Ajay Agrawal
Ajay Agrawal is an Indian entrepreneur, businessman, advertising and printing professional associated with Sheela Ad Makers. Born on 21 September 1972 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he has built a career around advertising, printing, branding, election campaign materials and business development. His professional journey has also included interests in music, entertainment, writing, poetry and technology-driven business initiatives.
Ajay Agrawal's entrepreneurial journey began in the early 1990s with the establishment of Sheela Ad Makers. Over the years, his work expanded from advertising and printing to election campaign materials, branding, media-related activities and business networking. He has also worked toward developing Chunav Seva, a proposed digital platform intended to connect customers, printers, manufacturers and sellers involved in election campaign materials.
Early Life
Ajay Agrawal was born on 21 September 1972 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He is the youngest among seven siblings, with four brothers and three sisters. His childhood was spent in the Dali Ganj and Paltan Aliganj areas of Lucknow.
Growing up with limited resources, Ajay developed an early desire to become self-reliant and create his own path. His early experiences with work, small businesses and different professional environments later influenced his approach toward entrepreneurship.
Family and Early Influences
Ajay credits his family and several individuals he encountered throughout his life with shaping his outlook toward work, responsibility and entrepreneurship.
His mother played an important role during his formative years. During his school years, she attempted to provide him with an opportunity to gain work experience by arranging work at a canteen through a State Bank of India manager. Ajay worked there briefly before deciding to pursue a different direction.
His uncle, Shri Ram Gopal Agrawal, was also an important influence. According to Ajay's account, his uncle supported him during periods when the family faced financial limitations and later trusted him with financial support when he started his business. Ajay states that he subsequently returned the full amount.
Among the lessons he attributes to his uncle were the importance of giving people an opportunity to improve and understanding the difference between helping someone and lending money. These experiences influenced Ajay's approach to people, employees and business relationships.
His elder brother Rajesh Agrawal also gave him an early opportunity to handle responsibility by entrusting him with work related to his contracting business. The experience introduced Ajay to practical aspects of business management, financial handling and interaction with officials.
Education
Ajay Agrawal completed his education in Lucknow. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Lucknow University.
He also received training in screen printing, which later became relevant to his advertising and printing business.
As his professional career developed, he continued his education and pursued an MBA in Marketing in Bhopal. His academic background combined with practical business experience helped him develop knowledge in marketing, communication and business management.
Early Entrepreneurial Experiences
Ajay's entrepreneurial instincts developed at an early age. During childhood, he would rent comic books and later rent them to other children, earning money from the activity. This experience became an early inspiration for the idea of A to Z Library.
He subsequently experimented with several small businesses, including a general store, gift centre, PCO and photocopy services.
These early ventures provided practical lessons in customer interaction, market demand, financial management, transactions, trust and responsibility.
Ajay's experiences reinforced his belief that businesses of every size contribute to society by creating livelihoods, accepting risks and supporting families and communities.
Professional Journey
After completing his graduation, Ajay explored different professional opportunities. He applied for the Block Development Officer (BDO) position and was selected, with a posting expected in Pratapgarh. However, he chose not to join the government position because of his growing interest in business and election campaign-related work.
He also worked with Lucknow Doordarshan for approximately three years on a booking-based arrangement. During this period, he gained practical exposure to institutional procedures, documentation, accounting and the functioning of a large public broadcasting organization.
He was presented with an opportunity for regular employment during his association with Doordarshan but continued to prefer an independent professional path.
Sheela Ad Makers
In 1992, Ajay Agrawal established Sheela Ad Makers, an advertising and printing business.
The business initially operated with limited resources and gradually expanded through advertising, printing, branding and promotional work. Among the early assignments were Glosign boards, dealer boards and other branding materials for Usha International.
The company subsequently undertook advertising and branding-related work associated with organizations and companies including Salora International, Khadi Gramodyog, KRIBHCO and IFFCO, according to the profile information provided.
Ajay also gained experience supplying property and promotional materials for films and production-related activities. His association with Lucknow Doordarshan further contributed to his understanding of media and production environments.
Through these experiences, Sheela Ad Makers developed beyond conventional printing work into areas involving advertising, branding, promotional material and election campaign requirements.
Election Campaign Materials
A significant part of Ajay Agrawal's professional experience has been associated with election campaign materials.
Sheela Ad Makers has worked with products and materials such as:
- Posters
- Banners
- Flex printing
- Flags
- Caps
- Badges
- T-shirts
- Promotional and campaign materials
Working in this field exposed Ajay to the practical requirements of election-related businesses, including quality, pricing, production, supply, timely delivery and distribution across different locations.
His experience in the sector also led him to explore ways of using technology to organize and modernize the traditional election campaign material business.
Mumbai Experience
Ajay travelled to Mumbai in connection with his election campaign material business and began working in a competitive market.
The experience helped him understand the importance of customer relationships, business networking and visibility in addition to the quality of the work itself.
He subsequently returned to Lucknow while continuing to maintain business connections in Mumbai. Business activities were also carried out through smaller establishments and contacts in areas including Dadar and Kalyan.
The Mumbai experience contributed to his understanding that business growth depends not only on products and services but also on relationships, reputation and networks.
Bhopal and Business Expansion
Around 2002–03, Ajay moved to Bhopal in connection with his election campaign material business.
Starting with limited local contacts, he gradually developed relationships and established Sheela Ad Makers in the city. Over time, Bhopal became an important centre of his business activities, particularly in the election campaign material segment.
While expanding his business, Ajay also pursued further education and completed an MBA in Marketing in Bhopal.
Drawing upon decades of experience in advertising, printing and election campaign materials, Ajay Agrawal conceived the idea of Chunav Seva.
The initiative is intended to bring the election campaign material sector onto a more organized digital platform. The concept involves connecting customers, printers, manufacturers and sellers through technology.
The proposed platform aims to create a network of printers and sellers across different parts of India, route customer orders to appropriate vendors and provide a more organized mechanism for the traditional election campaign material industry.
Chunav Seva represents an attempt to combine Ajay's long-term industry experience with digital technology and a broader national network.
Business Philosophy
Ajay believes that entrepreneurship involves taking responsibility from the beginning rather than waiting for success before accepting responsibility.
His experiences have shaped his views on self-employment, customer relationships, employee development, financial discipline and business networking.
One of the important lessons he adopted from his uncle Shri Ram Gopal Agrawal was that an employee's shortcomings can sometimes be addressed through training and guidance rather than immediately replacing the individual.
This experience contributed to Ajay's understanding of team development and leadership.
Creative Interests
Ajay Agrawal's interests extend beyond business. He has maintained an interest in music, entertainment, dance, events, writing and poetry.
He trained in tabla and completed Prabhakar-level studies in the instrument. He has also learned guitar and congo and participated in music groups and orchestra-related activities.
His association with individuals involved in choreography and entertainment provided him with exposure to dance, performance and aspects of the film industry.
These creative interests have remained an important part of his personality alongside his entrepreneurial activities.
Poetry and Writing
Ajay is also interested in poetry and writing. His poems reflect themes of struggle, relationships, self-reflection, circumstances, resilience and continuing to pursue goals.
His writing represents a personal form of reflection and expression alongside his professional responsibilities.
Some of his poetry focuses on the experience of facing setbacks while continuing to move forward. His creative writing reflects his belief in resilience, self-examination and persistence.
Interest in Animals and Nature
Ajay Agrawal has expressed an interest in animals and birds. He has kept dogs of different breeds, including Saint Bernard, Akita and Pomeranian, and has also kept a Tibetan Mastiff.
He maintains an interest in feeding birds and has arranged feeders for birds. He has also learned horse riding and enjoys visiting the Pushkar animal fair with his family.
Business and Community Outlook
Ajay's professional outlook extends beyond individual business growth. After spending several decades in the industry, he recognized the importance of communication and coordination among traders, manufacturers and other participants in the advertising and election campaign material sector.
He has therefore supported efforts to bring people associated with the industry onto a common platform where business-related issues can be discussed and shared.
His approach emphasizes collective progress alongside individual entrepreneurial success.
Personal Philosophy
Ajay's life experiences have led him to develop several personal principles concerning friendship, relationships, business and perseverance.
He believes that genuine friends remain supportive through both success and failure, while people with a negative perception may interpret achievements differently.
He also believes that individuals often view others through the lens of their own attitudes and experiences. Consequently, he emphasizes understanding people's behaviour rather than relying solely on assumptions.
A recurring theme in his outlook is resilience and the importance of continuing to learn from different people and experiences.
Entrepreneurial Journey
Ajay Agrawal's career has developed through several stages, beginning with small entrepreneurial experiments during childhood and progressing through advertising, printing, branding and election campaign materials.
His journey includes experiences in Lucknow, Mumbai and Bhopal, as well as exposure to media, entertainment, marketing and technology.
Rather than following a single professional path, he has combined business experience with education and creative interests.
His transition from traditional printing and advertising toward the concept of Chunav Seva reflects his interest in adapting established business practices to changing technological environments.
Legacy and Continuing Work
Ajay Agrawal's professional journey represents the development of a self-made entrepreneur through experimentation, setbacks, learning and persistence.
From early small businesses and comic-book rentals to Sheela Ad Makers, election campaign materials and the Chunav Seva concept, his career has been shaped by an emphasis on independent entrepreneurship and continuous learning.
His experiences with family members, teachers, colleagues, business associates and people from creative industries have contributed to his understanding of responsibility, leadership, business relationships and personal growth.
His journey continues with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, creativity, technology and the development of new business opportunities.
Contact and Social Media
- Business: Sheela Ad Makers
- Facebook: Sheela Ad Makers / Ajay Agrawal
- Instagram: @sheelaadmaker
- LinkedIn: Ajay Agrawal