Why Gautam Adani celebrates three birthdays every year

India Today

2 days ago

Just last week, industrialist Gautam Adani celebrated his 64th birthday. Most people know that. But what they perhaps don't know is the Adani patriarch celebrates three birthdays every year, not just one.Yes, baffling as it may seem, apart from the day he was born, Adani celebrates two other dates. They are dates when he actually snatched life from the jaws of death. These were times when he repeatedly stared down the abyss and emerged unscathed, yet profoundly transformed. Here then is the story of Adani's three birthdays:advertisementTHE FIRST BIRTHDAY: THE DAY HE WAS BORNBorn on 24 June 1962, in the bustling heart of Ahmedabad, Gautam Adani arrived into a simple world. It was far removed from the towering empires he would one day command. The seventh of eight children, his childhood was steeped in the modest rhythms of a Gujarati Jain family, where his father toiled as a small textile merchant. It was a home overflowing with love, where members of the family and even the community were supportive and hardworking. They instilled in the young Gautam, a deep appreciation for commitment to work and values, and an unshakeable belief in the power of one's own hands.
He was educated at Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya. He then went in for higher studies, but the traditional classroom of the school was obviously too restricting for a mind already charting grander designs. He decided to drop out of studies, and brimming with restless energy at the age of 16, he opted to give free rein to the entrepreneurial spark within. With just a few hundred rupees in his pocket, he journeyed to Mumbai, the city of dreams, where he began his first learnings as a diamond sorter. The world of gems taught him precision and patience, and the power of small margins and large volumes. It taught him the need for speed, persuasion without taking his eyes off the bean counter. It wasn't long before, by the age of 19, he had established his own diamond brokerage, earning his first significant deal.advertisementBut destiny was to take him away from diamonds.By 1981, he was back in Ahmedabad, drawn by his elder brother's plastics unit. This seemingly small venture became his crucible, an unexpected gateway to global trading as he delved into the import of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). By 1988, Adani Exports was born. It was the precursor to what would soon become the sprawling Adani Group. Initially, its focus was on trading in agricultural and power commodities.The liberalisation of India's economy in the early 90s only fanned the flames of his quiet ambition. It set the stage for harnessing the raw genius blended with traditional humility. Added to this was the fierce, unyielding resilience which would make him more resolute to overcome obstacles that would come his way.THE SECOND BIRTHDAY: SURVIVING A KIDNAPPINGThe second 'birthday' falls on 1 January, 1998. That is a day that is etched in his memory not for celebration, but as a reminder to focus on sheer survival. It was then, as he left Ahmedabad's Karnavati Club with an associate, Shantilal Patel, that their vehicle was ambushed. Armed men, allegedly gangsters, forced them into captivity. For a night, Adani found himself in a harrowing game of chance.advertisementWhile the details of that terrifying night remain largely private, popular folklore talks about how Gautam Adani, with astonishing composure, engaged his captors in a game of cards, perhaps rummy – a game of strategy, calculated risks, trying to wrest opportunities from the fickle hand of luck.Folklore has it that it was not merely a distraction. It testified to his unique mental make-up. In the face of extreme pressure, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to assess the situation, control his emotions, and school his mind to focus on what needed to be done. He didn't buckle down; instead, he adapted. As people say, 'He didn't fight physically; he engaged mentally.' This would be the quality that would be immensely relevant in his approach to both personal adversities and complex business challenges. Like a master strategist in a high-stakes game, he has consistently risen above the immediate crisis, turning potential defeat into a narrative of profound resilience.THE THIRD BIRTHDAY: SURVIVING THE 26/11 TERROR ATTACKEleven years later, destiny tested Gautam Adani once more, on 26 November 2008. That was when a horrific terrorist attack gripped Mumbai. Adani was dining at the iconic Masala Craft restaurant in the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. At the table along with him was the Dubai Port CEO Mohammed Sharaf. They had settled their bill, and were on the verge of leaving, when a last-minute decision to extend their conversation for coffee inadvertently saved their lives. Had they stepped into the lobby at that precise moment, they would have walked directly into the brutal line of fire at the hands of the terrorists.advertisementAs chaos erupted, Adani, witnessing the terrorists open fire, found himself looking for options. Even as bullets whizzed past, he remained composed, his focus shifting from personal safety to collective survival. Stories abound about that night. They speak of Adani's incredible fortitude: his quiet laughter to ease the palpable fear among his companions, his ability at telling people to be patient. ensuring women and older individuals found safe passage before he sought refuge himself. These stories talk about how he did not put his own life above that of others.As the firing intensified, he, along with four others, squeezed into a tiny cubicle in a bathroom, with bated breath, every muscle tense, to avoid detection. He later recounted how, amidst the horror, he called Captain Mehta when the firing briefly ceased. He learned that the entire restaurant had been consumed by the inferno.advertisementWhen later asked if he was scared, Adani, ever the pragmatist, acknowledged his fear but adamantly stated he was "not broken". He spoke of acceptance, a profound understanding that "if it was my time, I would have been taken". Through it all, he was seen consoling others.This experience, a chilling encounter with raw evil, solidified his reputation for courage under fire. It also highlighted his profound empathy and unwavering spirit.EPILOGUE: THE MAN WHO REFUSED TO BUCKLEThese three 'birthdays' paint a vivid portrait of Gautam Adani: a self-made man who built an empire. It also evokes the image of a person whose journey is defined by a fierce, almost defiant, fight to snatch life from the jaws of death.They talk of how, for Gautam Adani, each incident serves not as a roadblock, but as a learning. They conjure up an image of a man with extraordinary strength, whether playing cards with kidnappers or consoling others amidst gunfire. They speak of his ability to control his emotions, assess the gravest situations, and emerge, every time, stronger, more resilient, and utterly ready for the next challenge.(The author is a veteran journalist, educationist, and researcher. He has known Gautam Adani for over two decades. He is author of the book "Gautam Adani: Reimagining business in India and the world" published by Penguin.)- Ends
advertisement