'When I Needed Money, I Chased It; Now I Don't Need It'

How and why Ajay Ushakanth who teaches the Vedas to budding entrepreneurs in Bengaluru, out of a co-working hub, became an unlikely member of the rapidly-burgeoning gig economy.

- Anshul Dhamija

Born and brought up in Bengaluru, Ajay Ushakanth started his career as a diamond merchant in Mumbai in the late ’80s. Family trouble brought him back to his home city following which he set up a retail business of baby products in 1994. The 50-year-old also established a carpentry unit that made baby cribs, which were sold to five-star hotels and service apartments.

Amid the rigours of running his business, certain thoughts came to his mind that changed his outlook towards life. He began asking questions such as, ‘Why am I on this earth?’, ‘What keeps the body alive?’ and ‘Who am I?’ to himself. He found the answers to those in sacred Hindu texts such as the Vedas, which he now teaches to budding entrepreneurs for free at the WeWork co-working space in Bengaluru.

He speaks to Forbes India about the influence of religious texts on him and why teaching them gives him satisfaction. Edited excerpts:

Q What made you quit your business and get into teaching the Vedas?