Society

Sir Ghulam Noon

The food tycoon, born and raised in a Bombay chawl, went to London at 27 with £50 to raise a £70 million-packaged food empire. He returns to open his multi-crore hospital in Rajasthan.

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Sir Ghulam Noon
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Have you ever revisited the chawl on Mohammed Ali Road where you lived?

Yes, I took my grandaughter there once, and she cried when she saw the room where six of us lived with my widowed mother.

Why did you decide to emigrate to London?

When I went to London for the first time in 1966, I liked its culture and discipline so much that I wanted to start my business there.

What did you start your business with?

We began—my British-Asian partner and me—by manufacturing packages of Indian mithais.

Was it easier to make a fortune in London?

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Yes, London gives an opportunity to the hard-working and imaginative.

Is it any different now in India?

There are certainly more opportunities in India now than in the ’70s—the licence raj is almost buried and there is less corruption.

You contributed to changing UK’s food habits?

Indian restaurants were the pioneers, but my company was the first to put Indian food on the shelves of British supermarkets.

Is that a bigger market than all the Indian restaurants combined?

It’s much bigger. We manufacture 350,000 frozen meals a day, including chicken tikka masala, chicken korma and dal jalfrezi.

You got into controversy over your peerage by the Labour government?

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When you’re rising, there will be controversy but I’ve never sought favours or bribed anyone.

Why a hospital in Rajasthan?

Bhawani Mandi in Rajasthan is my hometown. My family faced a lot of pressure because of medical problems, that’s why a hospital.

What do you do in your leisure?

I play cricket. I built an India Room at the Oval with money I raised.

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