If sincere, great men like Yogi Uncle will come to your assistance.

What is the difference between a Politician and statesman?
The politician has his eye on the next election. The statesman has his eye on the next generation.

What is the difference between a businessman and an Industrialist?
The businessman has his eye on the current year's balance sheet. The industrialist has his eye on building a great institution.

If this be the case then Uncle Yogiraj Makar deservedly is a great Industrialist and a remarkable statesman.

Yogi uncle and his brother Uncle Surindernath Makar, with their sheer hard work, can-do spirit and charisma created one of India's legendary forging companies Hakimrai Jaichand Forgings Company Private Limited (HJ). Initially starting in Bhandup Mumbai, they eventually had several plants in Pune, Chakan, and Faridabad (later the name was changed to Amforge).

In 1981 my brothers and I took the helm as second generation entreprenuers of our family business manufacturing steel forgings. Compared to HJ we were a little company and quite inexperienced in many matters.

When a company is small and budding it needs answers to address many concerns. As is the case with many small to medium organisations we appreciated the need for mentors, to honestly guide us, be it marketing, legal, procurement, management or technology.

We were fortunate to have Yogi Uncle. His knowledge and stature was appreciated by one and all. He was also President of our Industry association at that time. Yogi uncle's noble nature made him our natural choice for guidance and moral support.

When Bajaj Auto the manufacturer of scooters , three wheeled auto-rickshaws and motorcycles started it's meteoric rise, Hakimrai Jaichand (HJ) was supplying all their materials from their Bombay plant at Bhandup. As was the case demand for forgings far exceeded supply. This represented an opportunity for little companies like us to grow rapidly. In a sense we were taking business away from HJ.

An incident will serve to illustrate the statesmanship of Mr. Yogiraj Makar.

Die making in our business was crucial for making good and consistent products. This was an area in which we were weak. We wanted to learn about a certain die making technology being used by HJ and having learnt that that they had invested in a 'state of art' Japanese die making machine.
My brother Parvinder and I thought about several ways to learn about this technology. We deliberated hard and long and even considered various espionage options. Finally we decided that let's try the honourable way and approach Yogi Uncle directly for his guidance.

We took an appointment, and went to meet him at Bombay. Inspite of his busy schedule and senior stature he met us at the appointed time with courtesy and warmth.

We greeted him and touched his feet respectfully as is the customary manner for greeting our elders whom we hold in high respect. He hugged us and made us comfortable, asked about our father and uncle.

He asked, "What is it that you wanted to see me about?"
Then we told him bluntly that we would like to study the new machine that he had imported from Japan to evaluate it and learn what to do.

He broke out into uncontrollable laughter. He calmed down after a while and summoned his secretary and asked him to fetch the General Manager of the plant.
He introduced us to the GM and then instructed him to show us not only the Japanese die making machine but to show us around the facility. He further added that "These are my nephews, be honest with them and answer all the doubts they they may have on on what we do here at HJ."

Overwhelmed and grateful for his magnanimity we looked around. We learnt a lot from that visit and that helped us to shape our thinking and formulate our strategies..

While leaving he placed his hand on our shoulders and said " I like your approach. One day you guys are going to be a headache for us. However courage and hard work must be respected. Good Luck and may God bless you."

This was not the only time that Mr. Yogiraj Makar helped us.
Learning on the job can be frighteningly expensive, on both the pocket and mind.Time and again he would go out of the way to guide and help us and many others like us. Thus bringing solace and knowledge to us all who were struggling in a very tough business. It is the few stalwarts like him that have helped to shape many good things in Indian industry and the Steel Forging industry in particular.

The Panjabi people have a zest for life and magnanimity beyond belief. Uncle Yogiraj Makar is a supreme example of all that is good and wonderful in a Panjabi, in a great Industrialist and a giant of a man. Yogi Uncle we salute you.