When the rest of the country was busy fighting wars, she was fighting orthodoxy to build an empire. Four decades later, Shahnaz Hussain is still going strong, and everyone's still singing her song
When the rest of the country was busy fighting wars, she was fighting orthodoxy to build an empire. Four decades later, Shahnaz Hussain is still going strong, and everyone's still singing her song
Do you think Muslims have come of age in corporate India?Definitely. Personally, I have always seen the corporate territory as an equal opportunity world. It's a comfortable place to be in, irrespective of religion.
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Have you ever faced any bias due to your religion?As surprising as it may sound, never. Since I came so highly qualified from abroad, I had arrived before they knew what was happening!
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How tough was it to get here?I started out when no one in the West knew about Ayurveda. So, I was on a crusade of sorts. When everyone was selling cosmetic chemistry and million dollar dreams, I was selling a civilisation and a 3000 BC science in a jar. That was the biggest challenge; the competition was tremendous. There was turmeric for glitter powder and I specialised in hair loss treatment for men because no one else was doing it. And all on a zero publicity budget. I've never hung a board outside my factory or home. Nothing works better than word-of-mouth. Religion was never a problem, since the world rightly saw me as who I am: an Indian first and a Muslim later.
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Do you think the country is in need of better corporate policies for the community?I think the government is very aware. They keep solving problems as and when they come. I have no complaints. There maybe roadblocks from time to time, but these keep businesses on track.
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In the 40 years of your career, do you think working conditions have grown fairer?Earlier, it was much more complicated in terms of licenses, paperwork and red tape involved. But it's much easier these days. The government is far more entrepreneur-friendly. If people say they have a problem, they haven't made up their mind.
Her tips to the top>>Create a vision of what you want. Then, plan its execution.
>>Never go to a meeting without a fall-back option.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
>>Invest in skills. Don't rely only on natural talent.
>>Provide value for customers: Is your product unique?
>>Keep operating costs way below the gross margin.
>>Take advantage of strengths like location.
>>Overheads must be low to begin with. Don't start high.
>>It can't be sell and forget, it should be sell and forever.
>>Never lose confidence in your decision. Lose that, and you lose all.
No Naukri>>Muslims, by and large, are engaged in the unorganised sector of the economy and have to bear the brunt of liberalisation.
>>The participation of Muslims in regular salaried jobs is much les than workers of other socio-religious categories.
>>Muslims are relatively more vulnerable in terms of condition of work as their concentration in informal sector employment is higher.
>>Percentage of households availing banking facilities is much lower in villages where the share of Muslim population is high.
>>Self employment is the main source of income for Muslims.
>>More than 12 per cent Muslim male workers are engaged in street vending.
>>The percentage of women Muslim workers undertaking work within their own homes is much larger at 70 per cent compared to all workers at 51 per cent.
Findings of the Sachar Committee
