From ₹20 a Day to a Furniture Legacy: The Story of Haji Mohd Akram

From ₹20 a Day to a Furniture Legacy: The Story of Haji Mohd Akram

Dr Basharat 

Not every success story begins with big dreams or a business plan. Sometimes, it starts in a small village, with calloused hands, a strong back, and just enough courage to take the first step. That’s exactly how Haji Mohd Akram began.

Born and raised in Chek Abdul Rehman, a humble village in the Bijnoor district, Akram grew up in a world where people worked hard for every single rupee. Life was basic but honest. From an early age, he worked alongside his elder brother Hasseen Ahmad in their modest family bakery, making biscuits the old-school way; by hand, with love and patience, not machines.

But in 1998, with little more than hope in his heart, Akram made a bold move. He left for Delhi, chasing better prospects. He didn’t have fancy degrees, nor a job waiting for him. Just grit and faith. His first job in Mahipalpur paid him only ₹20 a day—a sum most people today wouldn’t look twice at. But for Akram, it wasn’t about the money. It was about momentum. He knew if he kept working, things would change.

He found small comfort in what he knew bakery work ; and returned to bakery biscuit-making in the city. But he wasn’t one to get stuck. He had an itch to try new things, to push his limits.

In 2001, he ventured into a Steel Utensil business. For two years, he gave it his all, but it didn’t quite work out. Some would call it failure. Akram saw it as experience.

Undeterred, he started a small Kiryana store in the bustling lanes of Sadar Bazar in 2003. There, among the smell of spices and daily hustle, he began understanding business in a new light — dealing with customers, managing inventory, and building trust. For four years, he ran that little store with quiet determination.

Then came another shift; tyres. In 2007, Akram opened a tyre shop in New Manglapuri on MG Road, Delhi. For four more years, he dealt in tubes and treads, learning yet another trade from scratch.

Word slowly spread. His furniture stood out — not just because of the wood, but because of the soul he put into every piece. Today, Haji Mohd Akram proudly owns a registered Sheesham Wood Furniture business on MG Road, Gurgaon, a name trusted by many, running strong for more than 15 years.

Looking back, Akram’s story isn’t just about changing careers or setting up shops. It’s about resilience. From a biscuit maker to a utensil trader, a grocer to a tyre dealer; and finally, a successful furniture entrepreneur: he’s done it all. No complaints. No excuses. Just pure, consistent hustle.

So the next time you walk past a sleek furniture showroom or admire a handcrafted wooden chair, remember — behind one of those beautiful pieces might lie the story of a man who started with just ₹20 in his pocket… and built a legacy with his bare hands.

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