Anu aunty & Arjun: how i braved anu aunty and co-founded a million dollar company..

how i braved anu aunty and co-founded a million dollar company..

It took two minutes for me to type the title. Okay, how many of you have heard about 'alma-mater'. Its one of the first e-commerce ventures in India. They provide apparel and memorabilia to alumni of various schools and colleges. Varun Agarwal is a co-founder of 'alma-mater'. Varun narrates how he became an entrepreneur and started alma matter.

        One of my friends had posted in his facebook wall how i braved anu aunty and co-founded a million dollar company.. was an inspiring book and encouraged him to be an entrepreneur. The word 'entrepreneurship' never failed to strike a bolt in my mind. Immediately I got the book from somewhere and started reading.

I think it's important to tell that this is not a review and I have two reasons for it.

1. I am no good in literature to write a review.

2. The author Varun Agarwal has clearly mentioned that he is just a storyteller and not an author. He is not a professional writer. He is an entrepreneur.

So I don't think that there is any point in writing a review on the book. (Then don't ask me what the hell this is. Please continue reading.)

The protagonist of the story, Varun has completed engineering. He belongs to the majority - yeah, he couldn't get placed in campus interview. He doesn't have any ideas of pursuing higher studies like ME or MBA.

Anu aunty character in this story is the portrayed as the representative of the current generation Indian mothers. None of the Indian mothers wan't their sons and daughters to become an entrepreneur. Because, Indian mothers don't believe in taking risks.

Go and tell your mother that you are going to start a new venture. She will find at least one hundred reasons why should not become an entrepreneur. You may say that it's the middle class attitude that prevents them from taking risks. They just want you to be techno-coolies. 

What made our mothers like this? 

Yes, Anu aunties around us made them like that..

Who is Anu Aunty? How to recognize them?

Its so simple.. The following symptoms are enough to identify them.

1. Her son would probably be a topper and his name is probably Arjun.

2. Her son Arjun would have completed BE with an extraordinary CGPA and now probably pursuing MBA in some High Class B-School or M.S. in University of California.

3. She is the first lady to ask your mother, "Whats your son's GPA? Arjun got 9.2".

Recognizing Arjun is even more hilarious and funny.

1. He reminds the teacher about the tests in the class.

2, He is probably the first to submit the assignments and homeworks in the teacher's table.

3. He would cry for missing half a mark.

4. His aim to work in a company with a initial payment in 5 digits.

5. His short haircut and big spectacles is more than enough to find him.

I bet you know at least one anu aunty and one arjun in your circle. Just because the anu auntie's son arjun is the best in academics, Anu aunty gets a star status in your mother's friend circles and unofficially become the 'chief advisor and consultant' in their's children's education and career.

One such Anu aunty is pestering Varun's mom to make Varun join MBA. She also finds a job for Varun in the company where Arjun is working, so that Varun can be a grade lower than Arjun all long the life.

But Varun is neither interested in MBA, nor in working with Arjun as his sub-ordinate all his life. His friend and Varun are starting the 'alma mater'. They use e-commerce which wasn't much popular at that time and used social media for promoting. Varun says that you should be shameless in promoting your product, if you want to become a successful entrepreneur.. Please read the book to know how all it happened.

I would suggest this book, If you aspire to become an entrepreneur in future..