Brother Haresh Mirpuri studied from Grade 4 to B.Com, MBA, in Bhagawan’s institutions at Ooty, Brindavan, and Prasanthi Nilayam, 1980 – 1993.

After completing his studies at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in 1993, Swami asked Brother Haresh to join his father’s business in Indonesia. For this, he trained at the Toyota system of garment manufacturing in Tokyo and at the garment manufacturing system in Daewoo’s plant in South Korea. He then went on to help his father in sales, marketing and merchandising. In 1995, Swami asked him to relocate to India to start a garment manufacturing company under the name ‘Sai Lakshmi Industries Private Limited’. For this, Swami gave him a piece of land which was the property of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. Swami told him, “Whatever you do from here, make Bharat’s name proud”. This first lesson from Swami meant that one should work towards earning a good name for one’s country and just about Swami’s institution or about being Swami’s student. It also extends to the culture of Bharath.

Haresh was trained in Switzerland, Belgium and Italy, in spinning, weaving, printing and dyeing. During this period, he easily established rapport with many people around him who were not aware that they were training the director of a company. By being humble, he was able to acquire a lot of technical knowledge in textile and garment manufacturing. Swami has designed many practices for His students on the lines of simple living such as to wear white clothes and to have only a limited amount of money in bank accounts. This brings in an ‘equalisation effect’ amongst the students from affluent and not-so-affluent backgrounds of Swami’s institute and hostel. This has made students relate to each other not by their religion or by their economic status, but only as two human beings who are pining to get chances from Swami. This beautiful equalisation effect helped Brother Haresh to build rapport with people right from the cotton farmers to international buyers. Swami’s teaching of authenticity through practice help students learn to love each other before talking of love and are taught to participate in Seva before talking about one. These lessons helped Brother Haresh in articulating his thoughts in a way which others could relate to very quickly.

The Second Lesson: Meticulous Planning

When construction was about to begin, Swami asked him, “How many months are you going to construct the factory?”. Haresh replied, “Swami the consultant says 18 to 24 months”. Swami replied, “Swami ka project kabhi bhi nao mahina se jyada nahi hona” (Swami’s project should not take more than 9 months). Swami explained that the moment the money comes into the account it should start working and not stay idle. Swami also gave the instruction of starting exports within nine months and to postpone the construction of office buildings later. Needless to say, the first container export was done in the ninth month. Swami was very happy with this.

The main takeaways from this incident are meticulous planning, the value of the seed capital and how it is important to make it work so that there is a cash flow. This was a big eye-opener to Haresh, as a capital intensive industry such as this could not only break-even but also make a net profit in the first year – a tough feat. All this happened at a time when venture capitalists were unheard in India and that Swami actually thought like one. When Haresh visited advanced industrial countries such as Japan, he discovered this is exactly how they think and execute. Such was the profundity of Swami’s guidance.

Keeping the Promise

Eventually, Sai Lakshmi Industries became the most acclaimed spinning manufacturer and was considered to be a gold standard for quality in Asia. It exported even to China and was averaging beyond 97.3% efficiency. At this time a buyer from Switzerland was interested in buying yarn at the full capacity of the firm for 10 cents per kilo more than the market rate. But the buyer did not want ‘Made in India’ labels or the mention of India anywhere on the cartons as he had planned to resell them as Swiss quality. Haresh said that he was willing to resell it labelled as a product from India. Everybody insisted on going the ‘Swiss’ way so as to make huge profits. Haresh, on the other hand, reminded of his promise to Swami, declined. Within a month after this incident, there was another buyer who was willing to buy the yarn at 20 cents per kilo more than the market rate. The buyer was also willing to source from them for the next 5 to 6 years at a premium rate. This shows that by following Swami’s words and by not giving in to the temptation we would be able to reap bigger benefits.

Divine Guidance on Health

Due to frequent travelling and intense work pressure, Haresh was unable to keep himself fit and was putting on weight. Swami had warned Haresh many times that when one puts on weight, the mind becomes dull. Swami has always instructed His students to wake up early and exercise. While Haresh had success after success and expanding his business, he was not paying closer attention to maintaining good health. After 12 years, he started facing difficulties and made some wrong decisions, which he now realises could have been avoided with proper mental alertness. All the while Swami had kept telling him, “Kya ra puri, reduce your weight!”. Haresh felt that his mind was not as alert as it should have been to take on the growth of the company. So he decided to lose extra weight to gain more alertness. This helped him to face challenges in business. Here is an example. An American buyer, who was the second largest American menswear brand, had not paid a large sum of dues. When Haresh sought Swami’s guidance in this matter, Swami asked him to think like an American and understand the American law. So, everyday from 8:00 PM to 12:30 AM, Haresh would read and understand the American law. This helped so much that along with Swami’s blessings, Haresh won the lawsuit against this buyer. He attributes this success to the alertness of mind gained by keeping the body fit. Even today, Haresh still stands by the daily exercise routine in the hostel, as it is mandatory to keep the body fit.

In 2007, his company was going through a tough time financially with over 187 cases filed by different Government departments, creditors and banks. Haresh tried to take Swami’s guidance on this matter and approached Him many times. Swami would smile at him or just take his letter and move on. One day, Swami came to him and said, “Kya Abhimanyu, kaisa hain?” (Hey Abhimanyu, how are you?). This was the first time Swami had called him “Abhimanyu”. Swami said, “Tum to Abhimanyu ban gaya. Andhar gus gaya abhi bahar kaise aana nahi malum hain. Tumahara yahi problem hain.” (You have become Abhimanyu. You have got stuck and you do not know how to come out. This is your problem). Swami then taught him how to resolve each of the cases one by one.

Being in the marketing field, Haresh describes himself to be a very jovial person and a good storyteller. Swami had taught him that being in management, one must not talk unless asked to. Haresh realised the importance of being a good listener after eight years of marketing. This is an invaluable management lesson as the more one talks, the greater the chance of others taking advantage. It is very important to communicate what a customer can relate to. So being a good listener actually makes one a better marketing person.

Work is Worship

Many times Swami, in His own way, has told us that every student of His should be His institute. Every task that we perform in our organisation should be done with the spirit of offering to Swami. The dictum “Work is Worship” means that the work is not done towards a manager or an organisation. It must be dedicated as a worship to Swami. Those who have done that have risen so beautifully. One must not separate work from worship to Swami.

The first day Brother Haresh went for a sale after finishing his training, he met a lady who was the top buyer of one of the largest stores in the United States. He was sent there to meet the buyer and get an order. However, to his surprise when he met her, she asked him to get out. He later learnt that she was angry at him as her shipments were stood up by his company. Haresh then realised that if he did not get the order, then he would have to tell Swami that he failed. So deciding that he would not leave without getting an order, Haresh sat outside her office. Despite her repeated orders to leave Brother Haresh persisted in his efforts and sat for two full days outside her office. When she enquired about his persistence, he replied, “I have come as a representative of my father to apologise for all the mistakes that we have done and to secure a new relationship with you.” “Don’t even dream”, she replied. During lunch time she came out to check if he had left. Still there, he told her, “In our culture we are taught that unless we are forgiven we should not leave.” By the end of the day, Haresh had secured orders worth $500,000. This effort was motivated by his drive to show Swami that he had adhered to Swami’s guidance. At the end of every day, we have to report to Swami what we have accomplished.

Seva Initiatives Undertaken

Within Sai Lakshmi Industries, there is a trust created, wherein 2% of the sales are contributed. The trust gives free education to children of artisans and craftsmen. During COVID-19 pandemic,  oxygen concentrators were sourced and donated to apartments in the neighbourhood. The trust also supports 100 families that are below the poverty line in the neighbourhood.

Advice for the Younger Alumni

This is what Brother Haresh has to tell the students of the institute. “Enjoy every bit in the hostel and understand that the lessons are being taught for the long term. One would tend to think there are other ways of living, but in due course of time, one would realise that that is the most invaluable way of living. When Swami emphasises on simple living high thinking, we must not be attached to the things that we buy, but learn to live life with the least possible attachments. Swami, amidst all the wealth, was the embodiment of absolute simplicity. He could sit like a King in a Maruti 800, in a BMW or in a Rolls Royce. He is the real master, because He can command anything at His will and He can let it go without being attached to it.”

Swami always expects His students to wear clean clothes and to be well groomed and clean shaven. He was never casual about it. Brother Haresh feels there is a reason why Swami made us look the way He wanted us to and it would be great if we, as alumni, can remember the importance Swami gave to this. The lifestyle in the hostel was specifically designed by Swami of how to build a day in our lives. Many successful alumni are still following it. If we cherish the ideals of our hostel life we can hear Swami within guiding us at every step of our lives. By this way each one of us can become an institution by ourselves.

Team Vidyulekha wishes Haresh all the very best for his future endeavours.