'Find your own way' – A.T.E. scion advices young textile leaders

09 Dec '11

9 min read

One look at his face and thoughtful looking eyes; you could mistake him for a professor or researcher. Well he would almost have been one, if his father had not called him to join the family business back home in India, when he was pursuing a PhD program in applied physics at Cornell University in the US.

He is none other than Anuj Bhagwati, third generation scion of the Bhagwati family and CEO of the A.T.E Group, which has vast interests in the machinery sector, mainly textile machinery. He heads A.T.E Private Ltd., the holding company of A.T.E. Group, which has nine companies under its fold.

Anuj did his schooling at St Mary’s in Mumbai, junior college at St Zaviers and joined VJTI to pursue a course in mechanical engineering.

When studying in the first year at VJTI, he bagged a scholarship to study at Cornell University. He began by joining the mechanical engineering course at Cornell University, but switched over to engineering physics early in to the course. After passing out with a Bachelors degree, he went on to complete the Master’s program in applied physics and later on pursued a PhD program, before the call from India, brought him back to the country.

Though companies have been donating to causes close to their hearts, it is very rare to find a person, who also devotes time along with the money. Anuj is deeply and personally involved in various social activities, mainly related to urban development and city governance. Praja Foundation is one such NGO set up with like-minded friends. Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) another initiative advises the Mumbai city council on urban planning.

He still loves to play a game of squash, which he used to play competitively when in school and college. Apart from this, he has still retained his first love for reading mainly, science and environment related books, and listening to music. He drops a bomb when he says, “We do not still have a television at home”, a prerequisite at most Indian homes.

He is married to Sue, who he met at Cornell University and they have two children, Clara and Rohan, aged seven and four, respectively. Sue, a homemaker has studied child development, used to work for Akakansha – a NGO which conducts supplementary education programs for slum children.

Anuj was brought up on a diet of being socially responsible. Integrity and honesty were the most important values taught to the children in the Bhagwati household. Despite being brought up with a silver spoon in his mouth, dignity of labour was one more value that was ingrained in Anuj.

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