Getting a 24-hour sleep is one of his dreams and he can give his important meeting amiss when his wife cooks daal makhani and naan. A self proclaimed foodie and a Hindi movie buff, Balram Garg’s life can be easily identified with, given its simplicity. However, the man with a good head on his shoulders is no less than a magician, who has etched a new chapter in the history of Indian gem and jewellery industry with his innovative marketing strategy, customer service policies, designs and huge showrooms. %% Balram Garg hails from a small village in Haryana, Pinangwan, where he was born and received his primary education. Later the family moved to Delhi, after his elder brother started doing good business in the capital city. Currently they are settled in Delhi. %% Modesty is one of the traits, which keeps him from realising and accepting the fact that his life is an example worth sharing, especially for the ambitious youth, who are running blindfolded in a mad rush of making money. %% Ask him to define himself and he gives you reply which is simple in terms of words, but insightful and intriguing in terms of meaning and depth. Summing up his life so far, he says, “Ours is the first generation in the business. We started from scratch and much hard work has gone into making our brand what it is today. My mother taught me that only thing that will make or mar my life is work and there is no substitute of hard work. So, taking basic lessons from my parents and life, I lead a simple life where I value my work and relationship.”%% Sharing his secret business tip, he says, “Simplicity is the key to all. From my experience, I have learnt that keeping your approach straight and sorted can help you come out of complicated situations easily. I had nothing when I started and so I work with no fear of losing anything. My needs are limited and have not changed with my financial status; therefore I live a tension-free life, where I am not worried about suffering losses. And having a zero ego helps me enjoy every company, do good business and establish some very healthy and memorable relationship with my customers as well.”%%

Ask him about his choice of movies and he, with an mischievous smile, gives out a secret that reveals a funny and naughty side of himself. “I can watch any kind of movie-be it a hit one or a super flop one. I absolutely love watching films and my choice also wanders towards watching those funny dubbed version of south Indian films. I find them hilarious and it’s very relaxing to watch them. I also watch mythological movies, again mostly dubbed version of south Indian movies, with all magic and special effects.”%% In the recently held India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), cine actor Madhuri Dixit walked ramp as showstopper for P C Jeweller. “It goes without saying that Madhuri Dixit is my favourite actor. It was priceless moment when I shared the stage with her and she walked with my designs on. What more can a movie buff ask for?” When not for movies, Garg prefers to watch mythological TV serials and he as much enjoys documentaries and features shown in Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel. %% As for his second interest, that is, food, Garg refuses to keep his loyalty to a single cuisine. “Name it and I like it. Restaurant hopping is again one of my favourite activities. I am a food lover and so anything that is edible for me is good. If insisted then I can list Lebanese, Mexican and Chinese cuisine as my favourite. However, Indian cuisine is something that I cannot do without, so that tops the chart anyways.”%% When young, Garg stuck to his favourites like food and cinema while planning a free day. “During my college days, I have done lot of restaurant hopping and enjoyed it as much. Watching movies and eating outside was always on my priority list when planning a day with friends,” he recalls.%% No matter, how many restaurants he has been to and how many cuisines he has tried, Garg still feels that nothing can match the taste of Daal Churma that his mother used to prepare and the Dal Makhani and Naan that his wife prepares. “I make sure that I reach home early and have food with my family when my wife prepares Dal Makhani and naan. It’s anyways a delight to spend time with family and if it’s with my favourite food, what more can I ask for,” smiles he. %%

Not only Garg is an obedient son and a loving husband, he is also a doting father. Pooja and Balram Garg are blessed with two children- a son and a daughter—Soumil Garg, a class 12 student and Ishita Garg, a class eight student. Like any other father, his daughter’s wish is his command. “I can talk endlessly about my daughter, Ishita, who aspires to become a jewellery designer. At such young age, she is very focused and determined towards her goal. I cannot say no to my daughter and my wife takes complete advantage of this. Whenever they want me around or my wife wants me to be present at some occasion, she comes to me through my daughter and I have no other choice than saying yes,” says the doting father. %% Though he loves his business, he definitely misses his family. “I would love to spend more time with family. I always try to squeeze out time for family, however given my professional commitments, it’s not always easy. But I am blessed with a very understanding partner, who understands my business and requirements and she is my greatest support system. My family understands that I am out not only for business but also to do something different and it would require most of my time and attention,” says a proud Garg.%% Given his simple and relaxed personality, he prefers beaches for holidays, where he can indulge in various water sports. His favourite holiday destinations are Goa in India and Mauritius among all international destinations. “If it’s a holiday, I like to unwind and what better than lazying around at a beach or enjoying refreshing water sports,” he says, adding, “though the luxury of going on holidays is not frequent.”%% Talking about his initiation in business, he recalls, “Given the environment in the family, jewellery business, which actually comes from my maternal family, was always on my mind. I joined the business in 1991 and was able to open my own brand P C Jeweller only in 2005. During my initial days, I understood that trust and image are the keywords. Trust comes from good customer relations. So, when my first store in Delhi was successful, I copied the model of having big showrooms and expanded my business. This worked for me and today I have 30 showrooms,” he says. %% Not to mention the hurdles that he faced while expanding his business made him more determined. “Various government policies, the mindset prevalent in the market, social issues and much more bothered me when I was trying to expand my business. However, I was clear with what I want and I knew if I can cross it once, I can cross it as many time as I want. If one can handle pressure and complete the task once, they can gain much confidence to do it again. Courage was needed and thankfully, my parents instilled that in me. Today I can open 10 new showrooms without any hassle,” he shares. %%

When asked if this is what he wanted to do, he takes no time in answering this, as he says, “Yes, this is what occupied my mind. I could not think anything beyond jewellery business. All my creativity and thoughts went in into the business only and nowhere else. Moreover, in past there were fewer career options in a traditional family. Today there is an array of career options to choose from. I was sure I had to join the business, but I was also sure that I have to bring changes in the business.” %% Despite achieving such feat, what keeps him so grounded? To this, he says, “My training has been basic. I have sat through with the artisans to learn how to make jewelry, I have been with workers and done every small thing myself before I could take the reigns of the business in my hand.”%% Talking about the industry, he says that he likes it for the fact that there is immense potential and employment opportunity in the industry. “It can grow much bigger and feed many, if we take it ahead with good planning and approach. This industry is open for all and welcomes new people. And the best part is this industry is not very loss prone. We may not make profit, but loss is not frequent or rampant,” he says, adding, “However, the industry also has some drawbacks like stubborn mindset of jewelers and their bad image in front of the buyers. Also the quality of the product in terms of design does not make me happy. People always look at the jewellers with suspicion. I always wondered how the industry can be bad if people working in it come from same society where others come from.”%% With his straight approach, simple lifestyle, sweet dreams for family and high aspirations for the jewellery industry the mogul signs off with a statement that he has no time to wait because there is a lot that needs to be done to make the industry a better and bigger one. “My life is on the move all the time, if I halt, I will miss out on so many things – right from my movies, home-cooked food, my daughter’s company and obviously an opportunity to make difference to this glittering industry,”%5

Getting a 24-hour sleep is one of his dreams and he can give his important meeting amiss when his wife cooks daal makhani and naan. A self proclaimed foodie and a Hindi movie buff, Balram Garg’s life can be easily identified with, given its simplicity. However, the man with a good head on his shoulders is no less than a magician, who has etched a new chapter in the history of Indian gem and jewellery industry with his innovative marketing strategy, customer service policies, designs and huge showrooms. %% Balram Garg hails from a small village in Haryana, Pinangwan, where he was born and received his primary education. Later the family moved to Delhi, after his elder brother started doing good business in the capital city. Currently they are settled in Delhi. %% Modesty is one of the traits, which keeps him from realising and accepting the fact that his life is an example worth sharing, especially for the ambitious youth, who are running blindfolded in a mad rush of making money. %% Ask him to define himself and he gives you reply which is simple in terms of words, but insightful and intriguing in terms of meaning and depth. Summing up his life so far, he says, “Ours is the first generation in the business. We started from scratch and much hard work has gone into making our brand what it is today. My mother taught me that only thing that will make or mar my life is work and there is no substitute of hard work. So, taking basic lessons from my parents and life, I lead a simple life where I value my work and relationship.”%% Sharing his secret business tip, he says, “Simplicity is the key to all. From my experience, I have learnt that keeping your approach straight and sorted can help you come out of complicated situations easily. I had nothing when I started and so I work with no fear of losing anything. My needs are limited and have not changed with my financial status; therefore I live a tension-free life, where I am not worried about suffering losses. And having a zero ego helps me enjoy every company, do good business and establish some very healthy and memorable relationship with my customers as well.”%%

Ask him about his choice of movies and he, with an mischievous smile, gives out a secret that reveals a funny and naughty side of himself. “I can watch any kind of movie-be it a hit one or a super flop one. I absolutely love watching films and my choice also wanders towards watching those funny dubbed version of south Indian films. I find them hilarious and it’s very relaxing to watch them. I also watch mythological movies, again mostly dubbed version of south Indian movies, with all magic and special effects.”%% In the recently held India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), cine actor Madhuri Dixit walked ramp as showstopper for P C Jeweller. “It goes without saying that Madhuri Dixit is my favourite actor. It was priceless moment when I shared the stage with her and she walked with my designs on. What more can a movie buff ask for?” When not for movies, Garg prefers to watch mythological TV serials and he as much enjoys documentaries and features shown in Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel. %% As for his second interest, that is, food, Garg refuses to keep his loyalty to a single cuisine. “Name it and I like it. Restaurant hopping is again one of my favourite activities. I am a food lover and so anything that is edible for me is good. If insisted then I can list Lebanese, Mexican and Chinese cuisine as my favourite. However, Indian cuisine is something that I cannot do without, so that tops the chart anyways.”%% When young, Garg stuck to his favourites like food and cinema while planning a free day. “During my college days, I have done lot of restaurant hopping and enjoyed it as much. Watching movies and eating outside was always on my priority list when planning a day with friends,” he recalls.%% No matter, how many restaurants he has been to and how many cuisines he has tried, Garg still feels that nothing can match the taste of Daal Churma that his mother used to prepare and the Dal Makhani and Naan that his wife prepares. “I make sure that I reach home early and have food with my family when my wife prepares Dal Makhani and naan. It’s anyways a delight to spend time with family and if it’s with my favourite food, what more can I ask for,” smiles he. %%

Not only Garg is an obedient son and a loving husband, he is also a doting father. Pooja and Balram Garg are blessed with two children- a son and a daughter—Soumil Garg, a class 12 student and Ishita Garg, a class eight student. Like any other father, his daughter’s wish is his command. “I can talk endlessly about my daughter, Ishita, who aspires to become a jewellery designer. At such young age, she is very focused and determined towards her goal. I cannot say no to my daughter and my wife takes complete advantage of this. Whenever they want me around or my wife wants me to be present at some occasion, she comes to me through my daughter and I have no other choice than saying yes,” says the doting father. %% Though he loves his business, he definitely misses his family. “I would love to spend more time with family. I always try to squeeze out time for family, however given my professional commitments, it’s not always easy. But I am blessed with a very understanding partner, who understands my business and requirements and she is my greatest support system. My family understands that I am out not only for business but also to do something different and it would require most of my time and attention,” says a proud Garg.%% Given his simple and relaxed personality, he prefers beaches for holidays, where he can indulge in various water sports. His favourite holiday destinations are Goa in India and Mauritius among all international destinations. “If it’s a holiday, I like to unwind and what better than lazying around at a beach or enjoying refreshing water sports,” he says, adding, “though the luxury of going on holidays is not frequent.”%% Talking about his initiation in business, he recalls, “Given the environment in the family, jewellery business, which actually comes from my maternal family, was always on my mind. I joined the business in 1991 and was able to open my own brand P C Jeweller only in 2005. During my initial days, I understood that trust and image are the keywords. Trust comes from good customer relations. So, when my first store in Delhi was successful, I copied the model of having big showrooms and expanded my business. This worked for me and today I have 30 showrooms,” he says. %% Not to mention the hurdles that he faced while expanding his business made him more determined. “Various government policies, the mindset prevalent in the market, social issues and much more bothered me when I was trying to expand my business. However, I was clear with what I want and I knew if I can cross it once, I can cross it as many time as I want. If one can handle pressure and complete the task once, they can gain much confidence to do it again. Courage was needed and thankfully, my parents instilled that in me. Today I can open 10 new showrooms without any hassle,” he shares. %%

When asked if this is what he wanted to do, he takes no time in answering this, as he says, “Yes, this is what occupied my mind. I could not think anything beyond jewellery business. All my creativity and thoughts went in into the business only and nowhere else. Moreover, in past there were fewer career options in a traditional family. Today there is an array of career options to choose from. I was sure I had to join the business, but I was also sure that I have to bring changes in the business.” %% Despite achieving such feat, what keeps him so grounded? To this, he says, “My training has been basic. I have sat through with the artisans to learn how to make jewelry, I have been with workers and done every small thing myself before I could take the reigns of the business in my hand.”%% Talking about the industry, he says that he likes it for the fact that there is immense potential and employment opportunity in the industry. “It can grow much bigger and feed many, if we take it ahead with good planning and approach. This industry is open for all and welcomes new people. And the best part is this industry is not very loss prone. We may not make profit, but loss is not frequent or rampant,” he says, adding, “However, the industry also has some drawbacks like stubborn mindset of jewelers and their bad image in front of the buyers. Also the quality of the product in terms of design does not make me happy. People always look at the jewellers with suspicion. I always wondered how the industry can be bad if people working in it come from same society where others come from.”%% With his straight approach, simple lifestyle, sweet dreams for family and high aspirations for the jewellery industry the mogul signs off with a statement that he has no time to wait because there is a lot that needs to be done to make the industry a better and bigger one. “My life is on the move all the time, if I halt, I will miss out on so many things – right from my movies, home-cooked food, my daughter’s company and obviously an opportunity to make difference to this glittering industry,”%5

Getting a 24-hour sleep is one of his dreams and he can give his important meeting amiss when his wife cooks daal makhani and naan. A self proclaimed foodie and a Hindi movie buff, Balram Garg’s life can be easily identified with, given its simplicity. However, the man with a good head on his shoulders is no less than a magician, who has etched a new chapter in the history of Indian gem and jewellery industry with his innovative marketing strategy, customer service policies, designs and huge showrooms. %% Balram Garg hails from a small village in Haryana, Pinangwan, where he was born and received his primary education. Later the family moved to Delhi, after his elder brother started doing good business in the capital city. Currently they are settled in Delhi. %% Modesty is one of the traits, which keeps him from realising and accepting the fact that his life is an example worth sharing, especially for the ambitious youth, who are running blindfolded in a mad rush of making money. %% Ask him to define himself and he gives you reply which is simple in terms of words, but insightful and intriguing in terms of meaning and depth. Summing up his life so far, he says, “Ours is the first generation in the business. We started from scratch and much hard work has gone into making our brand what it is today. My mother taught me that only thing that will make or mar my life is work and there is no substitute of hard work. So, taking basic lessons from my parents and life, I lead a simple life where I value my work and relationship.”%% Sharing his secret business tip, he says, “Simplicity is the key to all. From my experience, I have learnt that keeping your approach straight and sorted can help you come out of complicated situations easily. I had nothing when I started and so I work with no fear of losing anything. My needs are limited and have not changed with my financial status; therefore I live a tension-free life, where I am not worried about suffering losses. And having a zero ego helps me enjoy every company, do good business and establish some very healthy and memorable relationship with my customers as well.”%%

Ask him about his choice of movies and he, with an mischievous smile, gives out a secret that reveals a funny and naughty side of himself. “I can watch any kind of movie-be it a hit one or a super flop one. I absolutely love watching films and my choice also wanders towards watching those funny dubbed version of south Indian films. I find them hilarious and it’s very relaxing to watch them. I also watch mythological movies, again mostly dubbed version of south Indian movies, with all magic and special effects.”%% In the recently held India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), cine actor Madhuri Dixit walked ramp as showstopper for P C Jeweller. “It goes without saying that Madhuri Dixit is my favourite actor. It was priceless moment when I shared the stage with her and she walked with my designs on. What more can a movie buff ask for?” When not for movies, Garg prefers to watch mythological TV serials and he as much enjoys documentaries and features shown in Discovery Channel and National Geographic Channel. %% As for his second interest, that is, food, Garg refuses to keep his loyalty to a single cuisine. “Name it and I like it. Restaurant hopping is again one of my favourite activities. I am a food lover and so anything that is edible for me is good. If insisted then I can list Lebanese, Mexican and Chinese cuisine as my favourite. However, Indian cuisine is something that I cannot do without, so that tops the chart anyways.”%% When young, Garg stuck to his favourites like food and cinema while planning a free day. “During my college days, I have done lot of restaurant hopping and enjoyed it as much. Watching movies and eating outside was always on my priority list when planning a day with friends,” he recalls.%% No matter, how many restaurants he has been to and how many cuisines he has tried, Garg still feels that nothing can match the taste of Daal Churma that his mother used to prepare and the Dal Makhani and Naan that his wife prepares. “I make sure that I reach home early and have food with my family when my wife prepares Dal Makhani and naan. It’s anyways a delight to spend time with family and if it’s with my favourite food, what more can I ask for,” smiles he. %%

Not only Garg is an obedient son and a loving husband, he is also a doting father. Pooja and Balram Garg are blessed with two children- a son and a daughter—Soumil Garg, a class 12 student and Ishita Garg, a class eight student. Like any other father, his daughter’s wish is his command. “I can talk endlessly about my daughter, Ishita, who aspires to become a jewellery designer. At such young age, she is very focused and determined towards her goal. I cannot say no to my daughter and my wife takes complete advantage of this. Whenever they want me around or my wife wants me to be present at some occasion, she comes to me through my daughter and I have no other choice than saying yes,” says the doting father. %% Though he loves his business, he definitely misses his family. “I would love to spend more time with family. I always try to squeeze out time for family, however given my professional commitments, it’s not always easy. But I am blessed with a very understanding partner, who understands my business and requirements and she is my greatest support system. My family understands that I am out not only for business but also to do something different and it would require most of my time and attention,” says a proud Garg.%% Given his simple and relaxed personality, he prefers beaches for holidays, where he can indulge in various water sports. His favourite holiday destinations are Goa in India and Mauritius among all international destinations. “If it’s a holiday, I like to unwind and what better than lazying around at a beach or enjoying refreshing water sports,” he says, adding, “though the luxury of going on holidays is not frequent.”%% Talking about his initiation in business, he recalls, “Given the environment in the family, jewellery business, which actually comes from my maternal family, was always on my mind. I joined the business in 1991 and was able to open my own brand P C Jeweller only in 2005. During my initial days, I understood that trust and image are the keywords. Trust comes from good customer relations. So, when my first store in Delhi was successful, I copied the model of having big showrooms and expanded my business. This worked for me and today I have 30 showrooms,” he says. %% Not to mention the hurdles that he faced while expanding his business made him more determined. “Various government policies, the mindset prevalent in the market, social issues and much more bothered me when I was trying to expand my business. However, I was clear with what I want and I knew if I can cross it once, I can cross it as many time as I want. If one can handle pressure and complete the task once, they can gain much confidence to do it again. Courage was needed and thankfully, my parents instilled that in me. Today I can open 10 new showrooms without any hassle,” he shares. %%

When asked if this is what he wanted to do, he takes no time in answering this, as he says, “Yes, this is what occupied my mind. I could not think anything beyond jewellery business. All my creativity and thoughts went in into the business only and nowhere else. Moreover, in past there were fewer career options in a traditional family. Today there is an array of career options to choose from. I was sure I had to join the business, but I was also sure that I have to bring changes in the business.” %% Despite achieving such feat, what keeps him so grounded? To this, he says, “My training has been basic. I have sat through with the artisans to learn how to make jewelry, I have been with workers and done every small thing myself before I could take the reigns of the business in my hand.”%% Talking about the industry, he says that he likes it for the fact that there is immense potential and employment opportunity in the industry. “It can grow much bigger and feed many, if we take it ahead with good planning and approach. This industry is open for all and welcomes new people. And the best part is this industry is not very loss prone. We may not make profit, but loss is not frequent or rampant,” he says, adding, “However, the industry also has some drawbacks like stubborn mindset of jewelers and their bad image in front of the buyers. Also the quality of the product in terms of design does not make me happy. People always look at the jewellers with suspicion. I always wondered how the industry can be bad if people working in it come from same society where others come from.”%% With his straight approach, simple lifestyle, sweet dreams for family and high aspirations for the jewellery industry the mogul signs off with a statement that he has no time to wait because there is a lot that needs to be done to make the industry a better and bigger one. “My life is on the move all the time, if I halt, I will miss out on so many things – right from my movies, home-cooked food, my daughter’s company and obviously an opportunity to make difference to this glittering industry,”%5