08th August, 2022

Author: Preeti Sharma (Content Writer)

It is true that God is very kind, and we can feel it in our daily lives. If he takes something from you, he returns even more. Dr. Bhavesh Bhatia an Entrepreneur is a name synonymous to inspiration and motivation not only for impaired but for many of us to every generation. It’s a rainy day when we spoke to him; he is presently based at Mahableshwar in his plant. Dr. Bhatia way of achieving milestones is an achievement in itself. Dr. Bhavesh Bhatia has been awarded by numerous accolades from different fields and still working towards them. He was born with retina macular degeneration but had slight vision till growing years and due to this he has faced a lot of discrimination; everything was a challenge for him but every time he felt devastated his mother stands for him and made him realize that he can do much more than this and this stint is the only reason for him to move on life.

It was only the art activity in school which gives him an unexpected happiness and was appreciated everywhere. He did not realize when this art activity has taken the shape and mould him an Entrepreneur in Candle manufacturing. When he was 16 years, after passing 10th class, he did a double paddle cycle trip of 6000 kilometers in 45 days with one of his friend who was a disabled from Gondiya in Maharashtra to Kathmandu in Nepal. This whole incident is also recorded in Limca Book of Records. During the final year of his post-graduation, His mother who was a source of strength always urged him to overcome obstacles died of cancer, and Dr. Bhavesh Bhatia was sunk in repayments. They say that when tough days hit, they severely impacted; but during the hospitalization of his mother in Mumbai, Dr.Bhatia came to know about the creative training courses for impaired people and since he had an interest in arts and craft he decided to opt for one such course.

I've always enjoyed doing things that are artistic. I learned about a rehab facility in Mumbai that trained people how to make candles. I travelled there, but they immediately rejected me, claiming that I was completely blind. How then can you end up making a candle if you can't see the flame? You rather than learn how to massage because you are physically fit; as Dr. Bhavesh Bhatia told to The HULAHUL Times.

Dr. Bhatia joined the National Association for the Blind (NAB) and obtained candle-making education and completed a four-month program of Candle making. According to Dr. Bhatia, he wanted to establish his own candle making company but castings were too costly for him. He took a job as a massage therapist in Mahableshwar hotels and with his saving, purchased 5 kg waxes. He began making plain candles and started working as a street cart in front of Holy Cross Church at Mahableshwar. He used set aside Rs 25 per day for raw materials to use for the next day and that’s how Sunrise Candles came into existence. Initially, he rented a friend's hand cart and began to sell these candles after spending the whole day creating them. He attempted to communicate with each and every customer. Though after generations, this very same people are still associated with Sunrise Candles.

With the support of NAB special scheme for blind people Dr. Bhatia applied for loan of 15,000 from Satara Bank and with this amount he purchased 15Kg wax along with other supporting material. Later on one his friend Niraj Chandan did advertisements about Sunrise Candles on Google and then began getting the orders. In addition, Bhavesh used to make and transport candles of unique styles to exhibitions held in various cities.

Countless people became interested in joining him after witnessing his bravery over time. Neeta his wife met him as a visitor and assisted him in making candles before the couple married. Despite the fact that she come from a wealthy family, Neeta chosen to marry Bhavesh because of his qualities. They established a small manufacturing business in Sindoda village, 6 km from Mahableshwar, with five blind people. The condition was a little challenging at the moment. It was difficult to get raw ingredients, pay salaries to staff and make a payment.

"I invariably find inspiration from the lives of effective individuals and great men," Dr. Bhavesh says. I heard a speech by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in which he stated, "What arrives into the hands of those who try”. It hits me and I didn't quit attempting afterwards. Sunrise Candle continues to participate in various exhibitions in a many cities. The defining moment in his life occurred in 2007, when, with the assistance of a friend, he was offered the opportunity to showcase the design of 12,000 candles at Tilak Memorial Hall in Pune, numerous people gathered this 3-day exhibition, and everybody praised the candles designs, which led to orders from many large corporations. Sunrise Candles now supplies Diwali gifting candles to businesses like Reliance Industries, Ranbaxy and many others.

Aside from that, Dr. Bhatia is a Para Olympiad who has won numerous awards in the Javelin Throw and Shot put. At present Sunrise Candle produces over 10,000 different candle designs. At the same time, they have 1000 regular customers who are global corporations, and their product lines are exported to 67 countries with employee strength 9500 visually impaired people and 71 business units in 14 states.

Dr. Bhatia has also established a Skills Training Center near Mahableshwar to train impaired people in the craftsmanship of designer candle. Teaching is provided in various facets of candle making, depending on the person's physical impairment and individual competence. This facility is recognized as a wax museum.