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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Contacts with Leaders: There were three important events, which brought him in contact with Mahatma Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Dada Malvankar, Diwan Jivanlal and others. These events were:
• Strike of Mill-workers in 1918. • Draught in Gujarat and
Congress General Conference o 1921. Kasturbhai proved his ability, efficiency, patience, honesty, broad-heartedness, long-term thinking, sincerity and devotion in dealing with these circumstances. He was hardly 27 years of age in these days and all were impressed by his style of working. He himself had deeper confidence in him and he, then, another textile mills-Ashok Mills-with capital outlay of Rs. 12,00,000. This Mills also came out to be the most successful venture and it produced high quality of cloth. At the time of Congress Conference, Shri Motilal Nehru and other leaders lived with Kasturbhai who could see their daily routine and was very much impressed by it. With this, Kasturbhai decided to make his life very great. He became more interested in national issues. Shri Vallabhbhai Patel had made an open request for donation for the expansion of primary teaching in Ahmedabad when he was the president of the Municipality in 1921 and the Kasturbhai family donated Rs. 50,000 for it. Kasturbhai thus, came out to be most charitable, able administrator and a great patriot in the country. He established his industry very well and proved his ability in the fields of industry and business.
Member of Legislative Assembly: In 1922, Sardar Vallabhbhai suggested his name as a representative of Mill Owners Association in the higher legislative assembly at Delhi and Kasturbhai was successful after hard efforts. He earned good experience of the working of parliament through this position. He was appointed in several committees related to industry, purchase of cotton and textile policy by the British Government and even after independence, Kasturbhai worked on several positions related to industry, banking, public enterprises, Reserve Bank and other sections under instructions of Jawaharlal Nehru. He worked on all these positions very well and he became famous for his long sightedness, honesty and patriotism. There was hardly a person who can complete with him in matters of purchase of cotton and policies related to textile.
Towards New Industries: After the untimely demise of his father in 1912, Kasturbhai confined himself in the textile industry upto now but now it was difficult to absorb all the members of the great family in this industry alone and it was necessary to think of other industries. This was required in the national interest also in 1937, his attention was drawn to the business of starch, but he had to go to America in 1946 and then he started with the talks of co-operation with Cyanamid Company of America and then 800 acres of land was procured near Valsad in the name of Atul products. Kasturbhai entrusted the work of developing and planning to one of his most trusted gentleman Shri B.K. Majmudar who worked very well and an ideal industrial complex was opened on March 17, 1952 at the hands of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The plan went on developing and when the Indian Government granted a loan of Rs. 3 crores in 1965, the development was much expedited. At present, this industry is exporting goods of crores of rupees to foreign countries. There are 1500 quarters for the staff and about 5500 men of surrounding area are getting permanent livelihood from this industry. There is production of several medicines, chemicals and various colors in this industrial complex. This is the story o the development of the industry itself but this Atul has worked towards educational, cultural and social welfare also. These services are particularly notable. The staff is given meals at confessional rates, there is open-air theatre, and clubs for games and entertainment, activities of general knowledge, and culture, art and
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