The sneak peeks of the interview
(full interview on YouTube soon):
LAN: What's the story of OSWAL Mills?
JLO: Shri Vidya Sagar Oswal, my father, used to procure yarn from a Bombay based mill; sometimes the vendor would deliberately prolong the process and my father would be stuck in Bombay. One day, my father decided why not to setup a mill in Ludhiana itself. From there, the Oswal Woolen Mills started in 1945. There was no electricity even and we had to generate it to run the mills.
LAN: And what about Monte Carlo Fashions Ltd?
JLO: Monte Carlo (MC) came in 1984 as we wanted to sell directly to customers. We made state of the art designs. Monte Carlo is one of the best brands in India.
LAN: No doubt about it. Monte Carlo is indeed a fashion statement. Who created the Ads and made it a brand? It looks so exclusive.
JLO: MullenLowe Lintas Group is a prominent Indian advertising and marketing communications company. It made the ads and also took the decision that everything has to look straight from Italy, the fashion capital of the world.
LAN: Anything new coming up in Monte Carlo?
JLO: Yes, we’re adding "Teenager" section.
LAN: Is there any difference between Vardhaman Textiles, Oswal Group and NAHAR GROUP OF COMPANIES?
JLO: They were founded and run by the same family. However, in 1972, Vardhaman Group, led by my uncle, got separated. Oswal and Nahar is run by us.
LAN: Did you also establish the Cancer Hospital in Ludhiana: Mohandai Oswal Hospital?
JLO: Yes, we created it as my mother suffered from Cancer and there was not a single hospital that treated cancer that time except TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL in Bombay. The hospital is named after my mother, Mohandai Oswal.
LAN: You also run a temple, Manilaxmi Temple, near Ludhiana.
JLO: Yes. It is a Jain temple. We also created a dharamshala there with 53 air-conditioned rooms, a dinning space for 400 people and a pravachan sthal. The dharamshala is named after my parents: Shri Vidyasagar and Mohandai Oswal.
LAN: You look like someone who is very strict. Are you liberal?
JLO: (Smiles) I am more liberal than my father & my sons (Kamal Oswal & Dinesh Oswal) are more liberal than me, but yes, discipline is of the highest importance to me.
