Destiny moves in its own cycle. The East India Company ruled India for 200 years and laid dormant for 135 years till Sanjiv Mehta bought took it over!
The Happy Accident
A British-born businessman have today gifted our country with priceless redemption. India was colonized by East India Company for good 200 years and what was exactly the history?
One of the most powerful corporations in history had come into existence long before the establishment of Apple or Amazon.
Established in 1600, The East India Company was essentially a trading company importing tea, spices and other premium goods to Europe from India.
While it was trading successfully, gradually and quite unaware, this corporation was building an empire too. And why not, which corporation commanded a private army of 260,000 soldiers?
With robust trade system in place and mammoth standing army, The East India Company started Imperial British Raj on our country which continued in full might for 200 years.
What happened to that East India Company which was dissolved by 1874?
It laid dormant with about no activities for protracted period of 135 years till it came into the notice of London Businessman who owned ‘Huggie’ water bottles.
As a piece of good fortune, Sanjiv Mehta came across shareholders of East India Company who were planning to rebuild the company and that is how a new chapter unfolded!
The little boy from Gujarat went on to own East India Company which was the first multinational company of the world.
And how this accident occurred?
Sanjiv Mehta boasted of bright academic career. He graduated from Mumbai’s well-known Sydenham College and attended course in Gemological Institute of America in Los Angeles.
In 1980s, Mehta’s ambition spree took him to London and to translate his entrepreneurial dream he only had mere USD 100.
Mehta started a small export house by exporting easily available goods from his home. Casio watches, garden furniture was of the items which were part of his business profile.
Mehta tasted success for the first time on exporting hot water bottles under the brand name ‘Huggie’
However, Sanjiv Mehta did not remain satisfied with merely exporting hot water bottles. His business acumen was always in search of opportunity and he came across one.
In 1989, fall of Berlin wall made Mehta expand his business to places like Yugoslavia, Warsaw and Berlin. Soon giant brands like HUL and Nestle looked for further supplies and Mehta’s business only witnessed growth.
While Mehta’s work expanded in these regions, he happened to meet the shareholders of The East India Company who were then planning to revamp the forgotten trading corporation.
Mehta had always been an ardent Indian and had well-trenched understanding of history. He was well versed about the British Raj in his own country.
Determined to settle scores, Sanjiv planned to acquire shares of The East India Company. In 20025 after an arduous 18-month acquisition spree, Sanjiv Mehta emerged as the sole owner of The East India Company and history repeated itself!
Sanjiv Mehta was clear-headed from the word go. He wanted to keep the heritage intact yet create a luxury brand.
The current flagship store of The East India Company stands at London’s Mayfair area offers lavish items ranging from gold coins, books to tea and jam.
Editor’s Note
The IIM Ahmedabad Alumnus always harbored dreams of owning an enterprise. And in the enigmatic tale of Sanjiv Mehta and the East India Company, we find a reminder that even the most dormant of legacies can rise from slumber, reimagined by the whims of destiny and a heart set on transforming history itself.
