Kanchan Bhat’s journey with Gabril Industries in Pune is a story of growth and resilience. Growing up in Srinagar, Kashmir, Kanchan encountered challenges early in life, including a significant moment in 1990 that tested her family’s strength. These experiences, while challenging, played a crucial role in shaping her determination and problem-solving skills. Today, she leads her company in producing high-precision components for various sectors, using the strength and resilience she developed from her early experiences to tackle business challenges and drive success.
Every successful person has a unique story—a tale of overcoming tough times, facing challenges, and never giving up. Kanchan Bhat, the Director of Gabril Industries Private Limited, shares her story, which speaks volumes not just as a woman but as a person, about the bright future that lies ahead despite initial struggles. Based in Pune, Gabril Industries specialises in producing very high-precision components. It caters to diverse sectors, such as the automotive sector, aerospace, hydraulics, electronics, defence, etc. Incepted by Kanchan’s father, Hriday Nath Bhat, the company today flourishes under the leadership of both. Born and raised in Srinagar, Kashmir, Kanchan Bhat’s early years were marked by the harsh realities of insurgency.
Challenging Harsh Realities of Insurgency
Forced to flee their home in 1990 for safety, she and her family left behind everything they knew, carrying with them only the essentials and a sense of uncertainty about the future. “We were attacked while escaping,” she recalls. “When you have seen something like this, it either makes you or breaks you. And in our case, it made us extremely resilient.” When Kanchan and her family moved to Jammu, life was far from easy since it was a completely unexpected change of circumstances.
The living conditions were cramped, and she had to attend classes in the heat of Jammu’s afternoons due to the overwhelming number of students as the majority of Pandits fled from Kashmir. The transition wasn’t smooth, but her passion for sports kept her going. Kanchan found comfort and strength in athletics, embracing activities like sprinting and badminton. Her creative outlet came with music and art. Despite difficulties, sports became her refuge, fostering a sense of resilience and determination.
Hriday Nath Bhat’s entrepreneurial journey began by setting up an ancillary unit for Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) in Srinagar, Kashmir. HMT was one of India’s first and largest PSUs, established primarily for watchmaking. The unit was strategically relocated to Pune, which emerged as a more favourable and conducive location for industries compared to Jammu. This ancillary unit of HMT further paved the way for the establishment of Gabril Industries based in Pune.
Embracing Independence & Self-Reliance
Kanchan’s journey into the creative world began in her adopted hometown, Pune, where she initially indulged her love for sports before discovering a passion for architecture. This newfound interest led her to earn a degree in Architecture in Pune. Her quest for knowledge didn’t stop there; she later expanded her horizons by moving to Australia, where she pursued double master’s degrees in Sustainable Design and Heritage Conservation. This path from a sports enthusiast to an architecture student in Pune and eventually to a global scholar in Australia showcases her diverse interests and continuous pursuit of learning.
This story illustrates the importance of independence and self-reliance, values instilled in Kanchan by her supportive father. These principles were not merely theoretical but were actively embodied in her life, especially during her time in Sydney. Here, she navigated the complexities of managing her finances, a challenge compounded by the responsibilities of work and studies in a foreign land. Her father, while supportive of her education, encouraged Kanchan to take charge of her living expenses, leading her to balance part-time jobs with her academic commitments. This approach sometimes led to difficult periods, particularly near semester ends when academic pressures intensified, occasionally affecting her ability to afford proper meals. Despite these hardships, Kanchan looks back on this period with pride, viewing it as a crucial phase that reinforced her resilience and independence.
“Every experience teaches you something. It depends on how you take it. Whether you want to crib or learn,” says Kanchan. For her, it was a part of growing up, taking responsibility, and figuring things out independently. During all of these phases and challenges, one thing remained constant: sports. She took up a sport utterly unknown to her in Sydney called Dragon Boat Racing. She was so fascinated by the sport that she committed fully towards learning it. She ended up being on the state team of NSW and representing the state in the nationals, committing to very early morning practice sessions before college almost daily, come rain or shine. Sports have always been her life support, giving her clarity, focus, and discipline.
From Building Homes to Building Legacy
After returning from Australia, she was lucky to get her first break at Wipro Eco Energy. This division was Wipro Founder Azim Premji’s vision, and according to her, she received some of the best mentorship through her first few bosses. They are now friends and colleagues to her, but they also played a crucial role in pushing her to take on a business development role. She worked extensively in the Green Building Industry for about 8 years in India in prestigious places, starting with WEE (Wipro Eco Energy), CCBA Designs (Christopher Charles Benninger Architects), and with the USGBC (US Green Building Council) as well. Through her diverse roles, Kanchan Bhat gained extensive experience and insight into the intricacies of business development. These skills have been instrumental in her future career, where she leverages her knowledge to expand the business network and secure new opportunities.
However, the significant shift came with Kanchan’s determination to carry on her father’s legacy, as she embarked on an entirely new journey in an unknown territory. She feels you can pick anything with the drive to learn and common sense. Transitioning into the manufacturing sector was not without its challenges for her. She was surprised by people’s perception of women in manufacturing. She was met with surprise and even ridiculed on many occasions in the beginning for her presence on the shop floor, but she is happy to state that this is rapidly changing now. Despite the obstacles, she remained firm, driven by her fascination with machinery, her desire to learn and take up a challenge. She made sure to speak and ask questions to all her shop floor team to better understand the technical side. She feels while doing so that she also gained their trust and respect.
#InspireInclusion: Way of Life at Gabril Industries
At Gabril Industries, Kanchan has attempted to create an environment where gender discrimination is not tolerated. She is working on instilling a culture of respect and equality, ensuring all employees are treated with dignity, regardless of gender. Furthermore, she remains committed to empowering more women in the manufacturing domain, believing that increasing the representation of women in leadership roles is crucial for driving change from the top down. By advocating for more women to enter the industry and supporting their advancement, Kanchan hopes to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
Currently, Kanchan is exploring additional ventures with plans for a new startup, details of which are yet to be revealed. Alongside this, her commitment towards Gabril Industries remains firm and a priority. After the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her father, after a detailed analysis, decided to diversify their operations, opposing the concept of ‘keeping all eggs in one basket.’ They recently manufactured a critical component for a renowned commercial air carriage manufacturer, marking their venture into aerospace, which she is incredibly proud of. They have heavily invested in technology, including some Swiss machinery, which is the best in its class and reflects their effort to ensure customer accuracy and repeatability.
Brand Indian Manufacturing: Gaining Trust Globally
Kanchan Bhat reflects on the challenges Indian companies face in gaining international trust. She acknowledges that earlier, there was distrust towards Indian companies due to unfulfilled promises, lack of communication and inconsistent quality. However, she is determined to change this perception of India, aiming to redefine India’s reputation in manufacturing and envisioning a future where precision and quality are closely linked with India and her company.
She says Indians can be as good as Germans or Americans, and she respects their skills. Kanchan feels India is ready, and it’s time to step up. In her words, we need to have the mindset and relevant support from the government. She revealed that they are working on entering exports, emphasising the importance of professionalism and transparency in international dealings. She believes that clear communication and honesty are essential for building trust and credibility in the global market, with quality as the main cornerstone.
When asked about her inspiration and values, Kanchan credits her drive to her father, family, and her love for learning, drawing strength and discipline from her passion for sports and fitness. Though is it not easy to work with family, she stresses the importance of patience, resilience, and clarity of purpose in overcoming challenges. Transparency, quality, attention to detail, and professionalism are the driving forces for Gabril Industries.
Setting New Goals: ₹100 Crore Milestone for Gabril Industries
Looking ahead, she aims for Gabril Industries to achieve significant turnover, targeting over 100 crores in the coming years. She hopes to inspire other women to pursue their passions and become change-makers in their own right. She also emphasises the importance of health and fitness, noting that many women neglect these aspects due to family commitments.
Kanchan Bhat has always believed that focusing on health first can make other aspects of life more manageable. After coming back from Sydney, she played Rugby for Pune. Unfortunately, due to a knee injury, she didn’t play again, but that did not stop her. She picked up strength training, Olympic lifting, and Kettle Bell, to name a few of her interests, because she likes to learn new things. She makes sure to make time for her training and takes care of her health.
Kanchan’s message to aspiring women entering the manufacturing sector is one of encouragement and realism. She highlights the sector’s challenges, emphasising the need for a genuine interest in manufacturing and clarity of purpose. She advises aspiring women to pay attention to detail, learn the basics, and cultivate out-of-the-box thinking while staying grounded in business fundamentals. Moreover, she highlights the importance of self-care, stating that being fit instils the clarity and calmness necessary for successful business endeavours. She believes that women’s participation in the manufacturing sector can increase the recognition and success of Indian organisations globally.
