Satyajit Singh was born and brought up in Patna. After completing his M.A. in history, Satyajit set up his own business pioneering in the manufacture of products made from Makhana, an aquatic crop found mostly in Bihar. Shakti Sudha, his company supplies fat-free, innovative foodstuffs made from makhana all over India and employs around 17,000 farmers. Satyajit has received the Choudhry Charan Singh Award from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Satyajit’s idea is to expand his Makhana business on a global scale.

Q: Describe yourself in a few words.
A: I’m a down-to-earth person. I enjoy the company of practical people. I’m a little reserved and so don’t easily mingle with strangers.

Q: How do you define success?
A: Success for me is only achieved through hard work and detailing. It means giving a good price to the farmers and providing employment to the rural poor. Success means the smile on the faces of the farmers. When I go to villages, I sometimes take gifts like Bata Hawaii chappals for them and that makes them really happy! I feel touched when I see them happy. Success also means getting appreciated by the market, offering the public a healthy alternative to oily potato chips.

Q: Why do you think you can become the Business Baazigar?
A: Frankly, no one has as practical an idea as I do and with so much research, detailing and planning. Others have good ideas but they are not researched well. They are just concepts whereas the Makhana idea is very concrete and feasible.

Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
A: Five years from now, I would be the CEO of a company whose turnover is 500 crores p.a.!