Know India’s First Billionaire Dalit Entrepreneur Rajesh Saraiya: Father’s Foresight Carved A Name The World Won’t Forget

Stories from Society By Akarshi Srivastava | 3 min read

Rajesh Saraiya

Cast might hamper the decision in a love marriage in India, but it cannot restrict somebody’s dreams and aspirations. Rajesh Saraiya, a man from the once-discriminated Dalit community in India, proved that no caste system can break your spirit of succeeding in life if you are committed enough. He proved that when people are provided with efficient opportunities, they can actually prove all the sympathetic notions wrong.

It is just that you have to create the opportunities and not sit back for them to happen on their own. Read the story of the role model of Dalits in the 20th century to know how he defied all odds and made it clear that there is an ocean of opportunities in the world, but it all depends on how much you can absorb. Take your required dose of motivation for achieving your dreams from Rajesh Saraiya story!

What was the situation of Dalits in ancient India?

All our social sciences and history books have painted a picture enough to understand the terrible situation of Dalits in ancient India. They were differentiated from the others just on the basis of their caste. They were denied equal access to education, food, religious values, and every other basic necessity in life until Mahatma Gandhi fought for them. It is obvious that when someone does not get equal opportunities in life, their growth will differ for sure.

Rajesh Saraiya - Mahatma Gandhi
Source: Wikipedia

But the growing India evolved way too much from differentiating Dalits and holding sympathy for them to actually treating them as normal surviving individuals having equal rights over everything in life. But the situation was not this normal when Rajesh Saraiya was still a kid.

Even during a time that made it difficult for the Dalit community to thrive, he proved the ancient beliefs wrong by rising to the top and becoming the first Dalit billionaire in India. His story had its own struggles and challenges to break through but he did and did it with such a wonder that the world will always remember him as the first Dalit billionaire of India.

Dalit Entrepreneur Rajesh Saraiya rose to the top

It was not easy for him to survive life and hustle side-by-side for the success he owns today, but he never chose to give up in life. Read on to know the story of India’s first dalit billionaire!

India’s First Dalit Billionaire

Rajesh Saraiya was born in the Saraiya Sani village near Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh. The Dalit community had the commonality of naming their kids with names like “kallu”, “kuddu”, “nathu” etc. However, breaking free from these conventions, Saraiya’s father, Natharam, sought to usher in a new era for the next generation. Refusing to adhere to the degrading tradition of assigning mocking names to Dalit children, Natharam boldly departed from the norm and bestowed upon his son the dignified name of Rajesh.

Rajesh owes his distinctive name and surname to his father’s progressive mindset. In the Dalit community, surnames were uncommon due to economic constraints, but Natharam broke this tradition. He not only gave Rajesh a meaningful name but also introduced “Saraiya” as a surname, aiming to preserve the identity of his village with his son’s existence.

Rajesh Saraiya
Source: Twitter

Rajesh Saraiya might not be a name known to many but for the people of the Dalit community in India, he is a superhero and a role model. Born in a middle-class family in Dehradun, India, Rajesh was always a studious child, hell-bent on making a career that nobody could ever imagine for a Dalit man.

He completed his bachelor’s in aeronautical engineering from Russia and later in life, did what he dreamt of. Today, Rajesh Saraiya owns a multi-national company that deals in metal across some developed countries such as Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, etc.

Rajesh Saraiya company turning crores

Rajesh Saraiya company
Source: Steelmont.de

Rajesh Saraiya became India’s first Dalit entrepreneur by starting a multi-national trading company named Steel Mont with steel trading experience of more than 10 years. It supplies industrial finished and semi-finished materials such as Coke, Coal, Iron ores, etc. all over the world. One principle that Steel Mont has followed from day 1 is its inception to maintain the highest quality standards in the world which is the secretive reason behind the success of Steel Mont till now!

Rajesh Saraiya net worth

Rajesh Saraiya net worth is breaking multiple records in the steel industry. In the late 40’s Rajesh Saraiya net worth is around 5 million dollars making him the first billionaire entrepreneur of the Dalit community in India.

Rajesh Saraiya Family and future plans to pay back to the nation!

Rajesh Saraiya is one of the biggest entrepreneurs in the world and he follows the rule of keeping his personal life private. Currently, he is living in Dusseldorf, Germany with his wife and two sons. Rajesh Saraiya family is living in Europe for 25 years but all of them own an Indian passport highlighting their nationality.

Rajesh saraiya
Source: Wikipedia

Rajesh Saraiya family believes in coming back to their homeland because there is no place like India which has multiple cultures and exciting traditions and he wishes to give back to the nation. In an interview, he highlighted his great plans for homecoming by setting up a cooperative unit in the food processing units.

Despite all the discrimination and pre-assumptions, this dalit entrepreneur never let anything affect his morals and he kept evolving. Today, owns a company turning billions!

For more information, you can check out their official website – steelmont.de

Feature Image – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Dalits in India worship mahatma Gandhi?

Mahatma Gandhi was of the view that they should be given equal assistance in society and even named them “Harijan – The people of God”. Hari – God, Jan – people. So, he is worshipped a lot in the Dalit community.

Is Rajesh Saraiya company in India?

No, Rajesh Saraiya company has so many collaborations across the world but not in India. He is planning to relocate to India and launch a new business model here.

Who is the richest entrepreneur in the world?

Elon Musk is the richest entrepreneur in the world.

If you liked reading this inspiring story of India’s first dalit billionaire, then do give a read to the Top 10 Time Management Skills, Each Corporate Employee Needs To Grow.

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