कर दे जल्दी से विदा,
जब पत्थर उद्योग पर कर दिया अपना सारा जीवन फ़िदा,
आगे दीपक सौंपना दस्तुर है जमाने का,
अब तुम FIGSI को बडाओ, हम साथ हैं हमेशा,
इसी बात पर करते हैं आप सबका शुक्रिया,
दोस्तो, हमने अपना जीवन पत्थर के नाम कर दिया।
