“Think big” is a powerful concept that successful people understand and implement in one’s lives. One such person is Doctor R. N. Shetty, who hails from the small village of Murudeshwar in Bhatkal Taluk of Northern District of Karnataka, India. Despite coming from a humble background and completing only a high school education, Dr. Shetty built a vast empire of enterprises that span across various industries.
Dr. Shetty started his career as a small contractor in Sirsi in 1967 and later launched his own business after facing setbacks in a partnership. His commitment to quality and innovation led him to undertake challenging projects such as building three bridges on the Bangalore Highway, the Warahi Waterpower Project, and the Krishna River Upper Bank project. He even completed eighteen tunnels for the Konkan Railway Project without any formal technical education.
Dr. Shetty’s entrepreneurial spirit knew no bounds. He entered the hotel industry and founded Navin Hotels, a five-star hotel in Bengaluru. He also ventured into the pilgrimage residence plan with Navin hotels in Murudeshwar. In 1977, he founded the Mars sharing factories in Murudeshwara, which now produce 40,000 units a day. He further expanded his business to the ferrocement industry and founded the Murudeshwar Ceramics company in 1987, which generated a revenue of 1.8 billion that year.
Dr. Shetty’s contributions extend beyond the business world. He established the Maruti Employment Institute in Bangalore, Hubballi, and Murudeshwara, and built the largest showroom in the country. He also invested a significant portion of his income into his hometown of Murudeshwara by opening an engineering college, hospital, and school. He even built the highest Rajagopura in the country, which stands at 249 feet, dedicated to the temple in Murudeshwara.
Dr. Shetty’s achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including Honorary Doctorate and the Visvesvaraya Award. He is an inspiration to many and continues to inspire future generations with his visionary leadership.