By Chandran Iyer
In a world full of distractions, there are very few people who stay focused on their mission. And Dr Aneel Kashi Murarka has ample missions to keep himself focused on his goal. And it is not just increasing the top line and bottom line of his company which is his priority, but making a difference to society . This successful businessman from Mumbai is the MD of Mirachem Industriies and Founder of the social enterprise Ample Missiion.
Ample Missiion, the social service wing of Aneel, aims to bring about societal change for a better India through collective efforts. Though he is a successful entrepreneur, his emphasis is more on charity, philanthropy, and social service. Over the past three decades or more, Aneel, touched the lives of needy individuals and also those who he feels are setting an example for others through their good deeds. “A man’s true wealth is the good he does in this world”, he says,
He never misses a chance to help the community as a responsible citizen. He has a strong sense of commitment to the social causes he supports. His charitable objectives are motivated by this personal involvement and his “strong and eloquent vision” for advancing the causes
“The pandemic has taught us that nature is supreme and life is unpredictable. People make lofty goals and business strategies dreaming to take their companies to meteoric heights. But the reality is that one doesn’t know what will happen the next moment”, says Aneel adding that for him the most important moment is now. Aneel says this view was reinforced when he suddenly lost his dear friend Raju Srivastava, India’s finest stand-up comedian with whom he was associated for the last 37 years
“His death shook me from the core and reaffirmed my commitment to focus more on giving back to the society than chasing only wealth and opulence”, Aneel says adding that he does whatever needs to be done to expand his business with a sense of detachment
Mirachem Industriies is one of the leading suppliers of high-performance textile specialty chemicals in the Indian subcontinent. Their pillar of strength is the stellar technical service offered by the company in terms of product customization and customer alignment. Their offerings include an entire range of products such as surfactants, softeners, acrylates, and more with applications in textiles.
Talking about his company, Aneel says “We focus on providing superior quality, economic advantage, and prompt service to our clients. Our quality control labs, R&D center, and manufacturing facility are optimized for operational efficiency. The company was established in 1975 by his father Kashi Murarka who started a business offering only laundry products with one small unit for manufacturing. In 1981, Aneel joined the business at the mere age of 14. “My father is the brain behind the chemistry and the whiz behind operational efficiency, we are incomplete without him”, says Aneel.
As the Managing Director he looks after marketing, and client relations and represents Mirachem Industriies throughout the globe. The company is into manufacturing chemicals for the textile industry, which is the most neglected industry. “Unfortunately, during the COVID times, it was further neglected as understandably livelihood concerns took priority. People were just ignoring fabric. Not just buyers but also textile manufacturers, as the demand was low during the work-from-home scenario,” says Aneel, a commerce graduate, who has been conferred an honorary doctorate for his outstanding contributions to society
Aneel’s company has grown in leaps and bounds and now Mirachem Industriies has announced the commencement of their exclusive distribution agreement with Sciessent LLC, USA – one of the world leaders in the production of specialty chemical finishes. They produce anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-odor, and several other special finishes required for textile production. Sciessent partners with many reputed brands across the globe.
The textile industry in India is still not out of the blue. With the Covid threat abating, the demand had picked up but unfortunately, the rise in the price of basic cotton, which has almost doubled, has hit the textile manufacturers and companies like Mirachem. The higher input costs due to global trends, higher freight costs besides logistic bottlenecks, and the weakening rupee against the US dollar have proved to be a big squeeze
The Murarka Family,
Like most of the Rajasthani families in India, the Murarkas are a very close-knit family. Elders in the family are given great reverence and Aneel is not an exception. Every discussion about the growth of his company or his social service activities is bound to bring in some or the other reference to his grandfather Late Chiranjilal Murarka and his father Mr. Kashi Murarka who have made an indelible imprint of culture and values in his life. His grandfather played an active part in the freedom movement while his father even today works tirelessly for the betterment of society
Aneel is particularly proud of his Rajasthani culture. “In Rajasthani culture, there is a lot of respect for the elders in the family. Our family bonds are very strong. We are still living as a joint family, three generations living in a house with a common kitchen. This has to do with a sense of well-knit family ties which only works if you believe in sacrifice and reciprocation”, he says
Aneel, being the eldest of the three siblings, has always been the protective elder brother to Manish and sister Manisha. “We have a great affinity for one another. We have our issues and difference of opinion but we stick together through thick and thin. When something good happens for another, we indulge in their happiness and we are there when others need help. Whatever is mine is for the entire family and not just me. I’m indeed blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. Second, I would rather quote very honestly my counterpart, my better half…my wife Sangeeta who has stood beside me throughout my life journey of wherever I stand today.”
To understand the nitty-gritty of the business and the social service wing of Aneel, he is grooming his son Sidhaant so that when the time is ripe, he can take over the mantle. “My son Sidhaant is learning the ropes well. I am sure one day when he takes over the mantle in totality, he would take it to even bigger heights. “
The philosophy of Aneel is not only to give back to society but also to environmental protection. “We at Mirachem believe that Environmental Protection and Social Responsibility are essential for our long-term success and sustainability. We are continuously seeking ways and means to reduce the impact on the environment by optimizing our operations and making aware employees and customers of the importance of protecting the environment. Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse are the basic principles for the optimization of resources and minimizing waste. Our commitment to sustainable development is clear once you look at our track record over the years on how we have redefined business, philanthropy, and environmental protection,” Aneel added. They also work towards improving education, community health, rural infrastructure development, sustainable livelihood generation, environmental conservation, uplifting marginal communities, hunger elimination, and more
The Murarkas are among the successful Rajasthani families hailing from Lachhmangarh, Sikar district, Rajasthan, but unlike other business tycoons, Aneel Murarka just didn’t inherit the fortune from his father. Instead, he has worked hard to change his fate. If we look at Aneel’s life journey, we can see that his ascent to the top wasn’t simple. He is again a self-made businessman. And to achieve this position, he had to struggle like anyone else
He says the Rajasthani culture and heritage have influenced his actions as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. “We believe in business success but at the same time committed to our employee’s welfare. Yes, Rajasthanis are shrewd with their money as businessmen, but I wouldn’t call them miserly, coz look at their social services, lavish weddings, and religious ceremonies. For me and my family charity is important as religious sentiments. And it was also about building public utility platforms for the community. Prominent Rajasthanis have built temples and educational institutions”, he added
The Common Man and Social Worker
Aneel does not consider himself to be a business leader or a corporate tycoon, but rather a common man and a social worker. “I consider myself nothing more than a common man and a humble social worker on a life’s mission to make the world a better place for everyone. Many people including the media call me a ‘New Age Philanthropist’ but trust me I don’t know the meaning of it, I earnestly believe in social change and uplifting of our fellow beings in whatever way possible for an inclusive society where no one is discriminated
Producing Short Films for Social Awakening
It was completely by chance that Dr Murarka began producing short films to raise awareness of social issues. He realized that short films offer a terrific way to pinpoint societal concerns that demand to be accentuated through the medium of film. Soon after, he began working with other like-minded filmmakers to produce films with socially conscious messages. According to Aneel, only two things in India draw the crowd’s attention, “Bollywood stars and the dread of God. As a result, I include both of these themes into my short films for the greatest possible social effect.” Aneel Murarka was appointed as a Swachh Bharat Ambassador after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated and retweeted his short film on Swachh Bharat titled “Don’t Let Her Go,” starring Kangana Ranaut and voiced by legend Amitabh jee Bachchan
So far, Aneel has produced over 37 public awareness short films under the Ample Missiion banner, many of which have gone viral on social media. But he has never sent them to any film awards for nominations. He continues to produce them as his way of giving back to society by bringing much-needed awareness through films for a better society. “Film is the art form to create social change,” says Aneel. “You see something that excites you or enrages you while watching something outside of yourself, and that spurs you to become more engaged. Cinema has the ability to change someone’s perspective.”
Artistic Tribute to Bollywood Legends
After the demise of iconic singer Lata Mangeshkar, the Indian film industry was in a state of mourning. As an artistic tribute to the Nightingale of India, Aneel Murarka exhibited 34 original canvas – 4 to 5 feet artworks of her portraits, depicting her journey from childhood to old age. Later, he donated it all to the Cancer Patients Aid Association to help raise funds to support children with cancer. These artworks have been painstakingly crafted for over three and a half years. “I wanted to gift it to Lata Didi, but it is my misfortune that I could not present it at her lotus feet when she was alive. The next best thing is to light up the lives of cancer children. Hence the initiative,” said Aneel
In the continuing series of Artistic Tribute to Bollywood Icons, On the occasion of legendary actor Dilip Kumar’s first death anniversary, Aneel and his team gifted yesteryears actress Saira Banu a classic portrait of Dilip Kumar Sahab as Prince Salim from the film Mughal-E-Azam. The portrait was painted life-like and she broke into tears on the very first glimpse of it. Aneel has next gifted a 6 ft large complete family portrait of the Roshans. Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan was so pleased and loved the original artwork that he installed it at his home as a beautiful memory. Aneel Murarka organized a surprise 80th birthday celebration of legendary actress Asha Parekh in Mumbai, the very next day she was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2022 by the President of India. On the occasion, Aneel also presented Asha Ji with a life-size portrait and sought her blessings.
On the milestone of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s (the King’s) 80th birthday, Aneel Murarka presented him a series of 37 original Canvas paintings on the sets of KBC at Filmcity as an artistic tribute from Ample Missiion. The paintings depicted Amitabh Bachchan’s best-remembered characters from different films from his acting career spanning over 5 decades in Bollywood
The sudden and untimely demise of India’s Greatest Stand-Up Comedian Shri Raju Srivastav shocked and saddened the Industry. Aneel organized a prayer meeting for him in Mumbai, it was attended by his well-wishers and luminaries from the industry. It was a very emotional moment and a personal loss to Aneel as they both shared a friendship since his college days
Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka is among those exceptional individuals who dive deep into understanding less spoken or taboo issues of the transgender community, whose lives are shrouded in shame and discrimination. He strongly believes in gender equality and creating inclusiveness for all. In the world of fashion, never before witnessed very important issues of gender inclusiveness being addressed at an eminent platform in a fashionable manner. History was created at the Times Fashion Show 2019, the opening ramp show was by the models from the transgender community
Marathon and Charity Run for a Cause
Aneel is a fitness freak and a complete teetotaler. Hence, over the last many years, he has actively supported and organized marathons for citizens’ health awareness and to encourage them to stay fit. He has co-organized the “Canthon” marathon, a cancer awareness marathon, in association with the Tata Cancer Hospital in Mumbai and Thane. Thousands of runners participated and were able to highlight the various causes of cancer and prevention methods. For the last 3 years, he has been jointly organizing the most popular suburban event, “Malad Walkathon.” Since 2019, he has jointly organized “Run to Give” in association with Marriott International to raise funds to support different charities operating on different causes across India
Honouring Real Heroes
Aneel is a devoted nationalist and patriotic to the core. He leaves no opportunity to serve the country and India’s defense personnel, our ‘Real Heroes.’ So it was no surprise when he decided to honor the brave hearts who protect the country with popular Annual Award Shows. The country’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Fire Department, and Police Department are truly unsung heroes whose services we tend to take for granted. Ample Missiion’s “Awards Zindagi Ke” pays tribute to those who have sacrificed themselves in the line of duty and honors those who have made India proud with their selfless acts of courage. He provides all kinds of support to martyrs’ families and wounded soldiers. “The Shoorveer Awards” honor lion-hearted individuals i.e. people who have known no fear and pursued extraordinary acts of bravery often at the expense of their lives. “Bharat Prerna Awards” honor those who have risen above their conditions, whether it be a physical disability, mental illness, or sensory deprivation, and shown extraordinary feats of courage
Committed To Doing Good
Over the past many years since its inception, close to 100 or more different humanitarian missions have been carried out by Dr. Murarka and Team Ample Missiion, led by his son Sidhaant Murarka with young volunteers. These have transformed hundreds of lives, and they continue to work against all odds. It has never looked for outside support and is fully self-funded. “Every cent comes from our hard-earned money,” he says, “therefore we make sure the goal is accomplished.”
Philanthropy and giving back to society come partly from his personal belief that one has to put in a lot of effort and time in making money, using the money for societal good, and collective sharing is the way to go for a sustainable society. Aneel a Trustee of the family-owned SAMARPN (C B Murarka Charitable trust), has been involved in the establishment of several public utility projects along with his family members, which are now strongholds in the local community both in Mumbai and his hometown Lachhmangarh, Sikar-Rajasthan.
They built a one-of-a-kind crematorium, named ‘Shivdham’, in Goregaon, Mumbai. His family also is a part of the construction of ‘Narayani Dham’ – A sprawling Temple Complex at Lonavla. Through Narayani Sewa Trust, the temple is serving people from backward areas of Maharashtra. Aneel has never forgotten his roots, he is loved by the people of his native town of Lachhmangarh, Sikar district, Rajasthan
His Trust constructed there a fully air-conditioned Bus Stand – the first of its kind ever built in Rajasthan, multi-story lady police living quarters, A Hanuman Temple, a lawyers chamber, a multi-purpose community hall, and public toilets with modern amenities. Thus they repeatedly try to replicate and widen the reach, not just in Mumbai, Maharashtra, but all over India. “Trust me, it gives them immense satisfaction when we extend a helping hand to the needy. It is our way of giving back to society in a humble way for whatever we earned so far” he says. “I believe, one should find little time to help make life better for fellow citizens. That’s why we are called human beings?”
Aneel is leading a range of social upliftment programs which include educational initiatives for slum and rural children through weekly coaching and computer learning, Adivasi upliftment activities ranging from health care to employment creation through ‘Warli Art’, sporting and talent hunt camps for tribal kids and Adivasi youth. Ample also conducts hunger elimination programs for the urban poor with the free distribution of ready-to-eat meals to the homeless and in turn provides livelihood opportunities for housewives who are engaged in preparing the meals packets from home, showcasing the talent of transgenders through innovative approaches, creating livelihood options for Acid attack survivors. He created rural healthcare facilities for women and children living in villages, encourages Anti-Plastic movement, organizes large-scale tree plantation drives in Mumbai and other states, potholes filling activities for accident prevention in cities, organized cleanliness- hygiene workshops for school kids & women, provided equal opportunities for differently-abled individuals and many more such signature campaigns that are widely known in the local community for its impact
Let’s hope more and more business leaders take a cue from Aneel and shift their priority from generating profits to touching people’s lives