In a freewheeling chat, Hemang Arunbhai Pandit, the Founder, MD & CEO of GaneshaSpeaks.com, talks to us about life, astrology and everything in between.
Hemang Arunbhai Pandit
What is your background? Did you ever have any astrologers in your family?
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I come from a small town where entrepreneurs themselves are a rarity! There was no tradition of consulting an astrologer in the family. I practically never had any connection with any astrologer.
So then, when and how did you decide to start your astrology venture?
It all started with my quest to become an entrepreneur! Within two years of working in telecom, I realised that I didn’t want to continue in this job. This was in 2000 when there was hardly any start-up ecosystem. One day, I accompanied a friend who was going to meet an astrologer, and I realised how the whole industry was not structural and committed at all. This is how the idea sparked!
How did GaneshaSpeaks came to being?
I met Shri Bejan Daruwalla, and the whole project began on an extremely positive note. However, It did take me around 9-10 months to convince him. I told him you gave me the astrologers, and with my technical expertise, I will create a brand which will spread the legacy of ancient Vedic Science. Along the way, I have realised that astrologers are the default psychiatrists in our country. The idea was to develop a hub for a greater good where anyone can come to a trusted astrologer and connect.
What were the challenges that you faced?
The first and foremost challenge I faced was money. For the first three years, the company was hand to mouth. We started to predict political and sports events, ran a dedicated astrology radio channel for almost 3 years, but we couldn’t continue as it was an expensive format. This was all way ahead of its time!
Any anecdotes which you want to share with our readers?
In 2003, a lady called our head astrologer Bhavesh Pattni (who passed away in 2021) and she told him this would be her last call as she was going to commit suicide after this. This made us very disturbed. Bhavesh spoke to the lady for the next 3.5 hours. This was a very moving experience for both of us. It made us realise how much impact we can create in someone’s life. And that’s a huge thing!
Have you ever come across people who have debunked astrology? How do you respond to them?
I have come across two kinds of people: the first who will say that astrology is pseudo, and they will never come back to you. The other kind will ask a lot of questions about astrology and the same people will ask for a free janampatri for their kids. My standard response to anyone who has no beliefs in astrology is I would pray to Lord Ganesha that nothing happens to your life so that you are forced to believe in astrology.
How will GaneshaSpeaks be relevant specifically to the millennials and Gen Z?
Never before in time have youngsters faced so much pressure. Today’s youngster faces immense peer pressure. Also, every Hindu puja/festival is prescribed according to astrology. There is no way that you can escape this. We also see that in our numbers. Five years ago, the web traffic at GaneshaSpeaks.com in the age group of 18-24 was 22-23%, and now it’s 27%! Till there is stress, I believe astrology will be there as a stressbuster.
Did anything change post-Covid?
Covid was both a good and bad time for us. Due to the pandemic, we couldn’t procure and deliver gemstones to the clients, which is a significant part of our business. On the other hand, from a completely materialistic worldview, Covid made people spiritual across the world. Apart from earning money, people realised how important it is to address health and stress. It is one of the huge turning points in favour of the business. In coming times, more people will turn towards spirituality, astrology, wellness, Ayurveda, etc.
What is your goal?
My aim is to help the world live better. For that Jyotishi has everything that you need to live better. So, if I look at my role in this company, it is to take each and every element of Jyotish and the Indian Vedic knowledge, provide and convert it into a product/service and make it available at a scale.
What’s next for GaneshaSpeaks?
We are known for astrology. We believe that the Indian astrology (Jyotish Shastra) we follow is not only astrology but also Vedic wellness. This is where we will be gradually expand towards.
What do you do in your free time? How do you unwind?
My Instagram profile says everything about me. I have a gym at my place, and I play lawn tennis every day. I also spend time unwinding with music. Oh, and I love movies and good series on OTT.
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