Comtemporary Jain Legends

SR No.: 007736
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram
Publication Year: 2015
Total Pages: 183
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, N000, & N025
File Size: 1 MB

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29. ShreshthiVarya Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai
(ShreshthiVarya means respected among the great man)
Tradition of Great Men:
Shri Shantidas Zaveri who happened in the tenth generation before Shri Kasturbhai was granted a title of Nagarsheth of Ahmedabad under the ordinance of emperor Akbar as he was a unique person to respect the emperors, his wealth and his devotion to religion. This is evident from the historic evidence of his very big donation to emperor ShahJahan for making the famous Mayarasan-The king's seat. In this tradition there was Motichand, the elder brother of Sheth Hemabhai, and Sheth Lalbhai was the grandson of his grandson. Sheth Kasturbhai was the son of Sheth Lalbhai. Sheth Lalbhai had established the Raipur Textile Mills in 1896. Sheth Kasturbhai has, thus, the culture of textile industry since his childhood. Sheth Lalbhai lived for only 57 years but he had earned respect and love from all the members of his family. He was instant on discipline, good behavior, and respect to elders, management and devotion to the work on hand. Sheth Kasturbhai was born on December, 19 1894 in the lap of Mohiniba in Ahmedabad.
Childhood and Learning:
Kasturbhai had two brothers and four sisters. He used to play cricket and fly kites with his younger brother Narottambhai. He passed his matriculation in 1911 by studying in R.C. High School. There were great teachers like late Shri Ballubhai Thakore and Jivanlal Diwan who were deeply affected by national spirit. They did influence their students. Kasturbhai was thus, invested with love for motherland right from his young age. The family was devoted to religion and Kasturbhai used to go to see God with his mother, brother and sister's everyday. He had gone to see holy places like Abu, Palitana, SametShikhar etc. He had, thus, inborn virtues of culture, discipline, nationalism and also learning. His father Lalbhai suddenly died in 1912 when Kasturbhai was studying in Gujarat College. He took up the big business of his father with the pressing advice of all relatives. He had learnt good English with the help of private teachers so that it may be helpful in foreign tours.
Family Life and Efficiency in Business:
In the business, he had first to work as a timekeeper and then in stored department. While working in stores he ad to check up the quality of cotton and Kasturbhai went to several districts and village to study the various qualities of cotton and he was considered to be an expert in cotton-examination in the whole of India within a few years. There was First World War in 1914 and textile industry got a great boost. The Raipur Mills began to produce cloth of very high quality. Kasturbhai had fixed some basic principles like
Maintain high quality of goods
To plan for long term profits
Best quality of cotton and over raw material is used.
Employ tested experts in various sections and allow them to work freely
• Brokers, merchants, shareholders and assistants should be given satisfactory returns and they must be treated very well.
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Thus, the Raipur Mulls were considered to be one of the best textile mills in India. In these years, he was married to Shardaben, the daughter of Shri Chimanlal Vadilal who was a famous jeweler in Ahmedabad. His marriage was celebrated with simplicity and, thus, Kasturbhai entered for family life in May 1915.
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