My Favourite

Dinesh Agarwal

Founder & CEO of Indiamart talks about the biopic of Gandhi and more

Tulsidas’ Shri Ramcharitmanas is one of the greatest literary masterpieces I have come across. It’s amazing how relevant it is even in today’s times. The ancient text shares priceless advice on the management of life and steps that each one of us can follow to attain greatness. 

Gandhi, the biographical adaptation of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s life by Sir Richard Attenborough, is a fabulous movie. I was particularly inspired by the leadership qualities highlighted in the film. It teaches you a lot about being a leader, and the fact that you do not have to be loud or authoritative to lead. One of my favourite dialogues is this one: when Nehru tells Gandhi that the nation is moving, Gandhi promptly replies: “Yes. But in what direction?” As a leader you cannot be ambiguous about where you want to take your team.  

I am an ardent fan of cricket. It teaches us hard work, passion and commitment, which all cricketers put into the game. As kids, my brothers and I used to play the game near our house and the memory has stayed on. I was in West Indies in 2007 and then in Mumbai in 2011 to witness the World Cup matches. 

I love travelling and try and find the time to see new locations and experience new cultures. Some of the locations I have been to include the Caribbean, Bali, Singapore, Las Vegas, Maldives and Colombo, but nothing can beat my experiences of the Tsavo National Park in East Kenya, and Rotorua in New Zealand. 

I am an admirer of Gandhiji and the Gyarah Murti (or Eleven Figures) at Willingdon Crescent on Sardar Patel Marg in New Delhi is my favourite work of art. It represents the Satyagraha from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in 1930, which is undoubtedly one of the biggest events in Indian history. It has been beautifully depicted by Devi Prasad Roy Choudhary.