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 The stuff dreams are made of
 We have seen people who give up their philosophies and ideals for the sake of a few thousand rupees. But here is a youngster who gave up a promising career and lots of money to follow his dreams and ambition.
Born in an ordinary lower middle class family in the midst of two brothers and two sisters, he has his little dreams. One of them was to study well and get ahead in life so that it makes his mother Deeparani happy - Sarath Babu has achieved this dream now.
Sarath completed his MBA at the premier B-school of IIM-Ahmedabad after completing his engineering degree in BITS Pilani. An IT company came forward to give him a job and pay him Rs 8 lakh a year. But the young man brushed aside the offer and plunged into doing what he has been dreaming of doing all along - he started a catering company in Ahmedabad last month.
Called the 'Food King Catering Services Private Ltd', the company was declared open by Infosys chairman and chief mentor N R Narayana
Murthy.
The reason for the phenomenal growth of Sarath Babu, born in an ordinary family in Madipakkam, a suburb of Chennai, is his mother, Deeparani. Abandoned by her husband, Deeparani's world revolved around her four children. She struggled hard to bring them up.
 She would sell idlis in the morning, work in the noon-meal centre in the afternoon, evening return home and work in a clinic, and again at night work in the Arivoli Iyakkam. She worked non-stop for the welfare of her children. She is immensely happy that her son has come out with flying colours from one of India's topmost institutions and done well for himself.
"I had gone to Ahmedabad for his graduation ceremony. That was the first time I travelled by a plane. Everybody who had come to the function asked me if I was Sarath's mother. When I said 'yes', they said I had a wonderful son. I cried on hearing such comments. I felt very proud of my son..." says
Deeparani.
Sarath used to top all classes when he was a student of King Matriculation School in Madipakkam. The shelf in his house is lined with the medals and shields he received during his schooldays.
"When he was a student, we did not have a power connection. But Sarath has never complained about it even once. He would read in the light of the road lamp or use the chimney lamp. His class teacher was very fond of him. He has helped him in many ways. He used to encourage his interest in studies..." says his sister
Gajalakshmi.
With the encouragement of his sisters, friends, class teachers and many others, Sarath stood first in studies. After successfully completing plus-two he told his mother about his desire to study in BITS Pilani and his mother readily agreed!
The Tamil Nadu government had granted him scholarship. But that was not sufficient. So Deeparani borrowed from several people to educate her son. After completing his engineering degree in Pilani, Sarath found a job in Polaris and worked there for three years. At that time he slowly repaid all the loans. At this juncture, he wanted to do higher studies.
"I conducted a programme when I was in the third year of my Pilani course. I made all the preparations for the programme myself. My friends who saw the arrangements, praised me and said I had good managing capabilities. They suggested that I should do my MBA and that I had a great future in that sector. It was mainly due to my friends' encouragement that I took up MBA," says Sarath Babu.
"I returned home happily after writing the CAT exam. But since the paper had leaked, the test was conducted again. I wrote the exam again and got interview letters from six IIMs. I was very happy..." he said.
When asked why he gave up a job that would offer Rs 8 lakh annually and opt for business, he said:
 "When I was studying, I happened to stay in Bihar's Central Fuel Research Institute (Dhanbad) for six months. I read in a magazine there that 30 crore people in India find it difficult to eat even once a day. A thought rose in me. It was not enough to do management studies alone, I must do something more than that, I thought. I remembered my experience selling idlis with my mother when I was young. This company is the result of that thought," said
Sarath.
"One can earn Rs 500 crore within a few years through the catering business. I have already started talks with IT, pharmaceutical, BPO companies and MNCs for my catering business," says Sarath, and adds that "Nothing gives greater satisfaction than giving quality food to people and making them happy. I do not wish to take up a job but I want to run my own business and give jobs to others."
He plans to start a branch in Chennai soon. Through the profits he earns from the business, Sarath would like to help poor students pursue higher studies and find employment. He plans to run his company in such a way that he would be able to give employment to at least 10,000 people!
"I can find a good job with a good salary and life comfortably. But that is not my desire. My wish is to start my own business and give a job to a young man and through him help a family live..." says this young man with a dream.
"I am happy with my son's decision," says Deeparani with happiness.
KTSri
Translation by S Chitra
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Dear Sarath Babu,
I am extrem..... - gunasekharan, Punen, 11/18/2006
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Hello sir,
this is rajan babu..... - Rajan Babu, Bangalore, 9/25/2006
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i need some suggestion from u..... - seetharam, nellore, 9/20/2006
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Please provide contact details..... - Suree Sharma, Chennai, 9/13/2006
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Sir,
I am an Alumni of NI..... - furkan khan, delhi, 8/28/2006
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