Dr Jayant Abhyankar’s parents were Ayurvedic doctors. They wanted to start a company manufacturing Ayurvedic medicines. At that time, Jayant told his father Bhalchandra that he too was interested in Ayurveda. The father was elated to know that but only being interested in the subject was of no use. It was necessary to gain knowledge about it which meant he had to study it. At that time, Jayant had completed his Engineering and started doing a small job. But his interest in Ayurveda never waned. So, he once again turned his attention to education. New education meant a new beginning. The marks he had secured in the 12th board exam got him an admission in Ashtanga Ayurvedic College. The duration of the entire course was six and a half years. In 1985, he took admission for the Ayurveda stream and in the same year, Jayant and his father started manufacturing medicinal drugs under ‘Sharangdhar Pharmaceuticals’ in a place as small as 700 sq ft. Jayant likes to introduce new ideas and take risks. He started applying the same talent in Ayurveda. He carried out various experiments and tried to deliver the same to people.
Sharangdhar: The brand that brought the concept of ‘family doctor’ into reality
Doctors must know the major medical sciences. Doctors should decide which pathy is suitable for which patient and accordingly treat them because there is nothing called Allopathic or Ayurvedic medicine. A medicine is a medicine. It is up to the doctor to decide how, when, for whom and for what to use it. In the field of healthcare, the importance and contribution of a doctor or vaidya can never be undermined. But, just as we get information about the minor solutions to the problems occurring in the items of everyday usage, like computer or vehicle, etc., we can get information about Ayurvedic medicines that are simple, natural and therefore safe, and keep ourselves healthy.
This is how ‘Sharangdhar’ started...
Practice after finishing education
By the time Jayant completed his education, their business was established. After completing his education, Jayant wanted to concentrate on the business and expand it. His father Bhalchandra was eager to retire. However, he did not want his son to straightaway jump into the business but first find out the problems/illnesses of people and the solutions to them. Therefore, he told Jayant to practise for a few years initially. Relying on his father’s words of experience, Jayant opened a small clinic on Tilak Road after finishing his education. His daily routine involved spending 4 to 5 hours in the clinic and then looking after the business. After doing it continuously for five to six years, he realised that the clinic and the business were two separate things. Examining patients who came with different mind sets through the day and looking after the business post that, were two opposite things and therefore a little difficult to manage. By then, he had also had enough practice in the field. He could understand the illnesses, mind sets of the patients coming to him and the solutions to their problems. Eventually, he left his practice and turned full time to their business.
Company named after sage Sharangdhar
Dr Jayant says, “Many of our sages gained knowledge about Ayurveda. Later, they realised its importance for society and made it available for all. Many sages have made significant contribution to this. Our company has been named after sage Sharangdhar. He was one of the foremost pharmacologists who, for the first time in the history of Ayurveda, laid down the criteria for the appropriate procedures and conditions for the preparation of traditional Ayurvedic medicines. Thus, we are producing Ayurvedic medicines by blending the traditional knowledge and information about Ayurveda with modern manufacturing methods and thereby introducing Ayurveda in a convenient but effective form.”
2003, a milestone year
The business started by Abhyankar in 1985 was slowly growing but it had not picked up momentum. Hence, the products were not getting publicity either. Big companies had started advertising their products at that time. It is in Dr Jayant’s nature to keep carrying out new experiments in business and take risks. So, he decided to advertise his business with all his strength. He advertised his products in 2003. He wasn’t sure that he would get a huge response for them. When he started getting response, the company did not have the capacity to produce on a big scale. But gradually, the demand for the products increased and so did the supply. The company began to expand beyond Pune. Sharangdhar products became available all over Maharashtra and in places like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, etc.
Ayurveda becomes popular abroad
After the business started growing in Maharashtra and gradually in the country as well, Dr Jayant wanted to expand it overseas. Getting the first order was tough. With great effort, he received an order from Japan. The products were to be delivered by an Air India flight to Osaka in Japan. Exactly at the time of delivering the order, the Air India strike began. Dr Jayant was wondering as to how to deliver the order when he thought of Cathay Pacific airlines. Through it, he sent the first order abroad – to Japan. The order reached two days late in Japan which is known as a disciplined country. According to the Indian Standard Time, there was no delay. But the Japanese company fined him ₹ 1.5 lakh. Despite knowing that he was not at fault, Dr Jayant paid the fine without complaining and dispelled the misconceptions about Indian exporters in Japan. His relationship with the Japanese company was strengthened after this.
Dr Jayant says, “The demand for our products has also increased abroad because the people there are fed up with chemicals now. They have started giving importance to Ayurveda. Since they have expectations from us, our effort is to live up to their expectations and give them something good. Today, we are exporting to countries like the United States too.”
Suvarna Abhyankar
Wife is also involved in the business
Dr Jayant Abhyankar’s wife Suvarna has also extended her cooperation to Sharangdhar industry in a significant way. Survana comes from a middle class working family. But Dr Jayant was keen that his wife should be involved in their business and should be aware of all the dealings. So he involved her in the industry. According to Dr Jayant, every woman has multi-tasking management capacity. Women are more disciplined than men. These qualities are very useful in the industry, and it is true in their case too. For the last 20 years, Suvarna has justified the trust placed in her by Dr Jayant and the independent rights she was given. For this, she has received the ‘Woman Entrepreneur’ award and also an identity. It is due to this ideology of Dr Jayant that about 40% of the important positions in Sharangdhar are being occupied by women. They are working competently under the guidance of Suvarna and Dr Jayant Abhyankar.
The second generation in business
Dr Parth, the son of Dr Jayant Abhyankar, has also started helping his father. Any business runs on ‘management’. Parth believes that the better is the management of a business, the faster is its expansion and success rate. Therefore, he has completed his management education. Also, recognising the importance of digitisation, this second generation is expanding the company in the digital age. Says Dr Jayant, “Right now, Parth and I are working on making the company known through digital mediums. While there is a low response to online medicines, the medium can certainly be used for some lifestyle-related products. We should always accept changes for the business. It is in our nature, we are planning to expand further.”
Parth Abhyankar
Free Dr Healthline facility for all
People have many queries about Ayurveda. To offer instant answers to those queries, Sharangdhar has started a free Doctor Healthline called ‘Ayurekha’. People can call on 95 95 100 500 from 9.30 am to 7 pm and ask questions regarding health and Ayurvedic treatments. Arrangement has been made to offer instant answers to those questions. This service is closed on Sundays.
Sharangdhar’s upcoming projects
- Spread over an area of about 1 acre near Saswad, ‘Sharangdhar Health Farm’, based on a new concept, is going to be operational soon.
- In the near future, they will start giving Sharangdhar Ayurvedic Panchkarma Clinic as a franchise all over Maharashtra. Currently, the clinic franchises have been started in 5 cities.
- They have started giving ‘Sharangdhar Naturals Retail Outlets’ in the franchise format in Maharashtra.
Conversion of decoctions-powders into tablets
In the past, a large amount of decoctions, powders were used while treating patients through Ayurveda. But they were not easy to consume. Often, patients used to be tired of those treatments. Dr Jayant realised that to survive in the market, the form of the decoctions and powders will have to be changed. He decided to convert the decoctions and powders into pills. And he did it. Due to this experiment, people started giving preference to ‘Sharangdhar’ medicines. However, the question was how to deliver these drugs to people. Also, it was necessary to educate them on which medicine to be used for which illness. For that, he brought out a small booklet. ‘Gharcha Vaidya’, as it was called, turned everyone into their own doctor and people began to understand which drugs to take for which ailments. Sharangdhar manufactures products that can treat one from head to toe. Since they manufacture the products themselves, the company is more focused on ‘Research and Development’ as well as quality. Through that, innovative products are made, for instance, they introduced Chyavanprash in granular form. Also Gulkand was brought in granular form under the name ‘Kulkand’. Since the motto of the company is ‘Eradication of the disease’, the medicines are prepared from the whole plants. Sharangdhar is the first Ayurvedic company to add an expiry date on Ayurvedic medicines since the beginning.
Awards and honours
- The ‘Best Healthcare Brand in Ayurveda’ award was conferred on ‘Sharangdhar’ by the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
- ‘Corporate Excellence’ award was received from former cabinet minister Prakash Mehta
- It has been honoured with the ‘Best Brand in Ayurveda’ award by Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad
- The ‘Marathi Entrepreneur Network Forum’ honoured Dr Jayant Abhyankar with the ‘Adarsh Udyojak’ award
Ayurveda should also be accepted as a ‘brand’
Dr Jayant says, “Ayurveda is being used traditionally but it has not been accepted as a brand. When we had newly started, people would visit Ayurvedic clinics as a last resort for treatment. Of course, now times have changed. People have a better perception about Ayurveda as they have realised that instant remedies come with some side effects while Ayurvedic treatments do not have side effects. Even then, Ayurvedic medicines haven’t got the status that they deserve. Ayurveda is still not known as a ‘brand’. Ayurvedic medicines only have a 0.5 per cent share in the total pharmaceutical business today. If this ratio has to be improved, there should be standardisation, and Ayurveda should be recognised as a brand.” He further says, “Just as it is necessary to change people’s perspective towards Ayurveda, it is also necessary that Ayurvedic doctors change their perspective towards it. If Allopathic treatment is necessary at some stage, patients should be advised so. Also, many Ayurvedic physicians do not take the blood test report into account. They apply the same formula that an Ayurvedic doctor has to go for pulse diagnosis. But, every Ayurvedic doctor may not get complete information through pulse diagnosis. So, if necessary, they should also check blood test reports and treat the patient accordingly.”
Identity as a chemical-free brand
Dr Jayant says, “Many people tell us to manufacture shampoos and other products. But we flatly refuse them. Because some things cannot be manufactured without using chemicals or even if they are manufactured, they may not fulfil people’s expectations if they do not produce lather. So we have set our goal – not to use any chemical while preparing any product. Rather, we want to create a brand of non-chemical products. We will strive for that. We will concentrate on what people need, rather than what they want. And we will try to produce those products in the chemical-free form.”
Direct agreement with farmers for assured price
What you are selling to your customers depends on the quality of the raw material you are buying. In order to get assured raw material, Sharangdhar provides Ayurvedic plants, seeds to farmers. Also, to assure the farmers that they will buy the raw material, they sign direct agreements with them. Says Dr Jayant, “If we are making a good profit because our customers are buying our products at the right price, we also think of the farmers. It does not matter to us how much other people are paying for that raw material. If we get the right profit, we want to pass it on to the farmers too.”
For information on the company’s products and activities:
020-26930621 / 7875787511 | www.sharangdhar.com
For Franchisee Enquiries :Marketing@sharangdhar.com