Arvind Mafatlal passes away

Mafatlal Group patriarch and social reformer Arvind N Mafatlal passed away today at Chitrakoot after a prolonged illness. He was 88. He is survived by son Hrishikesh Mafatlal, chairman of the Arvind Mafatlal Group, and daughter Maithili Desai.

The legendary industrialist played a prominent role in the post-Independence growth story of the country. The group, set up by his grandfather in 1905 in Ahmedabad as a textile mill, was primarily into textile business till he took over in 1954.

Under him, the group transformed into a conglomerate with interests in rubber chemicals, specialty chemicals and petro chemicals, besides the flagship textiles.

 

Mafatlal was also a supporter of women’s empowerment. He launched the Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust in 1968 to carry out health services and relief and rehabilitation during natural calamities.

Mafatlal received several awards, including the Durga Prasad Khaitan Memorial Gold Medal (1966), Sir Jehangir Ghandy Gold Medal for Industrial Peace from Xavier Labour Relations Institute of Jamshedpur (1978), and the Lions’ Humanitarian Award by the International Association of Lions Clubs of the US (1993).