Cover Story

Businessman, philanthropist, social worker, Rotarian and family man – the various roles that Gaurish Dhond has played with aplomb over the years and has emerged successful in all of them

Gaurish Dhond “Serving people makes me happy”

Gaurish Dhond has had a close relation with the city of his birth, Panaji. Born in a family of reputed businessmen, professionals and social workers, his upbringing in Goa’s capital city has moulded this dynamic personality, thus making him the man of repute that he is today.

Gaurish went on to acquire a degree in Commerce from S.S. Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Panaji and later received a Diploma in Hotel Management from Vidya Vikas Institute, Margao.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Felicitated by Sadguru Vamanrao Pai’s ‘Jeevan Vidya Mission’ for Outstanding Contribution to Society (2009) Felicitated by Bardeshkar Gowd Saraswat Bhraman Nidhi at Mumbai as ‘UNIQUE PERSONALITY’ for the year (2015) Conferred with ‘Honorary Citizenship’ of the State of Nebraska USA, by US Secretary John A. Gale on 8th June 2012, in USA Felicitated by Lions Club International, Dist-324 D2 at their 30th District Convention at Belgaum, for ‘Selfless & Gallant Services to the Community’ JEEVAN GAURAV PURASKAR 2016 by Aavishkar Social and Educational Foundation, Kolhapur Recipient of ‘The Navhind Times Ex NCC Achiever Award’ at the hands of Chief Minister of Goa Laxmikant Parsekar in 2016

Gaurish Dhond with former President of India, late Pranab Mukherjee

An astute businessman, Gaurish manages several hotels in the city, a small scale industrial unit at Kundaim, a dealership of Indian Oil Corporation Limited with a petrol pump at Caranzalem, while also being into the development of properties in Goa.

The Go-Getter

Gaurish seized business responsibilities while he was still in college. He joined his family owned restaurant, Hotel Madhavashram, which was one of the pioneering restaurants in Goa. Later, he began assisting his father-in-law, Vidyadhar Naik in his business which comprised of fishing trawlers, buses, trucks and a hotel. Gaurish assisted him for five years from 1984 till 1989, while he set up Hotel Manoshanti in the city. Hotels were few and far between in the Panaji of that era. Gaurish had to look after the marketing aspect and pitching the hotel to travellers from out of Goa.

Once his family launched Hotel Manoshanti, Gaurish took the reins of the family hospitality vertical in his hands. Later, in 1993, he started a plastic moulding manufacturing unit. His chartered accountant friend Devendra Kakodkar informed him about a project with Colgate, who were on the lookout for someone to make caps for their toothpaste tubes.

Gaurish set up a state-of-the-art plastic industry at Kundaim. Not the one to compromise on quality,

Union Minister Shripad Naik hands over an ambulance from MPLAD scheme to Vidyadhar Naik, Trustee, Panaji Ambulance and Welfare Trust in the presence of then Goa Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar

he refused to accept the terms laid down by the tube manufacturer, and was stuck with a factory and workers without a job on his hands. Fortuitously Gaurish met the people in charge of Funskool and Funskool’s management came to visit Gaurish’s factory, were impressed by his set up; and immediately they signed up to work with him, giving him their moulds along with the raw materials, colour and their expertise.

Gaurish made the best possible use of this opportunity and in the six months he was part of the Funskool project, he managed to learn everything that he could about moulding. After six months, the factory began began to develop products for Lakmé, where his unit would manufacture three sizes of bottles for Lakmé cold cream. Gaurish’s unit supplied the same to Lakmé from 1994 till 2000. When Lakmé and Ponds merged together, they discontinued the product. Once again, Gaurish found himself with nothing on his hands, which hit him hard.

Gaurish met the management from Essel Group, one of the biggest manufacturers of lami tubes, in India. Within ten days, they got the entire team from Mumbai and set up their equipment at his factory, along with a generator and air conditioners. They used the factory for over a year and went on to renovate the place and installed more machines. Gaurish leased out the factory which is now working with an UK based company to bottle water through atmospheric based water generators.

Gaurish dabbled in real estate, buying a few old houses, renovating

With former Union Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu at the NRB Group presents Business Goa Awards, 2018

Being felicitated at the hands of former Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar

them and selling them. After a few projects, Gaurish decided to concentrate on his core strength – in the service of people.

Gaurish is happily married to Pratima, who is Chairperson of The Women’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., for the last twenty-seven years; and is also the Vice President of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry. They have three children, two sons; Viraj married to Dr. Shalmali and Sairaj married to Dr. Sajal and one daughter, Simran who holds a Masters in fashion textiles and is a designer at NYKD by NYKAA. They are also blessed with two grandsons, Vanshraj and Yuvraj.

Committed to Rotary

Gaurish was invited to join Rotary in the year 2000-2001 as a member of the Rotary Club of Panaji which was chartered in 1963 and holds the distinction of being the very first Rotary Club in Goa. He bagged the ‘Best Rotarian’ Award in the very next year after joining, his achievements continued to grow by leaps and bounds with each passing year.

Among his numerous, notable accomplishments, the most significant are: being adjudged the ‘Best Secretary’ of the Rotary Club of Panaji, the ‘Best President’ and ‘Best Asst. Governor’ at the District level. He was also the recipient of the Rotary International President’s recognition for ‘Four Avenues of Service Citation’. During his Presidentship, the Rotary Club of Panaji was honoured with the Rotary International Significant Award for ‘The Rotary Eye Bank of Goa’ which was adjudged the ‘Best Project’ in the Rotary District 3170 and is the only Government-recognized eye bank in the entire State of Goa.

Gaurish successfully led a team of four participants at the Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Eastern Nebraska and Southwestern Iowa, USA in 2012 as its Team Leader for 28 days.

This suave Rotarian has served as an aide to several dignitaries, including Rotary International Director, Monty J. Audenart at the Rotary Institute in 2008; Rotary International President elect, Shekhar Mehta and Rashi Mehta

Gaurish and Pratima Dhond with former Rotary International President (2019-20), Mark Daniel Maloney and his wife, Gay

JOURNEY OF A ROTARIAN

Gaurish Dhond was invited to join Rotary Club of Panaji in the year 2000; and took over as the Joint Secretary for the year 2001–02. Bagged the ‘Best Rotarian’ Award from the Rotary Club of Panaji in 2001-2002. Received the ‘Best Secretary’ Award from Rotary District 3170 in 20022003. Recipient of Rotary International President’s Recognition for ‘Four Avenues of Service Citation’ for Individual Rotarian for the year 2003-04. Served ROTARY CLUBS OF GOA TRUST as Managing Trustee from 2003- 2006, working for the project ‘SAVING LIVES’ with Rotary Club of Birmingham, UK. Took the leadership of Rotary Club of Panaji as the 47th President of the Club in 2008-09 and carried out various community projects, round the year. The Club also established Goa’s First Eye Bank during the year and was honoured with Rotary International ‘Significant Award for the Best Project’ in District 3170. Rtn. Gaurish and Ann. Pratima Dhond became Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation since 2009. Received the ‘Best President’ Award from the Rotary International District 3170 for the year 2008-2009. Served as Assistant Governor (North Goa) for the year 2010-11 and was adjudged as the ‘Best Assistant Governor’ in Rotary District 3170. Was deputed as ‘Team Leader’ of the Rotary Group Study Exchange Team from Rotary International District 3170 to Rotary International District 5650, Eastern Nebraska & Southwestern Iowa, USA in May 2012. Was conferred by Rotary District 3170 for the year 2013-14 an award for ‘Excellence in Vocational Service’ Trophy and cash award instituted by Shri. Dadgulalji Marda Charitable & Research Foundation, Kolhapur. Was elected unopposed as DISTRICT GOVERNOR of Rotary International District 3170 (Goa, parts of Maharashtra & Karnataka) for the year 2021-2022 Appointed Chairman of Governor’s Council of Rotary News Trust Committee from among District Governors across India

Cover Story INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY: SERVING HUMANITY

Gaurish Dhond joined Indian Red Cross Society Goa in 1985 as a Life Member and served the Goa State office as an active Red cross Volunteer. He also became a Patron Member of Indian Red Cross Society Goa in 2015; and served the Managing Committee of IRCS Goa as a member since 2003. He was appointed as Vice Chairman of IRCS Goa in 2006 and served till 2010. Was elected by the Managing Committee as the Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society Goa in 2010 and is serving till date. Was elected as the Managing Committee member of National Board of Indian Red Cross Society, New Delhi from 2011 till 2013; and served there on various committees of National Board. Is re-elected to the Managing Committee of IRCS NHQ New Delhi since 2015 till date, and is the serving on various sub-committees. An Active Red Cross volunteer who has conducted more than 250 blood donation camps in Goa. Various medical and dental check-

With former Goa Governor late Dr Mridula Sinha and fellow Indian Red Cross Society (Goa) members up camps in rural parts of Goa have been arranged on regular basis for the last 25 years. First aid courses and Home Nursing courses for drop out students was introduced at Indian Red Cross Society Goa State office, which was well accepted and beneficial to the people of Goa. The State Office of Goa was taken up for renovation for the first time after 1963 with the help of the Mother Teresa Grant of Rs.25,00,000/- from the Govt. of Goa in 2012; and an additional Rs.10,00,000/- were raised from Public donations. A grand event of Indian Red Cross Society, Goa ‘Swabhimaan 2019’, ‘Goa Police Awards’ was held for the first time and police personnel from the ranks of constable to DYSP were felicitated for their good work to the society at the hands of Her Excellency, (late) Mrs. Mridula Sinha, then Governor of Goa. A Voluntary Blood Directory was compiled and published having a list of voluntary blood donors who are willing to donate blood at any time. This initiative has had a tremendous response as the Indian Red Cross Society Goa has been receiving calls regularly for blood in times of emergency and it has helped save precious lives. Covid Pandemic Assistance was provided from IRCS Goa from the beginning of 2020 and has continued till date

Above: With scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar

in Goa; Rotary International Director, Dr Bharat Pandya and Dr Madhavi at Centennial Summit, Kolkatta; and Rotary International President, K. Ravindran; in addition to many others.

Gaurish has been an active Rotarian of Rotary International District 3170 and was elected unopposed, as its District Governor for the year 2021-2022.

Social Soldier

Gaurish Dhond’s social foot-print is impressive. He is serving various other organizations in different capacities such as, Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society (Goa); Chairman of the General Assembly of Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias; Chairman of Panaji Ambulance and Welfare Trust; President of Goa Hotels and Restaurants Association; Vice President of Panjim Gymkhana. Vice President of Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Panaji; Chairman ITI Panaji of Government of Goa; and as a member of International Human Rights Association; among many other socio-cultural organisations.

“Being in service of people comes instinctively to me,” he says