Pratap Bhogilal Journey Through Life

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

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PRATAP BHOGILAL - JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
separate shed at Udhna. But the venture did not succeed because our manufacturing capacity was low compared to the other manufacturers in India, and we decided to shut it down. We then got into another venture in collaboration with Ameliorair, a French manufacturer, with whom we had been doing business earlier in selling textile humidification equipment. The collaboration agreement with Ameliorair was for five years on royalty. At the end of the five years we decided to go on our own. That was how we started the textile air engineering business with humidification manufacturing equipment required in spinning and other departments to provide controlled humidity. Today, Batliboi Air Engineering division is the largest Indian supplier of such equipment to textile mills in India. The company is also exporting this equipment to countries like Bangladesh, Nigeria and others.
Union confrontation at Udhna
Some time in the 1970s our Udhna Factory was passing through difficult times and we wanted to retrench the staff. It was necessary to retrench the staff and also improve the working of the factory. At that time Mr. George Fernandes was the leader of the union of our factory and the union put unreasonable demands which we could not possibly agree to. As such, the union decided to go on strike and the Udhna factory was on strike, I believe for a couple of months. We did not show any inclination for negotiation because our point of view was that unless they agreed to retrenchment we will not reopen and we cannot go on making losses. Then feelers were sent to me that George Fernandes would like to meet me and discuss this matter. I believe his deputy who was handling the matter at Udhna was one Mr Sharad Rao who was the representative of the union at Udhna. I told the person who had met me seeking an appointment for Mr George Fernandes, that I am quite willing to meet him but I will not discuss any terms with him and until the factory reopens with a commitment by the union that they will agree to retrenchment. After a few days I received a call informing me that Mr Fernandes would like to meet me at my residence and I told him that I was quite willing to meet him at my residence.
It's easier to love humanity as a whole than to love one's neighbour - Eric Hoffer