Textile baron Arvind Lalbhai passes away
A glorious chapter in India’s textile history came to an end on Friday with the demise of industrialist Arvind Lalbhai.
By TNN |
AHMEDABAD: A glorious chapter in India’s textile history came to an end on Friday with the demise of industrialist Arvind Lalbhai. One of the last representatives of the generation of mill owners from Ahmedabad, Lalbhai, non-executive chairman of Arvind Mills, was involved in the Rs 1,890-crore company till the end.
He welcomed the advent of the new business culture. "Times have changed. And so have the ways businesses are run," he told ET last year. "At 90, I don't interfere in the day-to-day activities of the company. I am very happy that my nephew Sanjay has taken the company to new heights," he said.
A third generation of Lalbhai Dalpatbhai, founder of the group, Arvind joined the family business, Asoka Mill, at 21, when “textile trade was booming and customers used to line up at the doorsteps of manufacturers”. His illustrious uncle late Kasturbhai Lalbhai and his father were very tough on young Arvind when he joined business.
"Besides some wonderful insights into the business, my uncle taught me how to do business with utmost honesty and to stand up for a cause. Together, Vikram (Sarabhai) and I had spearheaded a movement against government decision to scrap English in school curriculum. I was a senator then. We could foresee the implications of the decision," he said expressing his concern over Gujaratis being weak in English.
Indeed. The industrialist was better known for being a follower of the Mahajan tradition which believes in the welfare of the society. His contribution included in the fields of education, health, rural development and the welfare of the differently-abled people.
He was a member of the governing bodies of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Education Society, and Gujarat Law Society. He was instrumental in starting organisations such as Blind Men's Association. He had also adopted a village in Sabarkantha district.
A bachelor all his life, Mr Lalbhai adopted his brother Niranjanbhai's son Samveg.
Arvind was a multifaceted personality and was known for his vision and business acumen. Till the recent past, he used to play golf regularly — in fact, he used to hit the golf course at 6 am everyday. He also loved swimming in his private pool, watching movies and television, and travelling.
Apart from his association with the textile industry — he was at the helm of the Textile Committee, India Cotton Mills Federation, ATIRA — Arvind held important posts in bodies such as Ahmedabad Millowners' Association, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and FICCI.
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He welcomed the advent of the new business culture. "Times have changed. And so have the ways businesses are run," he told ET last year. "At 90, I don't interfere in the day-to-day activities of the company. I am very happy that my nephew Sanjay has taken the company to new heights," he said.
A third generation of Lalbhai Dalpatbhai, founder of the group, Arvind joined the family business, Asoka Mill, at 21, when “textile trade was booming and customers used to line up at the doorsteps of manufacturers”. His illustrious uncle late Kasturbhai Lalbhai and his father were very tough on young Arvind when he joined business.
"Besides some wonderful insights into the business, my uncle taught me how to do business with utmost honesty and to stand up for a cause. Together, Vikram (Sarabhai) and I had spearheaded a movement against government decision to scrap English in school curriculum. I was a senator then. We could foresee the implications of the decision," he said expressing his concern over Gujaratis being weak in English.
Indeed. The industrialist was better known for being a follower of the Mahajan tradition which believes in the welfare of the society. His contribution included in the fields of education, health, rural development and the welfare of the differently-abled people.
He was a member of the governing bodies of Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Education Society, and Gujarat Law Society. He was instrumental in starting organisations such as Blind Men's Association. He had also adopted a village in Sabarkantha district.
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A bachelor all his life, Mr Lalbhai adopted his brother Niranjanbhai's son Samveg.
Arvind was a multifaceted personality and was known for his vision and business acumen. Till the recent past, he used to play golf regularly — in fact, he used to hit the golf course at 6 am everyday. He also loved swimming in his private pool, watching movies and television, and travelling.
Apart from his association with the textile industry — he was at the helm of the Textile Committee, India Cotton Mills Federation, ATIRA — Arvind held important posts in bodies such as Ahmedabad Millowners' Association, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and FICCI.
Also Read:
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