Doha-Qatar: Philanthropist Ravi Shetty has been conferred ‘International Aryabhata Award-2016′ for his outstanding achievements in the field of socio-economic developments and various charity works carried out by him.
Ravi Shetty, President of Tulukoota, Qatar and the Managing Director of Advanced Technical Services (ATS), is fondly known by his peers and well-wishers in Qatar as Ravi Anna. ‘International Aryabhata Award’ is an award issued by ‘RavindraKalakshetra’ a cultural centre in Bangalore which provides a home for musical and theatrical performances.
Ravi Shetty, hailing from Doninjeguttu family in Mangalore taluk, was born in Moodambail, Bantwal taluk as the eldest of the five children of pious couple Thimmappa Shetty and Sarojini Shetty on December 4, 1963.
He chose to be a mechanical engineer and came out with flying colours from the prestigious SDM Engineering college of Dharwad.
His brilliant academic record secured him a trainee job with the reputed Simon Carves India Ltd, at their Mazgaon Dock (MDL) Yard in Mangalore from where he swiftly climbed on to the ladder of success and joined Tata Projects in Mumbai in the year 1987. He then moved to various Projects all over India and finally settled at their head office in Hyderabad and continued to be with them till 1997. As destiny had it, owing to some invariable personal and professional reasons, he moved to Doha-Qatar in 1997 and joined Mannai Corporation (MECON), one of the biggest business empires in Qatar as senior engineer. His commitment to work and his single-minded dedication soon helped him to climb the rungs and he was appointed as the Proposals Manager and was responsible for securing many major contracts from local and international companies.
It was perhaps at this stage of his life that he felt that it was time for him to venture into his own business. By then he had about 20 years of experience in India and Middle East in the field of construction in oil and gas industries. Though he was the first-generation entrepreneur in his family, he had the experience of establishing and running two successful A Grade restaurants (vegetarian) and a boutique while in Hyderabad. He had a taste for business and a constant itching to script great things. So after studying the rudiments of business carefully, he established Advanced Technical Services Co. WLL (ATS) in 2005. ATS was established with the main objective of providing professional and efficient services to the industries in Qatar by undertaking construction works, providing highly skilled manpower, plant and machinery, construction consumables, camp furnishing materials and also specialized services directly or in the form of representing international companies. Today it also owns fleet of specialized testing and construction equipment.
ATS Qatar which was started with just one person in 2005 today employs over 350 people. Ravi Shetty proudly states that more than 50% of his work force that consists of Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, comes from the undivided Dakshina Kannada district.
Ravi Shetty is known for his charity and contribution towards social causes both in Qatar and back in India and he tries his best to support those associations which are actively involved in humanitarian activities such as Integrated welfare Society in Hyderabad. Here in Qatar he has always been in the forefront in reaching to those expatriates who are in hospitals or in any other need.
Apart from his business and professional interests, Ravi Shetty is actively involved in many cultural and social activities in Qatar through various organizations. He is the founder member of Tulu Koota Qatar, Bunts Qatar and has led the organization as the president too. Back in Hyderabad too, he was the founder secretary of Tata Sports and Recreational Club. At present he is leading the Tulukoota Qatar and is the life member of ICC, ICBF and Karnataka Sangha Qatar. He is also a great sports lover and a sportsman himself. He has always highlighted the native culture and traditions even during the annual celebrations of his company and also has lent support to talented artists from his native place to perform in Qatar. ATS Day, which is company’s annual day celebrations every year is an unique event wherein all the employees get an opportunity to celebrate, enjoy and showcase their talents, is being loved and appreciated by one and all. He was the man behind staging yakshagana for the first time in Doha both for his company and during Vishwa Kannada Sammelana.
