 |
Dr. B. R. Shetty - Founder Partner, Managing Director & CEO, NMC
“The real secret of happiness is not what you
have or what you receive it's what you share."
Dr. Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, popularly known as Raghu
Bhai and BR, set foot on the dunes of the Arabian
Peninsula, in what was at that time for him a new and
strange landscape in the United Arab Emirates, way back
in 1973, with modest credentials to profession as a
pharmacist. Some have reasons to believe that his
auspicious name 'Raghu' presages the advent of dawn,
blazing new trails, alluding to ancient literature
tracing the lineage of the name to the Sun Dynasty.
And for sure, the sun rises, somewhere, sometime, and
for sure, all the time, in the wide blue sky, signifying
eternal hope and cheer.
The
fledgling nation was then on a frog leap, but abounded
in opportunities that Dr. Shetty was quick to spot,
particularly in the field of medicine, his sense of
purpose and determination culminating in the establishment
of the NMC Hospital in Abu Dhabi, the
first of its kind in the country, with branches in Dubai
and Sharjah following suit. These hospitals along with
National Hospital, New National Medical Centre,
Abu Dhabi, the state of the art NMC Specialty Hospitals in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and NMC Family Clinic, Dubai treat over one million patients a year.
The
success story signaled the spawn of new enterprises,
as Dr. Shetty set about his plans for diversification
that led to major forays into a bewildering range of
businesses spread over distribution in pharmaceuticals, FMCG brands, scientific/medical equipment,
foodstuff ; financial services, pharmaceutical
manufacturing,
hospitality, advertising and public relations, gold and diamond jewellery, real estate,
information technology, engineering projects and
services. Dr. Shetty has now embarked on the path of innovation in Technology in the fields of Nanotechnology, Bio-Technology, Cell Therapy and Tissue Culture.
Neopharma
and NMC Trading were recently awarded the 2006 Mohammed
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award in Manufacturing
and Re-Export categories respectively, in recognition of
their pioneering initiatives. Based on the Business High Performance Model, the award evaluates and recognizes the performance of companies from both management and performance criteria. A company's strategic initiative, leadership perspectives, quality imperatives, corporate culture, corporate social responsibility, performance output, outcome and impact are appraised.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai
presented the awards to Dr. B.R. Shetty.
Business,
however, is by no stretch of imagination, Dr. Shetty's
exclusive preoccupation. His abiding interest in
education has put him at the forefront of the largest community
school in the region as its Chairman.
Dr. Shetty has also invested in a medical institution in the north Indian state of Uttaranchal
and has been appointed to the board of directors of the Haldawni Medical College.
Besides heading numerous international
groups, he is the Founder and Patron of the Indian Pharmaceutical
Association in the Emirates and was President of the Abu
Dhabi Cricket Council. Dr. Shetty also holds the post of
Member of the Advisory Board (Financial Sector),
Economic Department, Government of Dubai, UAE and the
Pharmaceutical Committee, Dubai.
Presiding
over such an extensive business empire has not deterred
him from finding time for charitable causes. In fact,
the dizzying heights of success have driven him to overtake
his own shadow as a humanitarian to the core, that gives
his passion for business a quality of mercy and compassion,
going by the large number of beneficiaries of his largesse.
Awards
and accolades have been heaped on him in recognition
of services and contributions that have benefited organizations,
individuals and institutions. The Karnataka Rajyothsava
Award, the Rainbow Laurel Award instituted by the former
Maharaja of Travancore, the Arch of India Gold Award
of the NRI Institute in London, the epithet Dharmadarshi
from Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi, are just some light showers
in the heavy rain of tributes. He is also the recipient
of the
'Lifetime Achievement Award' that was conferred upon
him on the occasion of the historic IPCA-FAPA joint
Congress held in Mumbai. He was
recently awarded the Pravasi Karma Ratna Award, the third
Indian to be so honoured.
Georgia State University of Atlanta, Georgia, USA
has conferred the highest academic degree, the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters
(D. Litt.); ‘in recognition of his noble service to humanity.’ The honour which was conferred by the University on 13 January, 2005 will add to the lustre
of the many accolades already received by Dr. Shetty; in recognition of his achievement in various spheres of activities.
Dr. B. R. Shetty was
also conferred the 'Lifetime Achievement Award’
by the International Medical Integration Council and The
Optimal Healthcare Group (India) for his outstanding
contribution to the Healthcare Sector.
On 29th
November 2005, the U.S. India Friendship Society, Chicago presented Dr. B. R.
Shetty with The Distinguished Entrepreneur Award "in recognition of his exemplary leadership in business and for exemplifying the noble ideals of humanitarian service."
Further, in recognition of his accomplishments and exemplary acts of devotion, compassion and generosity towards the community and ultimately the development of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Dr. B. R. Shetty was recently honored with the Order of Abu Dhabi. This award has been given in the memory of late Shaikh Zayed under the guidance and auspices of H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
On January 6, 2006, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) bestowed Dr. B. R. Shetty with
the Pravasi
Bharatiya Community Service Award 2006, for his service to the community. GOPIO’s Pravasi Bharatiya Community Service Awards have been established to honor those NRIs and PIOs who have provided significant community and public service to the Indian Diaspora around the globe and/or to India.
Dr. B. R. Shetty was also conferred the First “Gulf Udyog Rathna” Award
by United Associations of Karnataka - Kuwait on 24th November 2006 for his contribution to the community.
Dr. B.R. Shetty
was conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on the concluding day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for 2007 in New Delhi. This award is conferred on Dr. B.R.Shetty in recognition of his outstanding contribution towards the betterment of the large NRI community. Besides other yeomen endeavours, his unstinted commitment, dedication and tireless efforts to bring quality healthcare services at affordable prices to the masses have earned him a place in the hearts of millions.
An optimist who relishes the prospects of any challenge,
it comes as no surprise that he envisions a happy and
healthy world, confident in the belief that the long,
winding road ahead will sport milestones, eminently
superior to those bearing testimony at present. |
