Kupwara, Mar 06: Aijaz Ahmad Bhat from Khaipora in north Kashmir’s Handwara turned to entrepreneurship after leaving the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) preparation midway. The young entrepreneur started a local brand that manufactures household cleaning products and aims to generate employment in the district.
Bhat spent several years preparing for the civil services examination. Like many aspirants, he moved through multiple attempts with the hope of joining the administrative services. However, after some time, he realised that the path might not work out for him. Instead of seeing it as a setback, he decided to use the knowledge and exposure gained during his UPSC preparation in a different direction.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Aijaz said his main motivation was always to contribute to society in a meaningful way. “I always believed that my work should benefit people. If UPSC had worked out, I would have served people through administration. When that did not happen, I felt business could also become a way to create impact and help others,” he said.
The idea of building a brand had been in his mind since his school days. He recalls discussing the thought with his late elder brother, Subhan Sahib. The two often spoke about creating a brand that could provide jobs and benefit society over the long term. That conversation left a deep impact on him and stayed in his mind for years.
Later, while he was in Delhi during his UPSC preparation, Bhat began working seriously on the idea. “With the help of close friends, I started shaping the concept of a brand. One of my friends from IIT Kharagpur helped me finalise the brand name, while another friend from Madhya Pradesh assisted in deciding the logo design, colours, and brand identity,” he said.
After returning to Kupwara, Aijaz began executing the plan. He set up a manufacturing unit and started producing household cleaning products. The brand currently manufactures dishwashing liquid in different capacities.
Bhat now plans to expand the product line further in order to cover more segments of the cleaning products market. “Our aim is to gradually add more products so that we build a complete range. We are planning to introduce items like phenyl and disinfectant cleaners in the coming phase,” he said.
Speaking about competition, the entrepreneur said his company does not directly compete with major national brands. Instead, it focuses on smaller markets and customers who seek affordable products with reliable quality.
“We focus on local markets and smaller areas. When people use the product and see the quality and price advantage, they start trusting the brand. That is how we are slowly expanding our reach,” he said.
Bhat believes the UPSC preparation has helped him develop a wider perspective that now supports his entrepreneurial journey.
“UPSC preparation gives a person a 360-degree thinking approach. You learn to look at issues from different angles. That mindset helps in decision-making even in business,” he said.
Through his venture, Bhat hopes to build a strong local brand while also creating employment opportunities for people in Kupwara and other parts of J&K. “Our aim is simple. Build a sustainable business that creates jobs and benefits society,” he said.
