Some stories rise quietly—built not on shortcuts, but on skill, sacrifice and an unshakable belief in oneself and faith in God. Gangadhar Kumbhar’s journey from a farmer’s family at Desur to Belagavi is one such story, an example of how work is worship. A story of a young boy with artistic hands who turned craft into business, and business into purpose.
A Childhood Rooted in Art, Guided by Courage
Growing up in Desur near Belagavi, Gangadhar Kumbhar showed unusual artistic talent. He won prizes for art in school and dreamed differently from others around him. Though his father hoped he would become an engineer, he recognized his son’s calling and supported him when Gangadhar boldly chose to leave college and pursue glasswork. This courage—to choose passion over convention—became the foundation of every step he took later.
The Spark That Started It All
During a PUC hobby class, Gangadhar Kumbhar visited the Habitat Exhibition in Sangli. There he saw the work of Prathmesh Glass Design—and the world changed. The art. The precision. The beauty left him spellbound. It struck him so deeply that he decided instantly: “This is what I will do.” He met the owner, Ravindra Mehta, whose workshop became Gangadhar’s first ‘university’. In just seven months, he mastered what takes others years. Mehta became a lifelong mentor, shaping both his skill and discipline.
Learning Over Earning: The Years That Built His Craft
Gangadhar Kumbhar travelled across Karnataka to learn glasswork in its purest form.
• Tumkur – 1.5 years
• Bengaluru – 6 months at Balaji Glass and Ply as a trainee
• Shivamogga – 5 years at Veerabhadreshwar Glass and Plywood (his karmabhumi)
• Bangalore- 5 years Nandi Glass and Ply
He was clear: “Money can come later. Now, I must learn. ” This clarity made him fearless and determined to succeed. Whether it was cutting, etching, engraving or heavy-duty fabrication, he absorbed everything like a sponge.
Setbacks and Sacrifice: The Year of Pause
A major setback came when his father suffered a heart ailment. Gangadhar Kumbhar returned home, took a break, worked at Alma Motors, and supported his family. Shortly after, he was selected for a job in Dubai—one among 160 candidates. But he chose to stay back because his parents wanted him near after his wedding. He let go of the opportunity, but not of his dream.
Rising Again: The First Brush with Entrepreneurship
He returned to Shivamogga and worked at Nandi Glass for five years. His skill, reliability and integrity earned him immense respect. Eventually, he started a partnership firm—Sri Sai Glass Design—and ran it successfully for two years. But life had another turn waiting. His father’s health brought him to Belagavi for good.
Belagavi: The Turning Point
In Belagavi, Gangadhar Kumbhar worked briefly at another factory, clearly stating his intention of starting out on his own soon, but his entrepreneurial instinct pulled him toward independence. He surveyed the market for three months, met people, studied demand, learned the trends and made a plan. This time, he didn’t just dream—he built. In 2018, he founded Sri Ram Glass Design Industries near the third railway gate. With the guidance of mentor Rajappa Havalgere and support through PMRY schemes, he imported Belagavi’s first Chinese glass-processing machines—a bold decision that set him apart.
What His Enterprise Does Today
Gangadhar’s unit now handles virtually every form of glasswork in demand:
Processing & Fabrication
• Tempered, tinted, sun-control, plain and coloured mirrors
• Double-glazed glass units filled with Argon
• Processing from 4 mm to 12 mm, and 15/19/24 mm on order
Artistic & Custom Work
• Etching, engraving
• V-grooving
• Hand painting & stained-glass
• Acid work
• Fusing and melting of 8×4 feet sheets at a time
Large-Scale Installations
He has executed projects across Belagavi, Goa, Tumkur and Shivamogga, including the Lions Safari project.
A defining achievement:
A 120 × 16 feet tinted toughened glass canopy at Subbaiah Medical Institute—done without a single millimetre error. That success won him the complete project contract.
The Business Builder: How He Grew His Network
Gangadhar attends exhibitions across India. He negotiates machines at unbelievable prices.
He builds relationships— with architects, suppliers and clients. His dealers today include:
Goldplus, Asahi, Saint-Gobain and Sisecam. His transparent dealing, humility and consistent delivery have become his strongest brand identity.
Banking on Trust: A Rare Entrepreneur-Banker Bond
Gangadhar’s relationship with banks is itself a success story. At first, managers tested him—offering small loans, asking for collateral. But when they saw his conviction and track record, they not only sanctioned the full amount but also guided him on financial growth. One manager even personally helped transfer his account from Shivamogga to Belagavi. Today, banks trust him implicitly mainly due to his personal credibility and the scale at which his business is growing.
A Life Anchored in Faith
Parallel to his entrepreneurial climb runs an unwavering spiritual journey. He has taken Linga Diksha, worships it daily faithfully, visits Shirdi often and has witnessed what he calls miracles of devotion. The whole month of Shravan, he walks to Kalmeshwar temple in the early hours of 3 a.m. to worship Shiva in the forest. He regularly visits ascetics and Gurus and seeks their blessings, which he is always grateful for. It helps him stay grounded and gives him immense strength, he says. He visited Kedarnath this April despite floods and landslides—and returned with peaceful darshan. For him, spirituality isn’t parallel to business—it is the backbone of his ethics, discipline and humility.
Family: The Quiet Force Behind Him
His wife Sarika has stood by him at every turn, motivated him and suppoted him wholheartedly. She even works along with him at his factory, managing production efficiently. His daughters, studying in a boarding school, are his pride—sharp, confident and already showing business instincts. Just as he adores his father, he is deeply attached to his mother. He celebrates small and big milestones with gratitude—the day he bought his first car after traveling by bus for years- his mother happily contributed to complete the amount. He also cares deeply for relationships—with mentors, friends from Shivamogga, vendors, architects and long-time clients.
Always Forward: What’s Next?
Gangadhar loves challenges. He says he can do any work in glass, however difficult, if you bring it to him. At times, he has spent hours and bore losses trying to fulfil extremely difficult projects, until he was successful. He plans in two-year cycles and has so far accomplished them all. His trajectory of these two year cycles include
- Buy machines
- Build his space
- Expand the factory
- Open his own showroom (next step)
A Story of Grit, Skill and God’s Grace
Gangadhar Kumbhar is not just a businessman. He is a craftsman, an artist. A learner. A believer and a great friend. A man who built his life piece by piece—just like the masterpieces he creates in glass. His journey reminds us that when passion meets persistence, and effort meets faith, no dream is too distant.
You can visit his website to see his work at www.sriramglass.com
Factory address: RS No. 304/1/1B, Plot No 130, Ganesh Frame Industries, Udyambag, Belagavi or connect with him on 9972989848