[ RAP do you know ----]

Easy to blame some one and say why automation in our textile country (India) did not happen much earlier. In India textile industry was the mother industry of all industries.Almost all industries were run as a family business and every industry needed no R & D or even intelligent person to manage, most big industries were pooch pooch management. Anything you need to do know you had to pooch (ask)the top man. This was so, very much in the textile industry for decades and were running with good profits year after year.

However,textile industries in other highly developed and scientifically managed textile machinery manufacturing industries went on making cosmetic changes to every textile machinery in the industry keeping the technology unchanged to improve productivity of the textile mills. In India textile mill owners thought differently, the mill was managed in other different ways which we all know. Some industrialists (textile mill owners) in India did think better and simply imported those very machines and improved their mills performance.

1) Arvind Mills.
The year 1930 was when the world suffered the great depression. Companies across 

the globe began closing down. In UK and in India, the textile industry in 

particular was in trouble. At about this time, Mahatma Gandhi championed the 

Swadeshi Movement and at his call, people from all across India began boycotting 

fine and superfine fabrics, which had so far been imported from England. In the 

midst of this depression one family saw opportunity. The Lalbhais reasoned that 

the demand for fine and superfine fabrics still existed. And any Indian company 

that met this demand would surely prosper. The three brothers, Kasturbhai, 

Narottambhai and Chimanbhai, decided to set up a mill to produce superfine fabric.

Next they looked around for state-of-the-art machinery that could produce such 

high quality fabric. Their search ended in England. The best technology of that 

time was acquired at a most attractive price. And a company called Arvind Limited 

was born.

The Lalbhais can trace their descent from Seth Shantidas (c.1590-1659), who was a 

dominant figure in the business and civic life of the city. He enjoyed the 

patronage of the Moghul emperors to whom he was a trusted jeweler. Shantidas was 

amongst the prominent financers of his time as well. He played an influential role 

amongst the Jain community of his time, and it was because of his influence at the 

Moghul court that Shah Jehan confirmed the rights of the Jains over the ancient 

shrines of Shetrunjaya. His grandson, Khushalchand, (1680- 1748) too occupied a 

place of prominence in the business and social life of the city. He saved the city 

of Ahmedabad from the marauding Maratha army in 1725 by paying a ransom of 

Rs. 5 Lakh on behalf of the whole city. For this act the grateful “mahajans” 

promised in perpetuity, a small amount collected as town duties on goods entering 

the city to Khushalchand and his family, and the title of Nagarsheth was bestowed 

upon him.

Arvind Limited started with a share capital of Rs 2,525,000 ($55,000) in the year 

1931. With the aim of manufacturing the high-end superfine fabrics Arvind invested 

in very sophisticated technology. With 52,560 ring spindles, 2552 doubling spindles 

and 1122 looms it was one of the few companies in those days to start along with 

spinning and weaving facilities in addition to full-fledged facilities for dyeing, 

bleaching, finishing and mercerizing. The sales in the year 1934, three years after 

establishment were Rs 45.76 lakh and profits were Rs 2.82 lakh. Steadily producing 

high quality fabrics, year after year, Arvind took its place amongst the foremost 

textile units in the country.

Corporate Office – Ahmedabad, Gujrat |
Turnover – 932 Million Dollar |
Employees – 2500+
Business – Textile
Sector – Public Sector
Website – www.arvindmills.com/