Real Estate

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal, Chairman of a Leading Group, Shaping Futures Through Visionary Leadership and Value-Based Growth

Chairman, The Sage Groupbhopal

Work fearlessly with determination; success and salvation will follow.
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Work fearlessly with determination; success and salvation will follow.
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Er. Sanjeev Agrawal has made significant contributions across various sectors. From building over 12,000 flats to producing 65000 graduates from SAGE educational  institutions, to launching Apollo SAGE Hospital, and ongoing projects like the Hilton Hotel and renewable energy initiatives, he has been a trailblazer.

Visionary Business Leader Er. Sanjeev Agrawal is the guiding force behind the SAGE Group India.

Under his chairmanship, the group has made significant strides across six diverse fields like Real Estate, Education, Healthcare, Energy, Social Welfare & Hospitality, each contributing uniquely to society. Among these, the one closest to Agrawal’s  heart is his real estate company—Sage Realty, which he founded in 1983.

While he is passionate about all his ventures, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal jokingly says that real estate holds a special place in his heart as it is blessed by Goddess Lakshmi, the symbol of wealth and prosperity. For him, working in real estate is not just about building structures, but about creating spaces where dreams take shape, families grow, and communities thrive.

Founder of the SAGE Group, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal recalls a significant milestone in the group’s path—their foray into the field of Education in 2001 with the establishment of their first school. Inspired by the transformative power of learning, the group soon expanded their educational mission by launching their first Engineering College, SIRT (Sagar Institute of Research and Technology) in 2003, starting with just 240 students.

With visible pride and emotion, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that he still remembers the names of those first 240 students—a testament to the deep connection he holds with the institution’s foundation and its people. He describes this chapter as one of the most fulfilling phases of his life, where joy came not from numbers, but from nurturing futures and shaping young minds.

Reflecting on his professional life, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal describes the launch of their educational initiatives as the true beginning of giving back to society in a deeper, more meaningful way. While Sage Realty had already been contributing by creating homes—providing houses, flats, and plots that support people’s dreams—he emphasizes that education brought a different kind of fulfillment.

He shares a beautiful perspective: “Through real estate, we were serving Goddess Lakshmi, the divine force of wealth and prosperity, and Lord Vishwakarma, the deity of architecture and creation. But through education, we are working for Maa Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom.”

SAGE University Chancellor Sanjeev Agrawal proudly shares that through the institutions under SAGE (Sanjeev Agrawal Global Education)—including SAGE University Indore, SAGE University Bhopal, and Sage International School, Bhopal—a total of around 40,000 students are currently pursuing their education. Approximately 20,000 students study at SAGE University Indore, while another 20,000 are enrolled in the schools and university in Bhopal.

He believes that this is not just a number—it is a great responsibility. He feels personally committed to guiding these students, not just academically, but also by helping them grow with strong values, ethics, and cultural understanding.

For him, this wasn’t just a shift in industry—it was a spiritual evolution, a commitment to nurturing knowledge, values, and the leaders of tomorrow. It marked a turning point where business became a bridge to social development and nation-building.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal believes that education is not just about books and exams—it is a way to serve Maa Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom. Through SAGE Schools and SAGE University, his aim is to help students grow mentally and become thoughtful, responsible citizens of India.

He shares that his vision is to teach students discipline, values, culture, and good manners. More importantly, he wants to create a mindset where students learn to love Bharat Mata (Mother India), respect Mother Earth, honor their parents, and also love and believe in themselves.

For him, education is about shaping both the mind and the character of a person, and helping them become the best version of themselves.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that his career began with the founding of SAGE Realty, followed by the establishment of SAGE International School and the SAGE Group of Institutions. After building a strong foundation in education and real estate, he decided to venture into the field of electrical power infrastructure.

To take this next step, he reconnected with his childhood friend Mr. Anupam, who held a senior position in the electricity board. They discussed the idea of starting a new company focused on electrical infrastructure. This led to the creation of Agrawal Power Private Limited, which now operates across all over India—especially in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and most recently, Gujarat, where they have secured a major project with the Indian Railways.

With continuous growth and development, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal reached a point in life where he began to reflect on what more could be done. He shares that his team worked on various real estate projects across different cities—some were highly successful, while others brought challenges. However, he emphasizes that he never sees any venture as a failure. According to him, there is no failure, only learning experiences that help shape the path forward.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal had planned to build a hotel. He even signed an MoU with the Hyatt group and paid an advance. However, when the pandemic hit, it changed his perspective. He realized that India needed more hospitals than hotels. Responding to this urgent need, he transformed the hotel project into a hospital with major renovations.

He proudly shares that this decision led to the creation of one of India’s finest healthcare facilities—the Apollo SAGE Hospital. The hospital focuses not just on treatment but also on patient satisfaction and spreading happiness. It represents a powerful collaboration between Apollo, Asia’s biggest healthcare brand, and SAGE, Central India’s leading brand, united by a shared commitment to care.

Agrawal shares that he is always focused on moving forward and embracing new opportunities. He reveals that his next project is the introduction of a Hilton Hotel in Bhopal. This will be a 5-star hotel with 229 rooms. The hotel will offer a unique experience by being fully vegetarian while also providing a bar facility.

Recently, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal's eldest son-in-law, Karan, joined the family business and became actively involved in their ventures. Together, they have developed a plan to establish a large-scale renewable energy industry. They have already begun working on the first phase of this ambitious project and are highly motivated to expand and promote renewable energy across India.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal emphasizes that throughout his work in six different fields, his guiding thought has always been, "What can I give back to society and the nation?" He believes in the power of giving, stating that the more you give, the more blessings you receive. His work is driven by a deep commitment to contribute positively to the community and nation.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that many people often ask him, "What’s next?" To which he responds confidently, "This is just the beginning." At 58 years, he feels like he's just started playing. He highlights that now, with his successors—his elder daughter Shivani, younger daughter Sakshi, and son-in-law Karan— with him, he’s more motivated than ever. "We’ve just begun," he says. He also mentions his strong team at SAGE Group, including close colleagues like Anupam, Dr. Prashant Jain, Aman Mathur, Akash, Rupesh, and Ricky, emphasizing that they’ve just started working together and are moving forward at full speed.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal says, "I promise that, just as the SAGE Group has earned a strong reputation in Central India, we will create an even stronger name across the entire country." He acknowledges that while they may not be the most financially powerful right now, the focus will always be on working with and for society. With this approach, he believes that the SAGE Group will rise to be among the Top 50 in just 5 years, driven by strong moral values and dedication to the community.

Reflecting on his childhood, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that just hearing the word "childhood" or "bachpan" brings a smile to his face. He describes it as a time filled with love and care, as he was the second youngest child in the family. He recalls how his parents and grandparents showered him with affection, making his childhood a special and cherished period of his life.

Sanjeev Agrawal shares that there was a significant gap of seven years between him and his elder brother, which meant that all the focus was on him. His family paid close attention to what he ate, did, and how he performed, as they had high expectations for his education and future. He believes that these expectations motivated him to work hard, and he considers it a blessing from God.

He also mentions that his father was a government employee, which meant they had to live in various places and villages. He moved to Bhopal when he was in 7th grade and studied in a Hindi medium school. This experience, he shares, shaped his educational life and added to his determination to succeed.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that while he studied a lot during his childhood, he also made sure to enjoy his time playing. He highlights how much he cherished those moments. He expresses gratitude, stating that it was a blessing from God that he never had to face major life problems. However, he acknowledges that challenges did come his way, and he always faced them with confidence. He believes that every challenge was given to him by God to overcome, and he accepted them with a positive mindset.

While sharing memories from his early days, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal elaborates that he has 5 siblings. He expresses great pride in the fact that his father decided, early on, to make him an engineer. He draws a parallel to the famous scene in the movie ‘3 Idiots’, where the character says, "My son will become a Civil Engineer," highlighting how his father's decision shaped his future.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that his father was also an engineer but had only completed a diploma, which made it his father’s dream and vision to see his son become a full-fledged engineer. Inspired by this, Er. Agrawal pursued his engineering degree at Engineering College Bhopal. In the beginning, he considered working in a job, but during a conversation with his brother-in-law (Behnoi), he was advised to focus on creating jobs rather than taking one. This advice, along with the fact that his elder brother was already working as a contractor in the construction field, led him to consider a career in real estate.

He took the first step by constructing a bungalow, selling it, and making a profit of rupees two lakhs. He describes that moment as heavenly and one of the most joyful moments of his life, marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial path.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that after taking that initial step, he continued to work hard and achieve significant growth. He started by building small flats, gradually scaling up from 10 to 50, then to 500, and eventually reaching 2000 flats. To date, Sage Realty has built over 12,000 flats and made remarkable strides in the real estate sector. Alongside that, he has made significant contributions in the field of education.

He emphasizes that every success starts small, but one should never feel discouraged. Instead, maintain high hopes and big dreams. He advocates for the power of dreaming, manifesting, and making commitments to bring about change in life. He shares his motto: "SAGE hai to Mumkin hai,"which he always says, similarly he motivates people to believe in themselves.

Er. Agrawal further encourages aspiring individuals to think ahead of time and take action before it's due, as that is the path to success. His key message is that everything is possible—what truly matters is hard work and dedication.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal recalls a recent conversation where someone pointed out that despite working hard, people often try to bring others down, spread negativity, and indulge in backstabbing. They asked if he had ever faced such challenges. In response, Er. Agrawal shared that, in his 58 years, he couldn’t remember any incident where someone had pushed him down or spread negativity. He further mentioned that, even if he had been hurt by others, he chose to thank them instead of dwelling on it, believing that such experiences only contribute to his personal growth and resilience.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal explains that how one perceives life shapes their experiences. He shares that he had a very happy and fulfilling childhood, and that youth is a time full of energy and vitality. He speaks fondly of his wife, Kiran, who he describes as being incredibly caring, always looking out for him and providing for him even before he asks. He mentions that he reciprocates this care and love. He also expresses pride in his two daughters, saying that he has molded them into the individuals he always dreamed they would become, showing the deep love and guidance he has provided throughout their lives.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal emphasizes that having role models is important, but it's not necessary to have just one. He advises people to have at least two to nine role models, and they can always add more as they grow and evolve. He shares that, for him, his role models are diverse and come from different aspects of life. In business, he looks up to Ratan Tata for his leadership and ethical practices. When it comes to style and fashion, his role model is Akshay Kumar. In terms of spirituality, he is guided by Shivanand Baba and Swami Atmanand Ji. Additionally, he deeply respects his wife for her strength and wisdom, and also draws inspiration from his neighbors, particularly Mukesh Chanchlani. This diverse range of role models reflects how Er. Agrawal values learning from various sources to grow as a person in different areas of life.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares his belief in the importance of developing and nurturing various aspects of life through different gurus in specific fields, who have helped him become mentally strong, socially connected, and successful in business. He emphasizes the concept of Sat-Chit-Anand, or true joy, which resides deep within the heart. For him, happiness comes from engaging in activities that bring joy, and he surrounds himself with connections that foster this happiness.

Er. Agrawal further explains the significance of working on the five bodies that every human possesses: the Sthool Sharir (physical body), which must be kept strong through exercise, yoga, and rest; the Pranamaya Sharir (energy body), which involves purifying the mind and heart; the Manomaya Sharir (mental body), which requires focus, discipline, and mindfulness; the Vijnanamaya Sharir (wisdom body), which is cultivated by continuous learning and applying knowledge; and the Anandamaya Sharir (bliss body), which he believes is the most essential as it connects individuals with higher consciousness and divinity, leading to ultimate joy and inner peace. He stresses that balancing and strengthening these five aspects is key to achieving holistic growth and living a fulfilling life.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal also discusses the three types of minds: the Conscious, the Subconscious, and the Super-conscious mind. He explains that the Conscious mind allows individuals to interact with the world around them, while the Subconscious mind holds memories and provides feedback, shaping one’s responses and actions. The Super-conscious mind, according to him, is the highest level, helping individuals connect with the divine and understand higher truths. Er. Agrawal emphasizes that all three minds are interrelated, working together to guide a person through life. He believes that the key principle to live by is to always be happy, as happiness is essential to wellbeing. He advises having faith in God's work in life, as it ultimately leads to the good, guiding individuals toward their purpose and fulfilling their destiny.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal shares that many people often ask him about the quotes or ‘shlokas’ that inspire and motivate him. In response, he mentions that the name of Bhagwan Ram itself is a powerful shloka. He further shares two key mantras:

“हरे कृष्णा हरे कृष्णा, कृष्णा कृष्णा हरे हरे,
हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे”

and “ॐ नमः शिवाय,” …..

…..describing them as complete and meaningful ‘shlokas’ that provide spiritual strength and peace. Er. Agrawal also emphasizes the importance of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, advising people to chant it 11 times. According to him, doing so will bring victory in life and help overcome challenges, offering divine protection and success.

Er. Sanjeev Agrawal reflects on a valuable lesson he has learned from Gautam Adani, one of India’s topmost businessmen, which he encourages everyone to adopt. Recalling an insightful conversation he had with Adani, Er. Agrawal shares that Adani told him that his son had asked the same question about the secret to success. Adani's response was simple yet impactful: Hard Work and Dedication are the only elements within our control.

Er. Agrawal emphasizes that while focusing on the outcome is important for maintaining direction, success comes through commitment and effort. He advises that success should not be pursued solely for personal gain, but also for the well-being of others. When you work towards the success of others, he believes, God will reward you with your own.

In his final message, Er. Sanjeev Agrawal addresses all the SAGEians and citizens of India, reminding them that God has blessed us with a beautiful and strong body. He urges everyone to take care of it, as it is through this very body that one can achieve salvation (moksha). He emphasizes the importance of working hard, not out of fear, but with love, determination, and an unwavering spirit. By working unconditionally and with determination, he believes success and victory in life are inevitable.

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Watch the Inspiring Story of Er. Sanjeev Agrawal | Visionary Leader Behind the SAGE Group

Watch the motivational story of Er. Sanjeev Agrawal, the founder of the SAGE Group. Builder of 12,000+ homes and creator of institutions like SAGE University & SAGE Apollo Hospital in Bhopal.