GRAAM Campus, Mysuru | 2025
What does it take to build something meaningful? Can entrepreneurship truly change the world? And in an age of inherited privilege and startup unicorns, is there still room for those starting from scratch?
These aren’t easy questions. But they’re the kind of questions young people need to ask and more importantly, they need honest answers from those who’ve walked the path.
As part of the Youth for Governance (Y4G) Fellowship, fellows had the rare opportunity to engage in an enriching and refreshingly informal interaction with Mr. Arjun Ranga, Chairman of GRAAM and Managing Director of Cycle Pure Agarbathies – India (N. Ranga Rao & Sons Pvt. Ltd.) a business legacy that has endured and thrived for nearly a century.
This wasn’t a lecture. It wasn’t a polished corporate presentation. It was a conversation – honest, inspiring, and grounded in the kind of wisdom that can only come from experience, resilience, and deep reflection.
A Legacy Built on Resilience, Innovation, and Ethics
Mr. Arjun Ranga began by taking the fellows on a journey through time, tracing the roots of his family business back to 1928. Nearly a hundred years ago, his ancestors laid the foundation of what would become one of India’s most trusted brands in the agarbathi (incense stick) industry.
But this story wasn’t just about success. It was about:
- Resilience: Navigating economic downturns, market shifts, and generational transitions
- Innovation: Continuously adapting to changing consumer preferences and technological advancements
- Ethics: Building a business rooted in trust, quality, and integrity, values that have sustained the brand across decades
For the fellows, many of whom are thinking about their own futures and career paths, this historical perspective was invaluable. It showed that enduring success isn’t built overnight, and it’s certainly not built on shortcuts. It’s the result of consistent effort, principled decision-making, and the courage to evolve.
Bold Questions from Bold Minds
What made this interaction truly special was the space it created for honest, unfiltered dialogue. The fellows didn’t hold back. They asked the kinds of questions young people everywhere are grappling with:
“Does generational wealth decide our entrepreneurial fate?”
This question cut to the heart of a concern many young people have: If I don’t come from a business family or don’t have inherited wealth, am I already at a disadvantage? Can I really succeed?
“Can one really start from scratch today?”
In an era dominated by venture capital, tech unicorns, and stories of overnight success, it’s easy to feel like entrepreneurship is only for the privileged few. The fellows wanted to know: Is there still space for someone with just an idea, some grit, and limited resources?
Mr. Ranga didn’t dismiss these concerns or offer easy platitudes. Instead, he addressed them head-on.
The Path to Entrepreneurial Success: More Than Just Ambition
Mr. Ranga’s message was clear and uncompromising: Yes, achieving entrepreneurial success is absolutely possible, regardless of your starting point. But it’s not easy, and it requires far more than just ambition or a good idea.
1. Unwavering Commitment
Entrepreneurship isn’t a nine-to-five job. It demands a level of dedication that most people aren’t prepared for. There will be sleepless nights, moments of self-doubt, and times when giving up seems like the easier option. Success belongs to those who refuse to quit, even when the path gets difficult.
2. A Spirit of Curiosity
The world is constantly changing. Markets evolve. Technologies advance. Consumer preferences shift. Entrepreneurs who succeed are those who remain endlessly curious, always learning, always asking questions, always looking for better ways to solve problems.
3. A Drive for Continuous Innovation
What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. Businesses that stagnate die. Mr. Ranga emphasized that innovation isn’t just about creating something new; it’s about constantly improving, refining, and adapting to stay relevant.
4. Confidence Without Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is the silent killer of dreams. Mr. Ranga was emphatic: there’s no room for self-doubt on the entrepreneurial journey. This doesn’t mean arrogance or blind optimism, it means having the confidence to trust your vision, take calculated risks, and believe in your ability to figure things out.
5. The Immense Value of Support
No one succeeds alone. Family, friends, mentors, and community play a crucial role in overcoming challenges and turning aspirations into reality. Entrepreneurship can be isolating, and having a support system that believes in you can make all the difference.
Aim for a Billion Lives
One of the most powerful moments of the interaction came when Mr. Ranga challenged the fellows to think bigger than themselves.
He urged them to pursue entrepreneurship not just for personal success or financial gain, but to create solutions with the potential to impact at least a billion lives.
This wasn’t hyperbole. It was a call to ambition rooted in purpose.
In a country of 1.4 billion people, many of whom face challenges related to healthcare, education, employment, sustainability, and governance, there’s no shortage of problems worth solving. The question is: Will you think small, or will you dream big enough to make a difference at scale?
From Dreams to Action: The Power of Deep Work
Having big dreams is important, but Mr. Ranga was clear: dreams alone are not enough. Young people must also take concrete steps to achieve them.
He emphasized the importance of delving deeply into your work. When you commit to truly understanding your craft, mastering your domain, and immersing yourself in the problem you’re trying to solve, something magical happens: genuine enthusiasm emerges.
And as you grow to love what you do, that passion becomes a powerful driving force, transforming abstract aspirations into meaningful action.
This is the difference between people who talk about ideas and people who build them. It’s the difference between dreaming and doing.
More Than a Session: A Conversation About Courage, Values, and Vision
What made this interaction unforgettable wasn’t just the advice Mr. Ranga shared, it was the authenticity with which he shared it.
He spoke not as a distant CEO dispensing wisdom from on high, but as someone who has lived the journey, made mistakes, learned from them, and continued to evolve. He created a safe space where fellows could express their doubts, challenge assumptions, and imagine possibilities.
For the Y4G fellows, many of whom are still figuring out their paths, this kind of mentorship is invaluable. It’s one thing to read about entrepreneurship in textbooks; it’s another to sit across from someone who has built something enduring and hear them say: Yes, you can do this. And here’s what it will take.
The Intersection of Governance and Entrepreneurship
This interaction also highlighted an important connection: the relationship between governance and entrepreneurship.
As fellows in the Youth for Governance program, many are thinking about careers in public policy, civil service, or the nonprofit sector. But Mr. Ranga’s story reminded them that entrepreneurship is also a form of governance, it’s about creating systems, managing resources, building institutions, and ultimately, serving communities.
Whether you’re shaping policy in a government office or building a business that employs thousands, the core principles remain the same: integrity, innovation, resilience, and a commitment to impact.
Gratitude and Looking Forward
The Y4G Fellowship and GRAAM extend heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Arjun Ranga for taking the time to mentor the next generation of changemakers.
His willingness to engage honestly, share vulnerably, and challenge boldly created an experience that will stay with the fellows long after the Y4G program ends.
As these young leaders continue their journeys, whether into governance, entrepreneurship, research, or activism, they’ll carry with them the lessons from this conversation:
- Success is possible, but it requires commitment, curiosity, and courage
- Think big, aim to impact not just hundreds or thousands, but millions or even billions
- Dreams are the starting point, but action is what transforms them into reality
- Deep work breeds passion, and passion fuels persistence
- Support from family, friends, and community is invaluable
The Changemakers of Tomorrow
The Youth for Governance Fellowship is about more than understanding government systems or policy frameworks. It’s about building character, cultivating vision, and fostering the kind of leadership that can transform societies.
Interactions like this one with Mr. Arjun Ranga are a crucial part of that journey. They remind fellows that leadership comes in many forms, and that whether you’re running a century-old business or starting a grassroots nonprofit, the principles of integrity, innovation, and impact remain constant.
As the fellows left the session, they carried with them not just advice, but inspiration, the belief that they too can dream big, work hard, and build something meaningful.
And perhaps most importantly, they learned that the path to impact isn’t about where you start. it’s about the courage to begin, the commitment to persist, and the vision to imagine a better world.
The Youth for Governance Fellowship is a flagship initiative by GRAAM in partnership with Hanns Seidel Foundation, designed to build the next generation of governance practitioners and social changemakers through experiential learning, critical dialogue, and mentorship from leaders across sectors.
Because the changemakers of tomorrow are being shaped today, one conversation, one question, one bold dream at a time. 🌟
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