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Arvind N Mafatlal passes away

By FashionUnited

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Arvind N Mafatlal, the patriarch and head of the Mafatlal Group passed away at Chitrakoot

in Madhya Pradesh after prolonged illness. He was 88. He is survived by son Hrishikesh Mafatlal, who is the chairman of the Arvind Mafatlal Group, and daughter Maithili Desai. A month ago, the ailing industrialist was flown from Mumbai to Chitrakoot, as he wanted to spend his last days there.

The legendary industrialist played a prominent role in shaping up the growth story of India, post-Independence. The Group, set up by his grandfather in 1905 in Ahmedabad as a textile mill, was primarily into textile business till Arvind took over in 1954. He diversified the group portfolio and transformed it into a conglomerate with interests in rubber chemicals, specialty chemicals and petro chemicals, besides textiles.

In the textile space, Mafatlal Denim is a market leader. Arvind Mafatlal is the flagship company of the Arvind Mafatlal Group which has vertically integrated composite textile mills. The rubber chemicals business NOCIL, set up in collaboration with Royal Dutch Shell and Hoechst Mafatlalat at Thane is one of the largest rubber chemicals companies in the country and a leading exporter. Another company Navin Flourine is the largest manufacturer of flouro chemicals in the country.

As a social reformer, he worked closely with renowned Gandhian Manibhai Desai to set up the Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF). BAIF used modern technology, and focused on research and development to improve the earning potential of tribal and landless population. BAIF initiatives are benefiting over 4.4 million families in 16 states. He also launched the Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust in 1968 to carry out activities like health services in tribal and rural areas and relief and rehabilitation at the time of major natural calamities.

Mafatlal had also served as director of the Reserve Bank of India and the Industrial Development Bank of India among others.
Mafatlal