From a Failure to a Bamboo Entrepreneur
The world is now shifting it's focus towards renewable products and resources more and more as the energy demands are rising and resources are getting depleted. Satyam was once called a "failure" and "Junglee" but now this Bihar based entrepreneur - Satyam Sundaram is a bamboo entrepreneur earning 25 lakhs per year from his company . After identifying the potential of bamboo as a strong alternative to plastic, this bamboo based business transformed satyam's life altogether.
Childhood Days and Studies
Satyam belongs to a small village called Lakhanpur of Munger district of Bihar. He completed his pre primary education from a government school where he was carrying his books in a jute sack or Bora. His father was in Bihar police. By the time he was seven, his father get transferred to Purnia and the family also got shifted along with him. When he got enrolled in class 1,he failed in few subjects. As his base was not clear ,he continued to fail in class 2 in maths and English also. He was called a failure. Further his parents admitted him in a convent school but he was thrown out from school stating him as Junglee as he came from village and was not having manners. When her mother tried to be re admit him, she was also insulted. He somehow cleared his board exams from a local School. Satyam shifted to Kolkata for higher studies and completed his BCA degree successfully. Like other individuals from Bihar, he was forced to take up government job for which he appeared in state PCS exam but failed to pass.
Enrolling for MBA - a new start
In 2020, Satyam enroll himself for an MBA course where he felt for the first time that he took the right decision. In his classes of Business Administration,he started raising doubts and was interested in course deeply because the subject resonated with his interests. The MBA course helped Satyam built up good marketing skills, presentation skills and communication skills. During his internship, he worked with companies like ITC and Britannia. He was one of the few good students who got the chance to work with them. He got a free placement offer from ITC and Burger paints also however he decided to start from scratch instead of taking the job. It was actually turning point in his life.
Turning to Bamboo Industry
Instead of accepting the job offer, Satyam wanted to use his business skills by starting his own business. " during my college days, I got introduced with the bamboo industry in the North East. I started researching on bamboo products which one can make by their own. Although I was getting job but I wanted to be the first person to establish bamboo manufacturing unit in Bihar. "Says Satyam.
During covid period, there was an increasing demand for bamboo products which insisted him to start this business. He started his business by taking 15000 rs from his younger brother and set up a table in the busy market by putting bamboo bottles on it. He was trying to understand the willingness of people to buy the bamboo products. He also wished to promote this eco friendly products and create awareness for them among people. He stood in busy market Street showing posters avoiding plastic use and adopt eco friendly practices.
In 2022, he got a financial aid of 8 lakh rupees under the scheme PMEGP( Prime Minister Employment generation program) . In mid May, after 1 month of semester examination he launched his company along with his mother.
Company and the Product
Within a time period of one year,he made his customer base across india in states like Maharashtra ,Delhi, Gujarat ,Kerala and Telangana. Presently he is selling about 150 bamboo items including a variety of products like pen holders ,tongue cleaners, tooth brushes, necklaces, lamp Shades, Dandiya sticks, intricately carved art pieces and temperature display flasks. Priced between Rs40 to 40,000. So far, he has sold 25000 units of these products pan India. His company's annual revenue is Rs 25 lakh at present.
Looking Back
Satyam recalls back his old days that how he was scolded and threw out of the school. The same school is now calling him as a guest speaker however he prefer addressing children of government schools as they relate with him and his story. Sharing his story with them not only instills a great sense of satisfaction in him but also fills those students with enthusiasm and inspiration. We salute this spirit!
