Vedanta boss Anil Agarwal’s ‘Bombay’ story: ‘Used to work in tiny office, share telephone'

Billionaire Anil Agarwal recollected a time when he would share a telephone in his office in Mumbai. (Image credit: @AnilAgarwal_Ved/Twitter)

Anil Agarwal on Monday gave his Twitter followers a glimpse into his life from the time -- when he had just moved to Mumbai from Bihar and started dealing in metal scraps -- with a throwback photo and a few anecdotes.

The founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited tweeted: "I rented an 8ft by 9ft office in Bhoiwada (metal market) in Kalvadevi where I would work day-in, day-out." Agarwal added that he would then share a telephone at work.

After making connections in Mumbai, I rented an 8ft by 9ft office in Bhoiwada (metal market) in Kalvadevi where I would work day-in, day-out. Using a shared telephone… pic.twitter.com/JrPSHtYqVg

Story continues below Advertisement

Remove Ad

— Anil Agarwal (@AnilAgarwal_Ved) March 7, 2022

Elaborating on his business when he had started out at 19, Anil Agarwal said, "I would sell and buy metal scrap collected from cable companies, and Bihar, my hometown."

After work, he would take the evening local train back home, "with an occasional detour to stroll on Juhu Beach or Chowpatty, watching the waves crash against the sand…"

As he spent more time in the city, Agarwal realised why Mumbai (then Bombay) was called "the city that never sleeps". "Din ho ya raat, sheher ki raunak hamesha barkarar rehti hai (Doesn't matter if it's day or night, the city's keeps sparkling)," the billionaire tweeted with a hint that more anecdotes would follow soon.

Twitter users appeared to love Agarwal's story telling with many urging the businessman to pen his autobiography.

Truly inspirational, pls pen down your autobiography too, our nextgen needs to learn from your struggles, trials and tribulations and most importantly your hard work and the fact that you never forgot your roots and are determined to share it with the society

Story continues below Advertisement

Remove Ad

— Sunil Srivastava (@srivastavsun) March 7, 2022

You are a born storyteller. Gripping account in just three posts! Awesome. Your autobiography would be a best seller and able guide for scores of aspiring struggling entrepreneurs. Keenly waiting for the next posts.

— अजीत অজীত Ajit (@the_ajitsingh) March 7, 2022

Very Inspirational Sir!! I will wait for your autobiography that will help many generations to learn and build from Scratch or Scrap.
I am more attached bcos Vedanta Alumina was my company after college in 2005.

— PK (@pkrai1367) March 7, 2022

Agarwal, who often shares stories of his past on Twitter, had earlier tweeted about his arrival to Mumbai. In a tweet from February 15, he wrote: "Millions of people come to Mumbai to try their luck. I was one of them. I remember the day I left Bihar with only a tiffin box, bedding, and dreams in my eyes."

"I arrived at Victoria Terminus station, and for the first time. I saw a kaali peeli (yellow and black) taxi, a double-decker bus and the City of Dreams - all of which I had only seen in the movies." He then encouraged youngsters to work hard and aim for the stars. "Agar aap majboot irade ke saath pehla kadam uthayenge, manzil milna tay hai (If you are determined to realise your dreams, they will come true)!" he had tweeted.