Mohan P. Kala is a Non-Executive Director of Sharon Biomedicine. Sharon Biomedicine manufactures chemical intermediates, bulk actives and pharmaceutical formulations. The company has five active pharmaceutical intermediates manufacturing units and formulation units. In September 2007, Sharon Bio Medicine inked two confidential agreements, one with a UK-based company and another with a German company in respect of research and development, supply, manufacturing and/or distribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients and/or pharmaceutical products in future. The company has recently setup a plant in Uttarakhand.The manufacturing site for Oral Solid Dosages is located at Dehradun in the state of Uttarakhand, is spread over an area of 100000 sq. feet. This facility is installed with latest hi-tech machines and instruments in manufacturing, packaging and quality control. The plant has capability to manufacture Aqueous, Non-aqueous and temperature/humidity sensitive products .
Mohan P. Kala aged 47 years is a Chartered Accountant. He also completed M.A. (Economics) from H. N. Bahuguna University, Srinagar in the year 1981. He has experience in the field of pharmaceuticals for the last 15 years and in finance, costing and tax matters for the last 25 years. He was also one of the promoters of M/s. Kilitch Drugs (I) Ltd. He is also in the Managing Committee at Andheri Recreation Club, Andheri(w), Mumbai as elected member for last 6 years.
Coming from a little known,very small village in Uttarakhand named Sumari, the achievements of Mr. Kala are inspiration for the new generation, particularly for the people of Uttarakhand community. In an interview he said “When I was a CA, I used to interact with many pharma clients. That’s when I decided that I will get into this field sooner or later”. Mohan Kala, director, Sharon Biomedicine, along with other partners, established Sharon Biomedicine in 1995 with an investment of Rs 1.5 crore. But the road to success had its share of trials and tribulations. When the company started operations, funding was a problem. The partners had invested their entire capital in plant and machinery and had no money for the day-to-day business operations. The company had to approach several banks before they got the necessary funds. Apart from funding, business growth too was slow but the hard work put by the entire team made this a success story.
Recently our member Rajneesh Agnihotri had a detailed chat with him. Excerpts from that interaction.
Mrs. & Mr. Kala
Rajneesh: How do you recollect the memories of your childhood in uttarakhand? (Especially the Sumari Village in Uttarakhand and do you still visit that place)
Mr. Kala : My memories of my childhood at my Village Sumari, Pauri Garhwal are remarkable. In my memories, I still enjoy those days when I was not having good food, no good clothes and no good education but nevertheless full MASTI whole day with my friends. I go to my village 3-4 times in a year and do whatever I can do to my village people. On 1st and 2nd August,2009, I am going to my native place where I am contributing for the English School for my village children for the last 5 years. I have also done other things for my village people like contributing for the poor families in their family functions, making temples in my village and nearby villages etc. I am planning to make an English school building, Baraat ghar and guest houses for the people who want to come to my village Sumari. For that matter I have bought an old house and I will be making a new building on the same place.
Rajneesh : From where did you complete your education?
Mr. Kala : I studied up to 8th standard in my village school Sumari than up to 12th standard in Srinagar Garhwal College ( for 5 years I used to travel to 7 KM to Srinagar and back daily ), up to Post graduation from Dehradun in Economics and than C.A. from Mumbai.
Rajneesh : From whom do you draw your inspiration?
Mr. Kala & Himani ShivPuri
Mr. Kala : My mother.
Rajneesh : What made you choose Pharmaceutical Industry?
Mr. Kala : My clients, when I was doing my C.A. and thereafter at the time of practice.
Rajneesh : How do you see the biotech sector growing?
Mr. Kala : Indian Pharma/Biotech is the future of world and India will dominate in this space in future. This business is growing rapidly and India will be World Leader.
Rajneesh : Have you ever been failed in your life in anything?
Mr. Kala : Yes I failed when I was in 8th and 10th standard and I lost money approx. Rs.10 Crores of my company in 2008-09 because of my wrong decisions when I dealt with Foreign Exchange Derivatives. But that’s Business after all.
Rajneesh : What’s your secret mantra for success?
Mr. Kala : Hard work in right direction and have patience.
Rajneesh : Having achieved a great deal of success in your life, how would you like to contribute for the society, especially in Uttarakhand?
Mrs. Kala & Prasoon Joshi
Mr. Kala : I wish I could earn/get money from the whole world and invest/spend in hills/villages of Uttarakhand for the benefit of my own people/society. I have few plans for the development of Hills of Uttarakhand which I can not disclose as of now. I wish I could convert Uttarakhand to Switzerland.
Rajneesh : The best thing you like about uttarakhand?
Mr. Kala : It’s simple people and beautiful places.
Rajneesh : I have heard that you are planning to set something up in Uttarakhand, would you like to say something on that?
Mr. Kala : Yes I want to make big Investments in Uttarakhand and contribute directly and indirectly in the up gradation of its economy and people.
Rajneesh : What are your views on Uttarakhand government, do they provide full support to the new business venture?
Mr. Kala : All the Governments (of Uttarakhand) till date are very friendly and cooperative specially with the people originally from Uttarakhand and who want to do developments in Uttarakhand.
Mr. Kala & Raj Bhatt
Rajneesh : What are your future plans.
Mr. Kala : To set up a business centre in Dehradun and than do investments in the hills very soon.
Rajneesh : Do you have any plans to employ Uttarakhandis people.
Mr. Kala : At present we are having 5 Pharma Manufaturing plants (4 in Mumbai and one in Dehradun) and employ almost 60 to 70 % people from Uttarakhand. But once things are set in hills of Uttarakhand, automatically more Uttarakhandi will get employed.
Rajneesh : Your message for the young talent?
Mr. Kala : Work hard in right direction and have patience.
(This interview is taken by our member Rajneesh Agnihotri at Mumbai. All pictures are provided by him only.)
Mr. Kala addressing a gathering
Mr. Kala with Sudhir Pandey
Company History of Sharon Biomedicine Ltd.
1995: Current management took over and started manufacturing of Pharma Intermediates.
1997: Started manufacturing API’s -launched its first drug Trimetazidine di hydrochloride (Cardiovascular drug).
2000: Came with Public offering of 25% Shares. Issue was oversubscribed by 3.85 times. Set up a R&D Block to carry out Process synthesis for API’s & Intermediates.
2005:Company was awarded with ISO 9001-2000 accreditation by BVQI – UKAS & BVQI – ANAB.
2006:Construction of a State of Art Formulation Unit for Oral Solid Dosages started. Estimated Cost of Project over 8 m USD.
2007:Commissioning of first formulation Plant for Tablets and Capsules at Dehradun
Yes it is true he has achieved everything with his hard work and still he is doing the same at his village Sumari. He has opened a School for the poor children and is running it successfully by bearing the expenses from his own pocket.
He is the major contributor for a community hall that is being built in Sumari, for people of the village & visitors to the village.
I request Mr.Mohan.P.Kala that he should help individuals who want to start their own ventures but due to monetary problems or availability of funds are unable to progress in life, but in which he with his hard work, honesty and dedication has achieved.
I congratulate him on his current success and future endeavors.
My name is Arvind Kala, my late father was Shyama Charan Kala, a journalist, and my grandfather was Govind Ram Kala, a Deputy Collector during the British Raj.
Five months ago I went to Sumari and stayed two nites at my Dadaji's place. It was wonderful, his two-storeyed house, the village, and the area around. The drive from Sumari to Pauri is one of the best car drives I have ever been on.
About myself, I have an inborn love of the hills. Which is why I have had a cottage in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, for the last 20 years. My wife and I go there all the time. But when I went to Sumari this time I felt the soul of my ancestors welcoming me. We are blessed. We come from such a wonderful place.
My father's youngest brother, Uma Charan Kala, spend 6 months a year in Sumari. If possible, I would like to visit Sumari several times a year. Best wishes. My address S-507, GK2, New Delhi – 48. My phone number +91-98180 60125