Loksarang Hardas, born and brought up in Nagpur, is now a US entrepreneur, industrialist and business executive. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LA’s Totally Awesome Products, a consumer products company, based in Los Angeles, California. He is here to pay back to his alma mater Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (erstwhile Laxminarayan Institute of Technology). He has not disconnected himself from India, philisophically or culturally. He is in Nagpur to grace the functions at two of the institutes where he took education--LITU and Shri Mathuradas Mohota College of Science. He talked to ‘The Hitavada’ about his plans for young generation in India. He is contemplating to create endowment corpus that would help Indian students to launch start-ups and become entrepreneur. “I am not interested in running any educational institute. I would like to be involved in formatting graduate class to support the thought process in a way that would help the society. For example, now I am in a position from where I can ask others to spend some per cent of amount for the donation. Out of these donations, start-ups and incubation centres can be set up. A good change can be brought in India,” explained Hardas.

 

Hardas took school education in Tilak Vidyalaya, Dhantoli; Hadas High School, did his junior college-level education at Mohota Science College, and studied chemical engineering at the erstwhile LIT. In 1983, he moved to the US to pursue Masters in Chemical Engineering from City College, New York. There, he joined a job at a pharmaecutical shop. Some twists took place that led Hardas to become an industrialist. He then moved to California in 1984 and founded LA’s Totally Awesome Products. The person who had gone to USA and working as an employee has now more than 600 people working under him. Hardas has worked as the Treasurer of Hindu Sangh Foundation for the past 40 years. The organisation promotes and provides a necessary platform for all the faith based activities which are organised in North America. In addition, he also founded Siddhivinayak Temple in Brea, California in 2007. Indian Classical dance and singing events are organised regularly at the temple to bring the richness of Indian culture into recognition of people in USA. Similar events are also promoted at Brea Performing Art Center, which is also owned Hardas. “All four of my children know our traditional values. They speak Marathi fluently. They know Marathi culture as well. I believe in the culture being taught by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. In addition to developing one’s own personality and ethics, Sangh also teaches a person to give back to the society. I have taken cue from those teachings and paying back to the society through my almamater,” Hardas made it clear.

 

Hardas has founded ‘Apna Ghar’ in Irvine, California to help struggling young women to get back on their feet and look at the world through a new and vibrant perspective. He also runs a charitable organisation called ‘Blind Relief’ which provides necessary facilities to the blind people so that they can also enjoy life to its fullest. Hardas feels lot of changes have come in India in last ten years. “Earlier we had a choice of China which had better facilities. Their welcome approach was far better than that of India. Of course I was choosing India for my raw material because of my attachment to my country. Now things have really improved. I feel there can be a time when India will be the destination for education, business, tourism for everything. That day is not far away,” Hardas expressed confidence.