Success is not necessarily the result of a prestigious degree, a family legacy, or a substantial bank balance. It is built on unwavering determination, relentless hard work, and the right intentions. The remarkable journey of Gulab Singh Karnawat, the man behind Indore’s well-known Karnawat Paan, is a powerful and living example of this.
Growing up in an ordinary village in Rajasthan, Gulab Singh spent his childhood amid hardship and deprivation. He had little interest in studies and, as a child, failed the fourth standard twice consecutively.
After leaving his studies and fearing his father’s anger and reprimands, he took the difficult decision to leave home in 1979 at the age of just 15. At that time, he had only ₹7 in his pocket. With this modest amount and dreams of an uncertain future in his eyes, he arrived in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, popularly known as Mini Mumbai.
Reaching the unfamiliar streets of Indore, his first challenge was to earn a livelihood. To support himself and have a place to stay, he took up a modest job at a local paan shop. Circumstances were so difficult that he worked at the paan shop during the day and worked as a security guard at a building at night to make ends meet.
For two to three consecutive years, he worked tirelessly day and night. During this period, he not only earned his livelihood but also learned every aspect of the paan business in great detail. He developed a deep understanding of customer preferences, the importance of quality, and the finer nuances of the trade.
After gaining sufficient experience and confidence, he opened his first paan shop in South Tukoganj, Indore, in 1982. His business was gradually picking up and life appeared to be getting back on track. However, the riots of 1984 shattered his hopes. Miscreants set his shop on fire, reducing years of hard work and savings to ashes.
Gulab Singh was once again brought back to square one.
During this difficult phase, he took up a job at a hotel. Slowly saving whatever he could, he gathered the courage to start another paan shop. This time, his younger brother also joined him in Indore. Together, they worked day and night and soon opened a second outlet.
A Unique Franchise Model
After the success of his two shops, Gulab Singh Karnawat decided to take his business to the next level. He developed a unique and forward-looking franchise model for that era.
He brought unemployed relatives and acquaintances into the business and gave them opportunities to operate shops, while he personally took responsibility for supplying raw materials and maintaining quality standards.
Gradually, more than 70 relatives became part of this network. Built on mutual trust, consistent quality, and efficient management, the Karnawat Paan business expanded rapidly.
Before long, the brand had established more than 40 outlets and over 50 franchise locations across major cities of Madhya Pradesh, including Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Chhindwara, Sagar, Katni, Dewas, and Ujjain.
In a remarkable turn of events, Gulab Singh eventually purchased the very building where he had once worked as a security guard during his days of struggle. After achieving tremendous success in business, buying that building became a powerful symbol of his determination and perseverance.
From Business Success to Social Service
After achieving a business turnover running into crores of rupees, Gulab Singh Karnawat resolved to give something back to society.
Inspired by his spiritual guru, he decided to provide affordable and nutritious meals to the thousands of poor and middle-class students who come to Indore from across the country for education.
With this vision, Karnawat Bhojanalaya was established.
What began as a service initiative with a ₹25 meal has now grown into 15 large branches across Indore. Today, a full meal for the general public is priced at ₹70, while students can still have a meal for just ₹40, despite rising inflation.
Through these 15 bhojanalayas, around 4,000 students and thousands of other citizens receive wholesome and nutritious meals every day with dignity.
To ensure that students receive both good nutrition and a variety of food, a special menu is served on different days. Kheer-Puri is served on Thursdays, Malwa’s famous Dal-Bati-Churma on Saturdays, and Dum Biryani on Tuesdays.
Along with providing affordable food, Gulab Singh Karnawat is equally strict about respecting food and preventing wastage. A special rule has been implemented across the bhojanalayas: anyone leaving food on their plate is charged a ₹50 penalty.
This strict measure has helped bring food wastage at the bhojanalayas down to almost zero.
From a young boy who failed the fourth standard twice to becoming the founder of a multi-crore business empire and a provider of food to thousands of students, the life of Gulab Singh Karnawat proves that when determination is strong, circumstances can never stand in the way of success.