Dadasaheb Bhagat: From his humble beginnings as an office boy at the esteemed IT conglomerate, Infosys, to leading two thriving startups as their CEO, and receiving accolades from Prime Minister Modi, the life story of a man from Maharashtra, Dadasaheb Bhagat, stands as a testament to the power of determination and hard work. His journey exemplifies that with unwavering dedication, one can surmount even the most formidable challenges.
Dadasaheb Bhagat Early Struggles and Learning at Infosys
Born in Beed, Maharashtra, Dadasaheb Bhagat embarked on his career path after completing his high school education. Departing from his village, he settled in Pune, where he initially earned a monthly income of Rs 9,000 by serving as a room service attendant, following the completion of an ITI diploma program. However, his trajectory took a decisive turn when he chose to join the guest house team at Infosys.
Within the confines of the Infosys guest house, Bhagat’s responsibilities encompassed catering to visitors’ needs, providing them with room service, tea, and water. This exposure ignited his fascination with the IT sector and acquainted him with the intricacies of software. The corporate world captivated him, even though he recognized that his lack of a college degree posed a barrier. Undeterred, he resolved to pursue his passion for animation and design. By diligently managing day work and evening animation classes, Bhagat took steps toward fulfilling his aspirations. Subsequently, he secured employment in Mumbai after completing his course, which eventually led him to Hyderabad.
Pioneering Startups Amidst Adversity
Fate dealt Bhagat a challenging hand as he became involved in a serious car accident. Turning adversity into an opportunity, he decided to channel his energy into developing design libraries while convalescing. This marked the birth of his first venture, Ninthmotion. In a remarkably short span, he garnered a clientele of around 6,000 global clients, including prestigious entities like BBC Studios and the 9XM music channel.
Despite this setback, Bhagat’s entrepreneurial spirit remained unwavering. Inspired by his vision to create a web platform akin to Canva for graphic design, he established his second endeavor, DooGraphics. The platform offered a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface for crafting templates and designs. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted him to relocate from Pune to his hometown in Beed, Maharashtra, owing to lockdown restrictions. Undeterred by infrastructure limitations, he transformed a hillside cattle shed into his makeshift workspace, leveraging the area’s reliable 4G network.
Empowering the Village and Recognition by PM Modi
Guided by his determination and fueled by the training he imparted to friends in animation and design, Bhagat’s team commenced operations from the improvised shed. The outreach of DooGraphics extended as it provided training to local youth, leading to the platform amassing 10,000 active users within six months. The user base spanned Maharashtra, Delhi, Bangalore, and even international locales such as Japan, Australia, and the UK.
In a moment of profound recognition, Prime Minister Modi commended Dadasaheb Bhagat during his “Mann ki Baat” address in 2020. Bhagat’s aspiration aligns with PM Modi’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision, aiming to position DooGraphics as a globally dominant, entirely indigenous design portal.
Dadasaheb Bhagat’s narrative encapsulates the indomitable spirit that thrives against adversity, transforming challenges into stepping stones towards success. His journey underscores the potential of hard work, resilience, and innovation in defying odds and crafting a remarkable legacy.
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