Interviewtimes 
“Success cannot be achieved overnight. It requires years of hard work, preparation, and strong will-power. You need to learn from your flaws and failures and then success will definitely kiss your feet.” These are the words of Dr. Vijay Khandelwal, the Chairman of Khandelwal Steel & Pipes who has carved out a niche for himself as a selfless business tycoon and philanthropist across the nation. The brand Khandelwal Steel & Pipes has not only grown exponentially over the years but has outsmarted all its competitors in the market. Built on the foundation of trust, commitment and quality, the journey of Khandelwal Steel & Pipes has been inspiring to say the least. The brand acts as a one-stop destination servicing customers both local and from other parts of Odisha. The sole objective of the brand to value customer relationship has helped it garner a vast base of customers across the state.
Vijay was born in the holy town of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Though his father was a reputed advocate and active in mainstream politics, he always fancied dreams of charting his own path. After completing his graduation, Vijay moved to Kolkata in the year 1980 where he assisted his brother in steel business. The very same year, he decided to shift his base to Bhubaneswar in search of new opportunities. “When I reached Bhubaneswar, I didn’t have a single penny in hand. I was a complete stranger to the new city. All I had was a bag full of dreams and aspirations in my eyes. People I met discouraged me that I won’t survive long in the market. But I never paid heed to them. The blessings of the Almighty and my parents were enough to guide me through that struggling phase. I discovered that the steel and pipe retailing sector was a hugely untapped one in the state. Thus, I decided to fill in that gap and soon started Khandelwal Steel & Pipes at Bomikhal in the bustling Cuttack-Puri road, Bhubaneswar,” recollects Vijaya. Since then, he never looked back and accepted Odisha as his Karmabhoomi.
After nearly a decade of hard work, toil and struggle, Vijay tasted success after he acquired distributorship for ISO certified steel and pipe companies. Today, Khandelwal Steel & Pipes is the most leading and reputed distribution house for all range of Pipes and Steel material in the state of Orissa. They are the authorized distributor and dealers for reputed pipe brands namely, Jindal Pipes Ltd, Nezone Tubes Ltd, Tata Pipes and many more throughout Odisha. The plethora of pipes distributed and supplied by the company is second to none in the state that includes, MS & GI ERW pipes, Saw/Spirally Welded Pipes, Square And Rectangular Tube, Carbon Steel Seamless Pipe, Gi & Ms Conduit Pipes, Stainless Steel Pipe, Pvc Pipes, etc. Khandelwal Steel & Pipes also has the distinction of trading of structural steel (Angle, Channel, Beams, Plate, etc), TMT Bars, pipe fittings, stainless steel and PVC which are supplied to boiler industries, cement industry, construction industry, domestic & industrial water supply, electrical industry, fire protection systems, iron & steel industries, nuclear, thermal & power plants, oil & gas industries, railways, space & defense industries, ship building, etc throughout the length and breadth of the state. Today, Khandelwal Steel & Pipes has a wide reach and network across Odisha that no other home-grown company has ever dared to think so.
“We believe that honesty and loyalty is the key to developing a healthy and mutually valuable relationship. Our response time is quick and always punctual. Our focus is to fit each client’s requirements and meet their demands on time. With the vision of gaining the trust of every customer, we have worked relentlessly to be the finest supplier and trader of the best quality material and services. Our constant support and cooperation with our clients have helped us garner abiding customers,” said he. Based on the ever-increasing needs and immediate requirements of pipe, the company has started to stock pipes and currently they have a stock yard at Nirgundi (Cuttack).
After tasting overwhelming success in the world of distribution of pipe and steel material, Vijaya ventured into real estate in the year 2005. Veekay Minerals, the mining arm of Khandelwal Steel & Pipes is a revered name in the state today which is involved in the trading of iron ore and others. Thus, with the dint of his hard work, perseverance and self-determination, Vijay has transformed his venture into a business empire with diversified interests in trading, mining and real estate.
What differentiates Vijay from the rest is his unbridled passion for philanthropism! Right from his struggling days, he has been actively involved in different social activities. Today, not only is Vijay known as a selfless and generous philanthropist nationally but he is associated with over 40 non-profit organizations across the state and outside. “No one can do everything. But everyone can do something to change this society. As responsible citizens, it is everybody’s duty to serve the society, state and nation. You will never be remembered for the wealth amassed, earned fame or recognition. People will remember you only for the good deeds you have done in your entire life. They will recognize you for your work, for your passion and the way you motivated them to follow the path you did. So always do good deeds, it will come back to you in the most unexpected ways,” he strongly opined. In the past, Vijay held the top positions in Lions Club and undertook several groundbreaking activities for the deprived and underprivileged. Besides, he was the former President of Cuttack Marwari Samaj (Cuttack) where he was engaged in a plethora of social activities like organizing health camps, awareness campaigns, distribution drives, etc. Under his presidentship, the organization was also recognized by the state government for its contribution to the field of social service. It was Vijay’s brainchild to felicitate the efforts of meritorious students as well as providing scholarships to students of economically-backward classes of Cuttack district and since then it has continued for the last five years. Notably, he took the initiative of coming up with a Gaushala at Mangrajpur in Cuttack district which is working constantly to protect and establish the glory of Mother Cow. The gaushala is now nurturing more than 1,000 cows like mother which were either neglected, sick, or saved from butchers and smugglers. Be it a natural calamity or pandemic, he has never shied away from serving others in distress. Even during the covid-induced lockdown period, Vijay and his team selflessly distributed cooked food to thousands of families affected by the pandemic.
Besides, Vijay is a God-loving person and believes that spirituality is a way of life. He says, “Spirituality doesn’t mean renunciation of life. It means having a strong belief on the Almighty and embracing truth, happiness, progress and eternity. What we are is because of His blessings. What we do in life is all controlled by Him. So we should be indebted to Him for everything we are blessed with. There’s no wealth greater than a peaceful mind. There’s no happiness greater than serving the Lord.”
Though work keeps him busy throughout the day, Vijay takes keen interest in fitness, travelling and spending quality time with family. As the current president of Baseball Association of Odisha, he has played a key role to promote the sport among the youngsters by regularly organizing state and national tournaments.
The suave business leader is contemplating foraying into the solar power production and health sector in the state soon. But currently, he is focusing on strengthening his brand by expanding the line of products and services and catering to a larger client base.
