New Delhi, September 25 (IANS) When we talk about India’s industry, names like Adani, Ambani, Tata are heard. Who, with their hard work, not only transformed the Indian industry, but also raised the flag of their business at the global level. But, today we are going to tell you about a person who was a teacher by profession and when he entered the industry, his pockets were empty, but he did not let the empty pockets come in the way of his thinking.
India’s famous industrialist Laxman Kashinath Kirloskar, who travelled from a bicycle shop to a business worth thousands of crores. He started his career by opening a bicycle shop, but with his hard work and perseverance he established many industrial units.
Born on June 20, 1869 in Gurlahosur, a small village located in Belgaum district of Mysore, Laxman Kashinath Kirloskar laid the foundation of ‘Kirloskar Industries Group’.
His father Kashinath Pant was a Vedanta Pandit. Therefore, his family expected him to follow in his father’s footsteps and do the same work, but Kirloskar decided to write his own destiny. He broke away from traditions and entered the field of engineering and technology. However, in his childhood he was not interested in studies. But, later he learned mechanical drawing and was appointed as a teacher in ‘Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute’ in Mumbai. It is said that he used to work in the factory in his free time. From here his interest in machines grew.
When Kirloskar saw a person riding a bicycle for the first time, he decided to open a bicycle shop named ‘Kirloskar Brothers’ along with his brother. Apart from selling it, he also taught people how to ride a bicycle.
During this time, in the school where Laxman Kashinath Kirloskar used to teach, an Anglo-Indian was promoted in his place, after which he resigned from the post of teacher. After leaving the job, he set up a factory in which fodder cutting machines and iron ploughs were made. Here too, he faced difficulties and he had to shift his factory to Maharashtra. Here itself, he laid the foundation of an industrial colony named ‘Kirloskar Wadi’ on 32 acres of land.
This place was transformed and Kirloskar laid the foundation of many industrial units. Products used in agriculture and industries started being produced in these units. Kirloskar’s work was praised by great personalities like Lokmanya Tilak, Jawaharlal Nehru and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. Industrialist Laxman Kashinath Kirloskar died on 26 September 1956.
However, after his death the company progressed even more. Today the company’s business is spread across the world and its income is in billions.
–IANS
FM/CBT
