Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai
Late Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai, a top most industrialist-philanthropist of the country would ever be remembered for his sound managerial skill and ethics in business and social service. Very few persons achieved such a meticulous working system which Shri Kasturbhai had both in business and public services. Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai belonged to a Visa Oswal Jain family. Oswals have taken their name from Osian, a temple town in Rajasthan where the Kshatrias got converted to Jainism.
The family of Kasturbhai Lalbhai has occupied the centre of stage in business and social horizon of Ahmedabad and Gujarat for over three centuries and a half. The family traces its descent from Shri Shantidas Zaveri, who was a dominent figure in business and civil life of Ahmedabad and whose successors continued to enjoy the same enviable position till closing years of the 19th century. And when the main branch lost its lustre the splinter branch, from which the Lalbhais sprang, succeeded to its pre-eminence which they still enjoy.
Shri Lalbhai succumbed to a serious heart attack on June 5, 1912. He had acquired highly respectable social status, particularly among Swetambar Jains, and had become President of prestigious Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, which was founded in 1720 for managing Swetambar Jain temples and institutions.
He had three sons Shri Chimanbhai, Shri Kasturbhai and Shri Narottambhai. After the death of his father, Shri Kasturbhai, then 17 years, had to discontinue his college studies to look after the affairs of his business.
Shri Kasturbhai gained his expertise in textile industry. Having acquired gradually experience of intricacies of operations, he came to be recognized as the principal voice in management of the Mill. He became Chairman in January 1928 while a new company "Saraspur Mill Ltd." was registered to run the old Mills. Thereafter success always sided with him and he became the master-man of a large industrial group of the country.
The development of Lalbhai Group to its present stage is due to large extent to the leadership of Shri Kasturbhai, who presided over its growth and expansion for well over six decades.
For his farsighted vision, sincerity, devotion and philanthropy Shri Kasturbhai held the highest position in the industry and community.
He was elected to the Central Legislative Council of 144 Members constituted under Montague-Chelmsford Reforms Act of 1919 as a Representative of Mill Owners Association at the young age of 29 years for a three year term.
In 1924 he was elected Member of the Standing Committee of Department of Industries and Labour of Government of India. He always watched the interests of the industry. In 1934, he was elected President of Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and in 1935 the President of Ahmedabad Mill Owners Association. He remained Director of Reserve Bank of India During 1937-49 and again during 1957-60. His services as Chairman of West-Coast Major Ports Committee were unique in several ways. He also headed a Committee appointed by Central Government to study the working of various Ministries and suggest reduction in strength. He also worked as Chairman of Industrial Committee of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund. He was Founder-President of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 1949. He was Chairman of Indian Institute of Technology from 1955 to 65, elected Governing Trustee of Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust in 1957. He was Trustee of Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Member of Indian Investment Centre and Member of Board and Governing Body of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. In 1972 he became the President of Sankat Nivaran Society which was set-up jointly by Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Ahmedabad Mills Owners' Association etc.
He was in close contact with Mahatma Gandhi since 1917 in his experiment of application of principles of voluntary arbitration in disputes between employers and employees at Ahmedabad. He had also close contacts with late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Shri G.V. Mavalankar while working for the relief operations for the big famine in Gujarat and Saurashtra during the period 1948 and 1951. He was also associated with various other institutions in various capacities.
Education remained high on his list. With his active efforts, Ahmedabad Education Society was set-up in 1936 and he was elected Chairman of the Governing body. He was the main man both in administration and for providing finances to the Society. Major contributions for building Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Arts College, established in 1937, came from Kasturbhai and his borthers. H. L. College of Commerce was opened by the Society later.
Subsequently it opened several other institutions. The Society also played significant role in establishing Physical Research Laboratory in 1948 and School of Architecture in 1962. Last institution to be started by the society was school of Urban studies and Planning in 1972. Several other educational and academic institutions were opened or developed with his donations collected by him or his family. He made an initial donation of Rs. 20 lakhs for L. D. Engineering College. Gujarat Vidya Sabha and Gujarat University Trust also received substantial donation from him. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Ahmedabad Textile Industry Research Association (ATIRA) and Physical Research Laboratory, with combined efforts of Dr.Vikram Sarabhai, and establishment of Indian Institute of Management by his donations. He also established Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology in 1962, opposite Gujarat University, which has a good collection of manuscripts, rare books and microfilms on various important subjects. It has about 76,000 hand written manuscripts besides other articles of antiquity. This Institute has published a number of good books. Several of these institutions have acquired international repute.
Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai inherited his devotion to Jainism from his parents, particularly from his deeply religious minded mother. He was more interested in spirit rather than ceremonial side of the religion. He became Chairman of Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi in 1925 at the age of 30 years and continued in that position for 50 years. It has a large number of world famous Jain temples under its management. He was meticulously fair in maintenance of accounts of the Societies. Under his guidance, the Pedhi has renovated a large number of Jain temples including famous temples at Ranakpur, Dilwara (Mt.Abu), Girnar, Taranga and Shatrunjaya Hills.
He was also president of 2500th Bhagwan Mahavir Nirwan Mahotsava, All India Committee which organised country-wide celebration of the great event.
His fondness for reading Jain literature, his services to Jain Institutions and a great urge to renovate and up-keep large number of Jain temples and beginning of his daily routine with an hour long prayer in the temple at his residence all point to his deep devotion to his faith.
Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai was a great connosieur of art. He acquired Tagore collection of Bronzes and miniature paintings. A large number of them were donated by him to L.D. Institute of Indology.
On many occasios, about 30 times, he visited various foreign countries of Europe, U. S. S. R., U. S. A., Japan etc.
He was the recipient of "Padma Bhushan" award from Government of India in 1968. Shri Kasturbhai's reputation as a competent industrialist and a person of high intergrity, fair play and devotion to his community won him the appreciation of a very large number of people. Few entrepreneurs gave as much to their region and community as Shri Kasturbhai did.
End came to the life of this illustrious son of the country on January 20, 1980 after having crossed the age of 84 years.
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From : Progressive Jain
By : Mr. Satish Kumar Jain
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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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