October 27, 2023

Wisdom Stories Ep.20: Mr. Arvind Dang

Cultural expectations surrounding the elderly are being challenged today, and with good reason!

While it was the norm to slow down and retreat into a quieter life post-retirement, more men and women are finding purpose and joy in doing the opposite.

WisdomCircle honours such men and women by shining light on their journey through an inspiring series called “Wisdom Stories”. These people have successfully smashed stereotypes, and their stories remind us that life should be lived to the fullest, no matter what age or stage.

I am a Mechanical Engineer with a Master’s in Business Administration. I have spent 40+ years mostly in the engineering industry, across organisations like Eicher Group and M3M India, in leadership roles across functions like Materials Management and Corporate Services. I retired in March 2016.

I have had an extremely happy personal life alongside a fulfilling yet demanding professional career. The sudden loss of my wife to COVID-19 in May 2021 left a deep void, leaving me absolutely shattered. I often wondered how I would cope with my new reality. After a period of contemplation and self-discovery, I found my purpose – I wanted to raise ethical awareness among young professionals. Nothing is permanent in life; neither pain nor happiness, neither disrespect nor respect, neither losing nor winning, neither loss nor gain. This mantra has helped me stay calm and channel my grief into something positive.

I wrote a book on ethics in the Real Estate and Hospitality Industry in 2022 and it was ranked as #1 by Amazon India within its category. My second book on profitability and ethics is currently under publication and will be launched soon. I continue to share my knowledge on social media through blogs and videos.

As I was born a twin, my grandmother spent significant time with me and helped shape my outlook. She narrated stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata, through which I imbibed a robust values system. I was deeply influenced by my wife, Manjula, who taught me how to live with full passion, devotion, and joy. Another influence was the leadership team at Eicher Group, where I served for 10,000 days. They “walked the talk” on values, ethics, and integrity, reinforcing my belief.

There is no greater happiness than sharing and giving. This has motivated me to share my knowledge with the younger generation. The growing number of viewers/readers on my social media handles (~7.1 Lakh across YouTube, website, Facebook, and LinkedIn) is evidence that I am making a difference!

Keeping oneself engaged at my stage is critical. It keeps me away from wasteful thinking, mindless consumption of content on social media, or focusing on the not-so-nice things about old age. It shifts my gaze to what is essential and positive. It keeps my mind alert and energizes me to march onwards and upwards.