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Inspiring Centre

This first office of Atul has been converted to a Centre to nurture the enduring
memory and legacy of our Founder, Kasturbhai Lalbhai, so that we may draw
inspiration from the life and works of one of the foremost sons of India.

This biopic weaves its way through familial, industrial and national events;
offers reflective insights into key turning points and the contributions of
Kasturbhai. History by definition is the story of the past, and it is easy to be
wise after the event. Thus, for the protagonist to be hailed as wise, decades after
the events, underlines the power of his ideas, their depth and breadth.

Inspiring Centre

The legacy of Kasturbhai Lalbhai has been synonymous with 3 terms in the
broadest sense; perseverance, ethics and larger purpose. We, as the people of
Atul, have the most onerous of responsibilities: to expand and diversify business
footprints and follow his figurative footsteps. We will endeavour to achieve this
remit in full measure.

Kasturbhai Lalbhai

(1894 to 1980)

Kasturbhai, an institution builder
par excellence, made seminal
contributions, particularly in the
fields of industry, education,
culture and religion. His pioneering
efforts helped in the process of
transformation of a colonised and
impoverished India to a land of
emerging hopes and opportunities.
He led a purposeful life imbibed
with integrity, discipline, excellence,
perseverance and simplicity.

Arvind Narottambhai

(1918 to 2007)

An ebullient and vibrant leader, Arvind
Narottambhai, nephew of Kasturbhai, was a
natural, be it with innocent children, sportspersons,
industrialists or the less privileged. His stellar
contributions earned him the unique encomium as
the Bhishmapitamah of the visually and physically
challenged. He was as caring towards family as much
as he tendered to his garden of roses. In addition to
overseeing Arvind and later Atul, he was associated
with a galaxy of companies and institutions. He
remained the perennial support pillar for the
Group, particularly through its periods of trials and
tribulations and nurtured the Values of the
founding fathers.

Chandraprasad Desai

(1909 to 1969)

Chandraprasad Desai exhibited astonishing grit and
determination as he ascended from the position of a
trainee to the head of the Group textile business, then
consisting of 7 companies. He played a pivotal role in
the management of numerous institutions related to
social work, showcasing his straight-forward, yet
compassionate nature. No one ever returned from
him empty handed. His dedication to the Group is
evident as he served it till the very end of his life.

Balwantrai Mazumdar

(1902 to 1981)

Educated at London School of Economics, Balwantrai
Mazumdar was a professor at Banaras Hindu
University. He met Kasturbhai in 1933 who initiated
him into Arvind and later Atul. A voracious reader,
sound thinker, patient listener and farsighted
professional, he created an atmosphere of camaraderie
that brought out the collective best of the employees.
He was a passionate nationalist who was imprisoned
during the Quit India movement in which period he
stoically absorbed the demise of his only child. He was
the moving force behind making Atul one of the
largest eco-friendly chemical sites. He remained with
the Group till the end of his life as did most of the
people who directly worked with the founder.

Siddharth Kasturbhai

(1923 to 1998)

Siddharth Kasturbhai, the elder son of Kasturbhai
and a chemical engineer by education, shifted his base
to Atul in 1952 and made it his karmabhumi. He was
deeply aware of his purpose and actualised the vision
of his father with foresight and thoroughness. An
austere, low profile leader, he promoted ethics in
business and trusteeship in governance. In his own
determined way, he embedded humaneness into
commerce as he helped build one of the finest
chemical sites of its kind and developed Atul as a
well diversified conglomerate.

Kasturbhai

Chimanbhai

Narottambhai

Manekben Kantaben
Dahiben Lilavatiben

Lalbhai - Mohinaba

Dalpatbhai - Gangaba

Bhagubhai

Motibhai Fatehbhai
Khushalchand Vakhatsha

Shantidas Laxmichand

Lalbhai Sheshkaran Mohinaba

Vacchasha

Harpal

Family tree Sahulwa Kshamadhar
Padmasinh

Legacy is not what is engraved in stone

monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

- Pericles Xanthippus

Legend has it that the forefathers of Kasturbhai were
Kshatriyas who adorned the courts of Akbar. The known
lineage of Lalbhai family goes back 18 generations.
Originally from Osia, Rajasthan, the family shifted to
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, about 400 years ago. The story of
the valorous Kshatriyas adopting the non-violent ethos of
Jain religion makes evocative reading.

Panel 01_Legacy

Mahavir Swami

The unexamined life is not worth living.

- Socrates Sophroniscus

In the jungles of Mewar, a warrior, Thakur Padmasinh,
an ancestor of Kasturbhai, whilst hunting kills a child
deer; the mother deer is devastated. The warrior is sad
and seeks answer from a Jain saint sitting under a tree,
‘Is hunting not the duty of a Kshatriya?’ After a pause,
the answer comes, ‘Protection at the cost of one’s own
life is the dharma of a Kshatriya and not killing
innocent defenceless animals’. The preachings of the
saint left deep impressions and the becalmed mind,
after initial restlessness, found the true calling of life.
Some time then in the 14th century, the clan imbibed
Jain religion.

Panel 02_Jainism

With mother, Mohinaba

GodLife is a gift of .

What we make of it is an offering to God.

- Unknown

Kasturbhai was born in 1894 to Mohinaba and Lalbhai
Sheth, in Ahmedabad. As a child, he enjoyed flying
kites and playing cricket, but found books crushingly
boring and made every endeavour to escape from them.
A mischievous student, he once threw away the turban
of his teacher outside the window. When he was 17, the
family went to see the celebrations on the occasion of
the coronation of King George V; that was when he
saw Mumbai for the first time.

Panel 03_Childhood

At the age of 17

Circumstances do not make the man;

they reveal him.

- James Allen

Kasturbhai adored his father and looked up to him as his
role model. Lalbhai Sheth was already a giant among men
when he suddenly passed away at 49. The child in the son
died an early death then and there. Even as he mourned
the demise of his father, the young bereaved mind was
prescient enough to ask key questions which may shape
his future – ‘Will I be able to cultivate those Values
imbibed in me by my father? Will we be able to live up to
those exacting standards and ideals?’ It pushed him, then
17, to accede to the wishes of his mother and give up
college education to join the family business. The
remarkable metamorphosis of the carefree teenager to a
responsible and self-aware Karmayogi started about now.

Panel 04_Metamorphosis

First textile mill

Great works are performed not by strength,

but by perseverance.

- Samuel Johnson

Young Kasturbhai started working as a time-keeper,
and in a short time this self-taught man mastered each
of the functions of a textile mill. He painstakingly
developed the feel for raw cotton through the magic
of his fingers. In an initiative far ahead of his times,
he sourced cotton by visiting villages and got the
finest quality. His fingers were akin to that of a
trained pianist whose reverberations identified the
best of cotton.

With hard work and perseverance, Kasturbhai went on
to create one of the most reputed business houses of
India, now called Lalbhai Group.

Panel 05_Perseverance

With wife, Tarala

Love never claims; it ever gives.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Kasturbhai married Tarala Javeri in 1915. A deeply
religious lady, she complemented him in an optimal
way and displayed an intrinsic understanding of her
husband and the paths he chose in life. She was his
serene life partner and a fellow pilgrim till her death in
1950. Equally, she was a mother figure to the extended
Lalbhai family. The decision to have children only
after achieving a degree of stability — which took a long
8 years — speaks of their maturity, especially in early
20th century conservative Gujarat.

Panel 06_Marriage

With wife and children

The highest education is that which

makes our life in harmony with all existence.

- Rabindranath Tagore

As parents, Kasturbhai and Taralaben strongly
believed in instilling Values and imparting good
formal education and thus sent their two sons,
Siddharth and Shrenik, even in the midst of
World-war II, to Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and Harvard University. In the fullness
of time, their belief fructified in that both brothers
emerged as responsible and progressive citizens.

Panel 07_Education

Chimanbhai, Kasturbhai and Narottambhai

unitySo powerful is the light of

that it can illuminate the whole earth.

- Mirza Nuri

Kasturbhai was the second of 3 brothers. They
invested together in business and grew the Group
which was then amongst the top business houses
of India. The brothers worked in harmony and
with synergy and precision of unified thought in
that one completed the projects started by the
other. With the power of oneness, the 3 brothers
created an inspiring legacy.

Panel 08_Unity

Larger Lalbhai family

In separateness lies great misery;

in togetherness lies great strength.

- Gautam Buddha

The larger Lalbhai family of 3 brothers and 4 sisters
had at one time more than 150 members. His love
for the family was evident from the fact that
Kasturbhai established several companies for his
siblings. The extended Lalbhai family got together
at his house in Ahmedabad every night after dinner.

Panel 09_Family

Ahmedabad Municipal School

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us.

Wimhamt weohravteadlo.ne for others remains

- Albert Pike

The social and public facets of Kasturbhai started
developing when at the age of 24, his work for famine
relief was noticed and appreciated by the ‘Iron Man
of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. At his insistence,
the 3 brothers contributed `50,000, a princely sum in
1921, to upgrade a municipal school.
In the years that followed, Vallabhbhai inspired
Kasturbhai to make a life-long commitment to serving
the society.

Panel 10_Beyond self

With Mahatma Gandhi

rTheelqautailiotynofsyhouirplifse.is the quality of your

- Anthony Robbins

In 1918, Kasturbhai came in touch with Mahatma
Gandhi. Later, in 1922, he witnessed the historic
anti-sedition trial in Ahmedabad where destiny was
creating a defining moment for India through its
choicest son. It was a huge learning for the young man
that the sheer strength of high character and the words
spoken in support of humanity can shake even the
then mighty British Empire where the sun never set.
Inspired by the ideals of Gandhiji, the textile mill
owners under the leadership of Kasturbhai fully stood
behind the swadeshi movement and did not take
advantage of scarcity created by boycott of foreign
cloth, thus transcending profit motives when the call
came to support national causes.

Panel 11 Relationships

Young Kasturbhai

Intellectual growth must commence at birth

and cease only at death.

- Albert Einstein

Despite the break from formal education, the quest for
scholarship was a constant motivation in the life of
Kasturbhai. He accepted the advice of Dahiben, his
elder sister, to have a tutor and trained himself to be
an excellent communicator in English. Along with his
demanding schedule, he made it a point to read and
educate himself on all relevant aspects in order to be a
true life-long learner. All this proved invaluable in his
future interactions.

Panel 12 Life-long learning

Parliament building, New Delhi

Only those who have learned the power of sincere
contributionand selfless
experience the

deepest joy of life.

- Anthony Robbins

The withdrawal in 1926 of the oppressive excise duty on
textiles produced in India marked a great victory for the
tireless efforts of Kasturbhai.
Just as Kasturbhai, during his tenure as a Member of
Parliament from 1923 to 1927, forced the British to
involve Indians in Shipping industry, perhaps it is no
coincidence that almost 300 years ago, one of his
distinguished ancestors, Shantidas Sheth, responded
with equal alacrity, during the rule of Jehangir, against
the British, who had nefariously tried to subvert the
growth of the same industry in Gujarat. The Emperor
was forced to act due to the overpowering logic presented
by Shantidas.
Kasturbhai was awarded Padmabhushan in 1969 for his
exemplary contributions to his motherland.

Panel 13_Nation building – politics

Textile Mill

Nsuo psrtoablienm ecadn wtithhsitanndktihne agss.ault of

- François-Marie Arouet

For a man matured well beyond his years, youthful
exuberance overtook Kasturbhai when in 1923 an
opportunity to expand Asoka Mills beckoned in
double-quick time. However, fluctuations in foreign
exchange rates coupled with a severe loss of investor
confidence made Asoka a tributary of ‘shok’. Yet,
tenacity and determination in the young entrepreneur
helped him to overcome the crisis. In his own words,
‘Very early in my career, the experience with Asoka
Mills, despite being a bitter one, proved invaluable as
I learnt many lessons for life’.

Panel 14_Handling failure

Arvind Ltd

qualityIt is the of our work which will please

God and not quantity.

- Mahatma Gandhi

In 1931, Kasturbhai founded Arvind, now one of the
largest composite textile mills in the world; it has
survived the test of time through grit and rigorous
adherence to quality and innovation. Arvind
Conglomerate presently consists of 16 operating
companies engaged in the areas of textile, engineering,
telecom and real estate.
Narottambhai, younger brother, dedicated his life to
the development of Arvind. He was unique in that
along with the ability to visualise the future, he was a
man of details. He took great pride in looking after the
larger family as his own. This enabled Kasturbhai to
spend time on expanding the business and doing work
for the society.

Panel 15_Quality

Anup Engineering Ltd

Without continual growth and progress,

such words as achievement and success have no meaning.

- Benjamin Franklin

At the young age of 20, Kasturbhai had mastered enough
business and functional wisdom to establish himself as an
independent textile mill owner on his own competence.
He was now able to conceive and execute projects with
mathematical precision from start to finish.
Kasturbhai had the ability to envision and realise his
dreams. He established several publicly held companies
in the areas of textile, engineering and chemicals which
together employed more than 25,000 people. He was
fully supported by the family members and several
professionals who became a part of his extended family.

Panel 16_Growth

(Dr)Vikram Sarabhai, Kasturbhai and Amratlal Hargovindas

powerIf God gives us and wealth,

he gives us the same so that we may use them

for the benefit of mankind.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Trusteeship as a concept is difficult to imbibe
and encapsulate. What made Kasturbhai,
a dhoti clad man of few words, the go-to person
for family members, shareholders, mill owners,
freedom fighters, saints and even the Prime
Minister? The most plausible explanation
can be his highly sensitive internal moral
compass which elevated his conscience to
extraordinary heights.

Panel 17 Trusteeship

Quit India Movement, 1942

The price of freedom is always

responsibility.

- Brahmakumaris

The call for ‘Quit India’ in 1942 brought to fore a clash
of philosophies: the thrifty textile mill owners looking
for return on investments against the fundamental
need for independence from the British rule.
Kasturbhai, along with Khandubhai Desai, the then
President of Majoor Mahajan Sangh, in a moment of
inspired decision–making, organised one of the most
unique protests in world history when they sent
100,000 labourers to their homes. This master stroke
achieved everything satyagraha stood for and paralysed
the British rule, more importantly without shedding a
drop of blood. The 3 month old voluntary closure won
international recognition for the tactical and strategic
wisdom displayed under great pressure.

Panel 18_Patriotism

Red Fort, New Delhi

He loves his country best

who strives to make it best.

- Robert Ingersoll

The tryst with destiny had occurred, and India
became independent in 1947, yet the problems for
its teeming millions remained and hit hard at the
faces of its new polity.
Infused by the new found freedom, Kasturbhai,
then 53, took a big leap forward, despite being a
conservative risk taker. He founded Atul on
September 15, 1947, exactly a month after formal
independence, and the nationalist Indian in him
fully imbibed the clarion call for self–reliance,
employment generation and wealth creation in
rural areas.

Panel 19_Responsibility

Inauguration of Atul Ltd by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

All our dreams can come true

if we have the courage to pursue them.

- Walt Disney

Along with his confidant, Balwantrai Mazumdar and
son, Siddharth, Kasturbhai set out in a bullock cart in
the scorching heat of May and arrived at the banks of
river Par. Here, a barren land stretching up to the
foothills of Parnera was quietly awaiting. The deep
intuition resulted in him exclaiming, ‘The land is smiling
and calling me’. The decision to acquire the vast span of
about 1,000 acres of land, now called Atul, was taken in
less than 120 seconds and the rest, as they say, is history.
Over 50,000 people came to witness the opening
ceremony on March 17, 1952 when Atul became the first
private sector company of India to be inaugurated by the
Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Panel 20_Dream

Balwantrai Mazumdar and Siddharth Kasturbhai

Empowerment is not just what happens

when you are there; it is what happens when you are
not there.

- Ken Blanchard

Kasturbhai had an exceptional ability to judge and trust
people. He identified Balwantrai Mazumdar (then
working with Arvind) as the nurturer for the fledgling
company. Siddharth Kasturbhai joined him in Atul in
1952. Together, they brought diverse human resource
into Atul and built strong professional teams. The
empowered and motivated people dedicated their
entire career to the development of the Company. This
enabled the transformation, brick by brick, of barren
lands into one of the finest environment friendly
chemical complexes in the world. They made Atul a
unique success story not only of a business enterprise,
but also of human vision and endeavour for the
progress of rural India.

Panel 21_Empowerment

Tri-colour

Best is not the end point, but a starting point for

innovation.

- Larry Page

It is remarkable that the faith the founding fathers
had reposed in the people of Atul was more than
rewarded with many ‘firsts’. The team of scientists,
engineers and workers painstakingly developed and
commercialised products in India. The journey of
dyes from Perkins to Ratee has been kept alive and
kicking in the country by Team Atul. The patriotic
founder may have got his greatest psychological
satisfaction when dyes of Atul invariably adorned
the fluttering national flag.

Panel 22_Pioneering efforts

caresA person who about the earth

will resonate with its purity.

- Sally Fox

Incinerator It was indeed perceptive and
Liquid treatment facility thoughtful of the builders
of Atul to have sensed the
need for sustainable
development, 50 years
before it became a part of
the national discourse. The
huge investments
voluntarily made for
treating gaseous emissions,
liquid effluents and solid
wastes and the almost
obsessive interest in creating
eco-friendly systems
underscore their devotion
to environment protection.
Atul Complex hosts more
than 100 species each of
birds and trees.

Migratory birds in Atul factory

Panel 23_Environment

With joint venture partners

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together

success.is progress. Working together is

- Henry Ford

The idea of involving multi-national companies as
joint venture partners was a concept uncommon to
newly independent India. Kasturbhai and his team
found great value in bringing in state-of-the-art
technologies and processes and welcomed the
challenge of integrating vastly different work cultures.
The success of 3 collaborations with the then world
renowned companies, namely American Cyanamid
(for pharmaceuticals), Imperial Chemical Industries
(for dyes) and Ciba-Geigy (for polymers) in 1947,
1955 and 1960 respectively, is a fine tribute to the
collective efforts of the larger Atul family.

Panel 24_Cooperation

Atul Date Palms

Expansion is life. Contraction is death.

- Swami Vivekananda

‘Dyes to Date Palms’ is a huge leap of faith and
imagination for Atul. From a humble beginning, the
Company has expanded and diversified, with its
products sold across the world — consistently reinventing
itself, keeping its core Values as the base.

• Atul Brasil Quimicos • Amal
• Atul China
• Atul Europe • Atul Rajasthan Date Palms
• Atul USA • M Dohmen
• Atul Bioscience • Rudolf Atul Chemicals
• DPD

Panel 25_Expansion

Siddharth Kasturbhai, Kasturbhai and Balwantrai Mazumdar

Individually, we are one drop.

Together, we are an ocean.

- Ryunosuke Satoro

Atul is a story of collective human endeavour, and the
spirit of camaraderie and solidarity fostered by the
founding fathers is even more relevant in the dynamic,
globalised and multi-disciplinary environment of
today that demands teamwork of the highest order
across hierarchies, cultures and continents.
This significant legacy needs to be nurtured by each
one of us especially those in leadership positions by
exemplary conduct to enable us to reach our full
potential and Everest of all round excellence.
We may be many, but we share a common destiny.

Panel 26_Teamwork

Blood donation camp

The best way to find yourself is
serviceto lose yourself in the
of others.

- Mother Teresa

The human mind space requires nourishment beyond
business; the custodians of the vision of Kasturbhai
innately recognised this facet. Thus, they seamlessly
integrated the pursuit of science and technology with art
and culture in a convivial open atmosphere. Atul campus,
with its verdant landscape, is a treat for the stressed eye; its
vibrancy is truly enhanced when its inhabitants live life to
the fullest. The development of excellent infrastructure in
the form of medical centres, schools, social organisations,
sports clubs, places of worship and charity trusts doing
service to the society makes Atul a complete entity.

Atul Foundation

Kalyani, Atul Vidyalaya, Atul Vidyamandir
Atul Rural Development Fund
Uday, Ulhas, Urmi, Utkarsh

Panel 27_Atul Foundation

Reserve Bank of India

Throughout the centuries there were men
who took first steps, down new roads,

vision.armed with nothing but their own

- Ayn Rand

The role played by Kasturbhai in the making of
institutions of national importance in a
pre-independent as well as post-independent India
was unique and enduring. As a Director of the RBI,
he insisted that its head be an Indian and was
instrumental in selecting Chintaman Deshmukh as
the Governor. He was a Member of the first Planning
Commission of India, a Founder Director of ICICI
Bank and on the Board of several companies and
institutions of repute. He used his experience, native
wisdom and pragmatism to shape and nurture
policies that have endured the test of time.

Panel 28_Nation building – economy

School of Architecture, Ahmedabad

Education is the most powerful weapon

which you can use to change the world.

- Nelson Mandela

Kasturbhai, who had to discontinue college
education upon the untimely death of his father,
fulfilled the desires of millions for higher
education. He played a significant role in
conceptualising and creating Ahmedabad
Education Society in 1935 that today
encompasses 21 schools, colleges and other
centres of learning with more than 15,000
students. They included seats of excellence such
as School of Urban Studies & Planning and
School of Architecture.

Panel 29_Nation building – education

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

The empires of the future

are the empires of the mind.

- Winston Churchill

As the first Chairman of IIT-M and an involved
visionary in the creation of IIM-A, Kasturbhai was
instrumental in developing and mentoring two of the
finest centres of learning of their kind. His firm refusal
to be the Chairman of IIM-A reflected his larger world
view that IIM-A must grow far beyond Ahmedabad and
India into a truly world-class centre of excellence.
The true mettle of leaders is tested when the institutions
they create or mentor validate themselves over a period
of time, far beyond the lives of mortals. The success of
universally acknowledged institutions like IIT-M and
IIM-A in a knowledge-based dynamic world makes
Kasturbhai a man whose thinking went far beyond
his times.

Panel 30_Nation building – higher education

Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology

No culture can live,

if it attempts to be exclusive.

- Mahatma Gandhi

The meeting of Kasturbhai with a highly revered Jain
saint, Punyavijayji Maharaj, in 1950 was a defining
moment in his spiritual odyssey culminating in the
creation of Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology
in 1957. The institute is dedicated to the
preservation of ancient priceless manuscripts for
posterity. Its establishment reflected his firm belief
in Indian philosophy.
Blessed with a keen appreciation of the indelible
need to preserve Indian art, culture and history,
Kasturbhai seized every opportunity to curate Indian
heritage, be it miniature paintings or wooden
carvings. His instinctive understanding of buildings,
beauty and symmetry led Louis Kahn to describe him
as the greatest natural architect he ever met.

Panel 31_Nation building – culture

Main dam on river Narmada

The only thing worse than being blind

is having sight, but no vision.

- Helen Keller

Managing industries and harnessing water resources
are as varied as thoughts go, yet Kasturbhai
demonstrated his intrinsic ability to visualise life far
beyond his own. After exhaustive research, he gave to
the Government his recommendation to dam the
mighty river Narmada (a plan he had prepared with
John Rockefeller Jr). The idea found fruition 50 years
later when Sardar Sarovar project changed lives
beyond imagination by quenching the thirst of
millions, irrigating parched lands and electrifying
homes. The single biggest achievement of the project
is the gradual greening of the deserts of Gujarat,
boosting all round development.

Panel 32_Nation building – water resources

Kandla port

buildWhatever good things we

end up building us.

- Jim Rohn

Identification of an alternate sea port for the western
coast post partition of India (after the loss of Karachi)
was urgent and important to its strategic and
commercial interests. The Government reposed its
collective faith in Kasturbhai who after due diligence
astutely identified Kandla as the port hub.

Panel 33_Nation building – infrastructure

With (Dr) Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India

conductLaws control the lesser person. Right
controls the greater one.

- Chinese proverb

In 1948, India and Britain faced a severe shortage of
cotton. Unsurprisingly, Kasturbhai was entrusted
with the task to negotiate with Egypt, then in the
throes of a bitter war with Israel. Murphy’s law was
at its very best when he missed connecting flights
and decided to charter a flight to Cairo himself. The
success of the hardball negotiations wherein the
calm and principled nationalist convinced his
Egyptian interlocutors to supply cotton at favourable
prices not only to India, but also to Britain, much
against their will, is a fitting tribute to his ability to
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. It is pertinent
to note no textile mill of the Group derived any
benefit from this deal.

Panel 34_Statesmanship

At Puja

balanceFaith gives you an inner strength and a sense of
and perspective in life.

- Gregory Peck

A versatile visionary who successfully converted his
dreams into institutional reality, one of the greatest
qualities of Kasturbhai was his legendary ability to
balance family, work and life, and the incredible way
in which he compartmentalised his multifarious
responsibilities and activities to near perfection.
What may have been his inner motivation for balance
in life? To quote Kasturbhai, ‘The driving force
behind my business, social and cultural activities is
my unshakeable shraddha in Jain religion’. He also
believed that all round excellence in life comes only
through single minded focus coupled with hardwork.

Panel 35_Holistic living

Spindles in a textile mill

God lies in details.

- William Wordsworth

It is believed that a mother can identify the voice of
her child from amongst 40; similarly Kasturbhai had
absorbed such subtle details that when he entered
the spinning section of a mill, he within seconds, was
able to identify the spindle from amongst thousands
where the thread was broken.
Kasturbhai had the ability to envision lofty ideas and
grand designs, implement them fully, while not
losing sight of the smallest of details. In essence, he
saw the big picture in high definition.

Panel 36_Eye for details

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

- Leonardo da Vinci

At the age of 81 Austerity was an article of
faith for Kasturbhai. His
personal belongings
comprised 3 pairs of clothes
(kurta and dhoti), a pair of
shoes and a watch. He got
new clothes only once in 3
years and changed his shoes
once in 5.
Travelling abroad,
Kasturbhai invariably stayed
in frills free hotels. He felt
completely at peace when
high profile people in
expensive cars visited him
in his simple hotel room.
His almost obsessive focus
on thriftiness in his
personal life as opposed to
his large heart for
philanthropic work
reflected the Values with
which Kasturbhai chose to
lead his life.

Panel 37_Simplicity

Devotees at temple

prayLet us not to be sheltered

from dangers, but to be fearless

when facing them.

- Rabindranath Tagore

The opening of doors of Jain temples
to men and women of all castes and
creeds and the decision to attend
vyakhyans by sadhavis against
tremendous opposition stand
testimony to the deep conviction
and willingness of Kasturbhai to
stand for the right against all odds.

Panel 38_Fearlessness

5 a.m. Wake up | Exercise | Spiritual reading
7 a.m. Breakfast | Family | Prayer
9 a.m. Business
12 noon Lunch | Family | Nap
2 p.m. Social work
5 p.m. Reading | Meeting people | Swimming
7 p.m. Dinner | Family | Bridge
10 p.m. Bed

Daily routine

Keep thy mind and body in perfect condition.
These are the first requisites to achieve the

desired goal.

- Upanishad

Kasturbhai was the epitome of discipline. Perhaps he
had a keen sense of the role discipline will play in
enhancing efficiency and shaping his destiny. His
record of being able to respond to each and every
letter he received stood unbroken when he replied to
a letter, in his own handwriting, received on January
19, 1980, a day before his death!

Panel 39_Discipline

Jainism symbol expressing, ‘Pause and Think’

We are here to change the world with small acts of

thoughtfulness done daily rather than

with one great breakthrough.

- Rabbi Kushner

Deeply thoughtful, Kasturbhai was measured
and decisive in his approach, with nuanced
understanding of its impact. Though a connoisseur
of good food, he ate in moderation and was very
particular that no food was ever wasted. He spent
money, his and that of others, with great care. He
valued time and was invariably punctual in his
personal and professional life. A man of few words,
he truly believed in conserving time and energy for
productive pursuits.

Panel 40_Thoughtfulness

Ranakpur temple

To believe in the things you can see and touch
believeis no belief at all, but to
in the unseen

is both a triumph and a blessing.

- Bob Proctor

Religion is a Latin word literally meaning ‘to bind again’
(re: again and ligare: to bind), that is, what binds us to
our original Self.

The 50 year leadership tenure of Kasturbhai as the
Chairman of Sheth Anandji Kalyanji religious charity
trust, starting 1926 was perhaps the finest period in its
280 year old history. The restoration by him of the
artistic beauty of Jain temples is a signature example of
his concept of excellence. The pristine quality of the
sculptures only mattered, even when the cost and time
went up well beyond estimates, as the artists worked
painstakingly to recreate heritage standards. He
renovated several Jain temples, the most prominent
amongst them are Ranakpur, Abu and Shatrunjay.

Panel 41_Religion

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire,
spiritualmen cannot live without a
life.

- Gautam Buddha

The purity of one’s soul is often described by one’s
actions and the relative fearlessness when the call
comes to meet the Creator. Kasturbhai lifted himself
above ordinary mortals when he told his son, Shrenik,
‘When I die, do not cover my body with an expensive
shawl; only a white cotton sheet of Arvind will be
sufficient. Also, do not put any flowers on my body.
Flowers are meant only for God. For reason of my
death not a single company of the Group may remain
closed’. He passed away on January 20, 1980.

Panel 42_Last journey

1894 to 1980

When the final scorer comes to write against your
name, He sees not you won or lost,

but how you played the game.

- Grantland Rice

The life of Kasturbhai, if ever looked through the
prism of spirituality, offers an insightful meaning to
his remarkable journey. Born in a deeply religious
family that took great solace and strength from the
principles of Jainism, his mother imbibed in him the
core Values of non-violence, compassion, detachment
and Anekantvad. The understanding of these Values
and validations over a period of time made him
acutely aware of the context of his birth and heritage
and the dharma he has to discharge in order to remain
true to his faith. It can be said that his entire life was a
constant effort at validating the Values of his faith in
an Indian milieu. This perhaps is his enduring
spiritual legacy.

Panel 43_Life