The making of Mittal

Kolkata: M L Mittal lived with his three sons in Kolkata until two moved to Mumbai and the third to Indonesia in 1994.

This was when the family's Indian business was in a sea of difficulties and Lakshmi Narayan Mittal, the eldest of the three sons, broke away and took charge of the fledgling overseas business.

The Mittals had just two small units abroad—one in Indonesia and the other in Trinidad & Tobago.

Many thought at that time that Mittal got a raw deal and no one imagined that in less than 12 years, Mittal would emerge as the world's biggest steel maker.

Mittal went to Kolkata's St. Xavier's College and graduated in 1969 with a degree in commerce. Friends and teachers recall he was sharp with numbers.

"I think it is not the college or school that makes a man. There was something in Mittal. According to me he is a great example not only for St. Xavier's students, but for everybody—if you are determined and ready to pay the price and sacrifice, I feel you can make it," says Principal, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, P C Mathew.

Mittal still has a strong Kolkata connection through relatives. His sister Saroj Rateria is married to a businessman in Kolkata, and lives here. Though thousands of miles apart, the Mittal siblings are still close to each other.

”We never imagined he would reach such heights. He made his own destiny with hard work. It is a matter of great pride for our family, our region and every Indian,” says Saroj.

For nearly 12 years, Mittal focused on building an empire abroad.

But now, he has turned to India again and has promised to build an integrated steel plant in Jharkhand.

Now that he has conquered the world, the Marwari community in Kolkata wants the prodigal son to return.

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