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Image Credit: Photo: MBA Chai Wala
The pandemic has not spared people from its adversities. A lot of people lost jobs during the period and suffered huge losses. But some managed to turn the adversity into an opportunity to invent something special, that turned into a trend due to sheer hard work and passion! Read this story about Prafull Billore who shows us that perseverance never goes out of style.
Prafull Billore, a 29-year old student who was preparing for his CAT admission knew that he had to find a source of sustenance by himself. Day and night, he studied hard to enter one of the top colleges in India. But after 3 years of continuous hard work, he didn't make it into the college of his choice. So he packed his bags and travelled around India. Eventually, he ended up in Ahmedabad, where he started exploring the pathway to open a cafe or restaurant while working at McDonald's. But securing an investment of 10 lakhs or 15 lakhs was not possible. So he decided to show willpower and patience. Think of how many times we all were drawn to the abyss of adversity without our will. That’s life!
Prafull asked his father to invest 8,000 - 10,000 INR in a course he wanted to do. But in fact, this was just a white lie. Prafull used the money to buy chai and patila, and then put up a roadside tea stall to find a way forward. Initially, the profit margin was small. But he approached people to try his chai. Once he ran a promotional event to attract customers; selling free chai to singles on Valentine's Day. This eventually got everyone talking about his chai.
However, Prafull enrolled in a local MBA college because he didn't want his father to be let down. Halfway, it didn't make sense to study, if he had to leave his chai stall. So he quit. What is awe-inspiring about Prafull Billore is that he is now supporting other employees, since the business took off. Initially, he made tea himself. But today, many other people help him to do the work.
But perhaps you may wonder what all obstacles he has faced. Here's the back story: after Praful Billore was threatened by other chaiwallas who didn't understand why he was making more money than them, Prafull was forced to shut down his tea stall. So he found another location in Ahmedabad to sell tea. But this was not a roadside tea stall. He was rented a space, where he put up a board 'Mr. Billore Ahmedabad Chai Wala' -- a name which is as unique as his personal story. This was the first time that Prafull had a proper location to operate his business. Since then, the business has grown substantially and Prafull Billore has started a chain of cafes to shoot up his revenue. He has been invited to speak at prestigious institutions such as IIM. Prafull Billore even put up his 'chai ki dukaan' during events supporting entrepreneurship programs, blood donation, women empowerment, social nights and so on.
This man’s efforts may look slightly confusing to the world. But Prafull must be applauded for the sole fact that he has battled the stigma associated with the profession of selling tea. Selling tea is considered a poor man's work in the country. He may have been mocked initially for being a chaiwallah, but today, Prafull is one of the role models for people who wish to start businesses of their own. While many people may think that they would never have to be in such situations thanks to backup plans, privilege and power, remember that Prafull's journey is one of the rare examples where it is character and persistence which need to be given bigger credit.
So here's to Prafull, who proved to us that no work is little or big. You can visit his cafe in Karishma Complex, Shop - 2, Stadium Cross Rd.
