Life rarely unfolds according to plan but turns out better than expected. For Shuklambar Prabhu, a mechanical engineer from Belagavi who built a promising corporate career in Mumbai and Pune, destiny had something entirely different in store.
Today, he oversees two major enterprises in Karkala – a cashew processing unit and a Cardanol Distillation Plant. Yet, when he first arrived in the small coastal town over a decade ago, he knew almost nothing about cashews, factories, or industrial production. “I often feel it was Lord Krishna’s plan,” he says with a smile. “From a city like Belagavi to metropolitan Mumbai and Pune, and then finally to a small village like Sanoor near Karkala, it was a journey I never imagined.”
A humble beginning
Born and raised in Belagavi, Shuklambar comes from a humble middle-class family that is still settled in Belagavi. His father, Vidyadhar Prabhu, ran a small kirana store for over four decades from the same rented premises in Fulbag galli. He did his schooling from St. Mary’s and after completing Mechanical Engineering from Hirasugar Institute Nidasoshi, Shuklambar pursued a conventional professional path. He worked with infrastructure and engineering companies in Mumbai before joining KPIT Cummins in Pune. The career prospects were promising, with opportunities for overseas assignments and a comfortable urban lifestyle. Yet life took an unexpected turn when he married the youngest daughter of the late industrialist Ganesh Kamath of Karkala in 2015 and Shuklambar shifted there to manage his father in law’s businesses- Sanoor Cashews and Adarsh Industrial Chemicals.
Entering an unknown world
The transition was anything but easy. Moving from the bustling cities of Mumbai and Pune to rural coastal Karnataka was a cultural shock. The lifestyle, food habits, language nuances, and pace of life were completely different. More importantly, he found himself entering an industry he knew nothing about. “I had zero factory experience and absolutely no knowledge about the cashew business,” he recalls. “When I understood the risks involved, I honestly felt my job in Pune was far better.” But he decided to persevere.
The cashew industry is known for its volatility. Prices fluctuate dramatically, raw material availability changes with global conditions, and profitability can swing sharply from year to year. “It is a roller-coaster ride,” he says. “Sometimes it feels like a gambling business. There are so many factors beyond your control.” The work culture was equally demanding. Twelve-hour workdays were normal. There were no weekends, no fixed holidays, and no easy breaks.
Many people reminded him of what he had given up. “They would say I missed my chance to go abroad, that I could have built a comfortable corporate career. Sometimes I wondered if they were right. But today I see what I have built and I feel I took the right decision” he says.
The Pillars of Support
Whenever doubts surfaced, his family stood firmly beside him. “My parents and my wife were my biggest strength. They encouraged me during every challenge and difficult phase.”
His wife gradually became an active partner in the business, handling HR, production coordination, billing, and administration. Their support became even more critical after the passing of his father-in-law, Ganesh Kamath, on March 12, 2024.
Carrying Forward a Legacy
For over four decades, Ganesh Kamath had been the guiding force behind the business. An engineer himself, he had built the enterprise from scratch. What started as a modest cashew processing unit in 1982 evolved into a respected industrial group through innovation and determination. One of his most remarkable achievements was pioneering Cardanol production in Karnataka. Cardanol, derived from Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL), is used extensively in paints, coatings, and industrial applications. When the company ventured into this field in 1992, the project faced enormous challenges. The investment was substantial, market acceptance was uncertain, and many similar ventures failed.
Yet Ganesh Kamath refused to give up. For nearly three years, he persisted despite setbacks. Through continuous innovation, experimentation, and unwavering determination, he transformed the venture into a successful industrial operation by 1995. Today, the company supplies Cardanol to leading paint and industrial manufacturers across India.
“That never-give-up attitude of my father-in-law continues to inspire us every day,” says Shuklambar who manages both the units efficiently today. Most of his cashews comes from African countries because it is a yearlong supply. Vietnam is also a major country for cashew import. This cashew is processed all year at his factories. He also procures cashew from Indian states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala. The processed cashew is sold in bulk to states in India, especially North and West India.
Leadership in the Toughest Phase
The real test came after the founder’s demise. Without the experience and guidance of a leader who had spent 42 years in the industry, the responsibility suddenly fell on Shuklambar’s shoulders. Recent years have been particularly challenging. Demand fluctuations, global uncertainties, rising costs, and supply chain disruptions have created immense pressure on the cashew industry. Instead of retreating, he chose to adapt.
Recognizing the limitations of depending solely on wholesale markets, he recently began exploring direct-to-consumer sales. Leveraging his network of school friends, college friends, relatives, and professional contacts, he has started building a customer base directly.
The response has been encouraging. “It’s a small beginning, but every business survives through adaptation. Our supervisors, office staff, and workers remained rock solid when we needed them most.” Today, the organization continues to provide livelihoods to nearly a hundred families, with women forming a significant part of the workforce. “That gives me immense satisfaction. If I had remained in Pune, I would have been an employee. Today, we are creating employment for over 100 families.”
Industry Leadership and Future Vision
Beyond managing the business, Shuklambar actively contributes to the industry’s growth.
He serves as a committee member of the Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers Association (KCMA), Mangaluru, and is associated with several industrial and trade bodies, including district and state-level small-scale industry associations and chambers of commerce. One issue particularly close to his heart is the future availability of raw cashew nuts in India.
With increasing dependence on imports, industry leaders have initiated large-scale plantation drives, distributing thousands of saplings to encourage domestic cultivation and strengthen the supply chain for future generations.
Looking Ahead
Today, when Shuklambar reflects on the path he chose, there are no regrets. The journey demanded sacrifices. It required leaving behind the certainty of a corporate career, adapting to an unfamiliar environment, learning an entirely new industry, sacrificing the leisure of city life and carrying forward a legacy after the loss of a mentor. But it also offered something more meaningful. A chance to build, preserve, and contribute and in doing so, Shuklambar has written a story of his own.
You can connect with him on 99452 44177