He came to Britain,16, with a handful of qualifications. ￡5 in pocket and a burning ambition. Thirty-five years later, Vijay, 51, and his brother. Bhikhu. own a drug company which does $234 million worth of business each year. Together they are worth ￡280 million and now they have been jointly named “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
It is an inspirational tale. Yet despite their wealth and this award, Vijay remains modest about their success. He praises his mother: “She is an incredible lady. She taught us hard work, honesty and we have based our lives on those qualities.”
In 1967,Vijay kissed his mother goodbye to London to make his fortune. “I had little more than my qualifications and $5,” says Vijay. “But to go with those, I had a huge ambition to make something of myself,” he recalls. Typically, Vijay looks on the bright side. “When you start from zero, things can’t get any worse. You have only one way to go. and that’s up - if there is a hunger in your stomach for success.” Vijny says. “My brother and I were determined to better ourselves and Britain was the land of opportunity.”
By 1982, he had owned six chemist’s shops, when Bhikhu, a then financial analyst, joined him, adding some “financial discipline” to his company. Vijay says: “I simply couldn’t have done it without him.” As he puts it, “Brought up under one roof, we understand one another from A to Z.”
Vijay is keen to continue repaying the country he has made his own. “We hope we are mode citizens and would like to remain so,” he says. “We are lucky enough to live in a country that never stands in our way.” His message for young people is to do the same: “Identify your aim, and do not let anything discourage you from achieving that goal.”
【小题1】What did Vijay possess when starting his business?| A．£280 million in cash. | B．A small drug company. |
| C．The title “Entrepreneur of the Year”. | D．Nothing but qualifications and ambition. |
| A．His brother’s financial aid. | B．His identity of model citizen. |
| C．The perseverance in his goal. | D．Encouraging quotes from mom. |
| A．We share something in common. | B．We know each other inside out. |
| C．We count on each other in career. | D．We two together create fire and water. |
| A．From Penniless to Millionaire | B．The Significance of Education |
| C．The Power of Deep Brotherhood | D．A Modest Successful Businessman |
