Pratap Bhogilal Journey Through Life

Author(s): Rauf Ahmed
Publisher: Bhupendra Singh Anand

Page 52

46 PRATAP BHOGILAL - JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
After the war, business connections were made for machine tools from Czechoslovakia, humidification equipment from Ameliorair (France), air pollution equipment (fans) from Germany, knitting machines (Mayer & Cie) from Germany, textile rota spinning machines from Czechoslovakia, Saco Lowell, Draper (textile machines) Barber Colman winding machines, Foxboro control Instrument, Rockwell wood working machines - all from USA. Hydro Power plants from Neyrpric Thermal Power plants and Alsthom, Electric switch gear, CGE and Lafarge for special cement all from France.
After the war, we had engaged Mr. Marty (who had been a war prisoner in India) an ex Skoda man as our General Manager and it was he who was responsible for Batliboi getting into the Power Plant business and it was during his first visit to France that Batliboi contacted Neyrpic in Grenoble (France) that I first met Indru and Chandru Advani. Batliboi had very good business in India for Neyrpic hydro turbines. Later on Alsthom in Paris took over Neyrpic. Hence for almost 20/25 years, I had made a number of visits to France and many a times Neyrpric would give me a car for my business travels to Germany, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia. Indru was for some time their representative in India stationed in our office. Natural consequence was that I and Indru became good friends (since Indru along with Mr. Misson at Neyrpic were frequent visitors to India for marketing and customer contacts. Chandru being in Research was not much in contact). This friendship with Indru and his charming wife Giselle has continued all this while I often visit them even after retirement from business in Paris and particularly their beautiful home in Lans (Villard de Lans). They are charming hosts.
Indru's friendship brought me in close touch with his father, esteemed Shri T.M. Advani (who established the Jai Hind College in Mumbai after migrating from Karachi after Partition) and his mother. After retirement he became the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University and we had a very good time with them in Kashmir which I visited with our family. He also was the Vice Chancellor of Bombay University.
All these Agency businesses were developed by me during frequent visits to Europe and USA and a few visits to Japan. During these travels,
We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves - Goethe