dr-babasaheb-garware

Dr Abasaheb Garware

Leading industrialist and Founding President of the Garware Group of Industries

The late Bhalchandra Digambar alias Abasaheb Garware’s name has been etched in history. He was born on December 21, 1903 in Tasgaon (Sangli district) in a middle class family. He was known for his simplicity, honesty and warmth. He had a strong desire for entrepreneurship from the very beginning and so he shifted first to Sangli and later to Mumbai for work.

In Mumbai, he started selling used cars. After establishing his business, in 1927-28, he started Deccan Motor Agency. He joined the international car trade in England in 1933 to further expand his business. During that visit, he got the opportunity to develop some of his business ideas.

Abasaheb established the industry on his own. He launched the thermoplastic industry in India and successfully entered the field of nylon and synthetic fibres. The spectacular progress made by the House of Garware in the post-independence period is integral to the history of India’s industrial progress. In a short span of time, he became the founder of the plastic industry.

In recognition of his outstanding philanthropic work, contribution to society and the Indian industry, the Government of India awarded him the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 1971. In 1989, the University of Pune awarded him the prestigious D Litt degree and the Institute of Economic Studies, New Delhi conferred the Udyogratna award on him. The Government of India also issued a postage stamp in his memory in 2004.

Shashikantji Garware

the whole and sole of Polyester and Hi-Tech Film Industries...

Shashikantji Garware was born on November 5, 1934 in Mumbai. He is the eldest son of the late Abasaheb and late Vimalabai Garware. He was educated at Dulwich College, a prestigious institute in England. He then opted for a Senior Business Management course at the University of Edinburgh, where he specialised in Administration, Sales Management and Market Research.

After successfully completing his education in 1951, he returned to India and joined his father’s business. In 1967, he started precision industrial moulding for products such as radio and TV cabinets and successfully took over the management of the Garware Plastics company. He then began to diversify and expand it dynamically. He also introduced the concept of PVC pipes for agriculture for the first time in India.

Shashikantji has led the following organisations

President - Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce | Director - Life Insurance Corporation of India
Director - State Bank of India | Honorary Counsel General of the Turkey – Western India Office

Garware Hi-Tech Films Ltd, Aurangabad

Shashikantji implemented many ambitious plans and projects to expand and diversify the company’s business. Various industrial activities were carried out under his leadership, and they rapidly expanded. In India, he came to be known as the pioneer of polyester film. He started mass production and sale of electrical insulation, yarn, packaging, GVC magnetic tapes for audio and video tapes, and a number of high-tech films. In 1976, Garware Hi-tech Films succeeded in the production of metallised film, metallic yarn, packaging, tracing and drafting films as well as various hi-tech films in Aurangabad and later in Nashik without using any international technique and collaboration.

Due to the quality of its products and technology, the company captured many of the sophisticated markets in the Western world and competed with many Fortune 500 companies in the United States. It also surpassed established companies like DuPont, ICI, etc., thereby proving that Garware Hi-Tech Films is an important component of imports in India. This helped the Government of India save foreign exchange to a large extent.

A state-of-the-art R&D unit was set up in Aurangabad for the development of polyester film products and the same was approved by the Department of Technology, Government of India. In recognition of the company’s contribution in this field, the Government of India honoured it with a Gold Shield for Import Substitution in 1981.

Abasaheb was proud of Shashikantji’s performance in introducing new and various products of Garware Hi-Tech Films as well as launching successful products like polyester films, sun control, X-Ray films etc. Abasaheb used to very proudly mention this to his wife Vimalabai. Once while praising the efforts and hard work of all the workers and officers at Aurangabad, he proudly mentioned that Shashikantji had done a better job than them. “Abasaheb considered it as his son’s and subsequently his great achievement and he was proud of it. He considered his son’s work as a Gurudakshina.”

Shashikant Garware adopted a human resource development strategy to train and develop the skills to constantly update knowledge. Like his father, he has always adopted a humanitarian approach while solving the problems of his staff and workers. He treats everyone like a member of his family and shares their sorrows and joys. Despite his extremely busy schedule, he makes time for the welfare of his company workers, technicians, employees and their relatives.

Shashikantji Garware is popular in India as well as abroad for his sharp intellect, perseverance, courage and experimental nature. He has inherited all these qualities from his father. Shashikantji, who has a calm and soft-spoken nature and is always charming and inspiring, strictly adheres to all London protocols. All his visitors are treated like guests.

The business started by Shashikantji is now run by his three daughters -- Monica, Sarita and Sonia. All three girls have done their MBA along with getting higher education in the US and Europe. All of them are very competently working and helping Shashikantji take the business to the next level. Shashikantji is proud that they are playing a big role in the success of Garware Hi-tech Films Limited. Shashikantji always expresses his gratitude for what he has received from society and helps the needy organisations in his own way.

The successful team behind Garware Hi-tech Films

Eldest Daughter Monica – Looks after the business, production, R & D, finance and the overall development of the company’s business.

Second daughter Sarita – Handles the company’s HRA, domestic sales, legal and corporate dealings.

Third daughter Sonia – Handles the entire export and sales/marketing of Garware Hi-Tech Films, Suncontrol and PPF as well as its offices in the UK and USA.

Strict adherence to international standards has helped the company form permanent partnerships with more than 80 companies and more than 100 multinational companies overseas. Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited (formerly Garware Polyester Limited) is an ISO 9001: 2015 certified company and has been regularly winning Top Exporter Awards as well as many awards for innovation and excellence. Thanks to the tireless efforts and determination of Shashikant Garware, in 1982, the company succeeded in developing the world famous UV stabilised polyester film. As the product saves energy, it was also granted a patent by the US Patent Authority. It is worth mentioning here that there are only two companies in the world that have the technology to produce high-tech diode film required for UV stabilised film. The film is marketed in the Indian market under the trademark Garware Suncontrol film for automobile windows and building glass applications, and in the Western countries under the brand name Global Window Film, which filters out harmful rays and saves up to 30 percent energy.

Garware family

Abasaheb and Vimalabai Garware had five children - a daughter and four sons. Abasaheb sent all of them abroad for higher studies. In 1951, his eldest daughter Prabha passed away tragically. Abasaheb trained and provided guidance to his sons Shashikant, Chandrakant, Ashok and Ramesh to handle various aspects of the business and for that, the sons have great pride and respect for Abasaheb. According to the eldest son Shashikantji, all his siblings considered Abasaheb as their inspiration. Every member of the Garware family is hardworking and proud of Abasaheb. In the post-Abasaheb period, all four brothers concentrated on the business and contributed a lot to the development of the Garware Group and the country. Abasaheb Garware was an ideal first generation industrialist who strictly followed the teachings given by Gandhiji for social credibility. To repay what he owed society, he donated or gave as aid, a part of his earnings for health, education, sports and other social activities. He made many huge donations for schools, colleges, laboratories, libraries, gyms, etc. He also launched various annual scholarships and award schemes to make students adopt academic excellence. He founded the Garware Charitable Trust in 1962 to help the community as well as achieve various charitable objectives.

Thanks to the donations given by Abasaheb various organisations named their schools and colleges as follows

  • Maharashtra Education Society’s - Abasaheb Garware College, Pune
  • Maharashtra Education Society’s - Abasaheb Garware College of Commerce, Pune
  • Garware Bal Bhavan - Pune Municipal Corporation
  • Maharashtra Education Society’s - Shrimati Vimalabai Garware High School, Pune
  • Maharashtra Education Society’s - Garware Research Centre for Organic Chemistry, Pune
  • Maharashtra Education Society’s - Abasaheb Garware College, Pune
  • Women's Education Society Shrimati Mathubai Garware Girls College, Sangli
  • Garware Institute of Career Education and Development and Junior College - University of Mumbai

Abasaheb also made donations to promote various healthcare and social activities and the sports sector. He provided invaluable assistance for the establishment and development of the Garware Stadium and Garware Club in Mumbai. Social Commitment – Keeping his father’s outlook in mind, Shashikantji is actively involved in many social activities through the Garware Charitable Trust and is making significant contributions to social as well as educational fields.

Shashikant Garware’s philanthropy and social service – An attempt to nurture humanity - It has been more than five decades since Abasaheb Garware first established the Garware Charitable Trust. After Abasaheb, Shashikantji took an interest in its work and accepted the responsibility as the Chairman of the Trust. From 1967 to March 2020, the Garware Trust has made donations of approximately Rs 2,064 lakh and the work still continues.

Garware Community Centre, Aurangabad In 1993, under the able guidance of Shashikantji, the Garware Community Centre was established in Aurangabad. It is registered as a Charitable Public Trust. Garware Community Centre is affiliated to Rashtriya Bal Bhavan - Delhi. The main objective of launching this centre is to support and serve the local community in Aurangabad and surrounding areas in education, sports, health, women empowerment, rural development, environment and natural resources, social security, cultural activities and so on. Through this community centre, activities in different fields like mobile science laboratories, health and environment awareness programmes, women and skills development programmes, educational activities for the needy, sports activities for children, etc. are carried out.

Garware Stadium - Aurangabad : The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation was given financial assistance to develop a stadium in MIDC Chikalthana area to promote sports and cultural activities in and around Aurangabad. It was named Garware Stadium.

Apart from this, financial assistance was provided by Garware Community Centre in the following areas in Marathwada:
The families of martyrs in Maharashtra | Beautification of Aurangabad Airport | Ambulances for hospitals and blood banks

Contributions were made to the following works through the Garware Charitable Trust:

  • Latur Earthquake Relief Work – 1993
  • Gujarat Earthquake Relief Work - February 2001
  • Flood relief work in Paithan - August 2006
  • Donation to Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund
  • Donation to Shiv Sena Relief Fund for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected areas in Maharashtra
  • Donation to Mumbai Cricket Association for setting up Garware Club
  • Donation for building Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai
  • Donation to Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, University of Mumbai
  • Donation for establishing the Maharashtra Education Society and affiliated organisations. Assistance in the development of Abasaheb Garware College and Vimalabai Garware High School in Pune
  • Donation and support to Women’s Education Society, Sangli for establishing Mathubai Garware High School and College at Sangli
  • Donation and support for setting up Abasaheb Garware Institute of Management Studies (2011-12)
  • Donation to the Fellowship of the Physically Handicapped in Mumbai
  • Donation to Garware Welfare Centre at Hedgewar Hospital, Aurangabad
  • Donation to Vision Research Foundation - Chennai
  • Donation to Sushrusha Citizen Co-operative Hospital Limited, Mumbai
  • Donation to Bombay Teen Challenge, Mumbai
  • Donation to Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai
  • Donations and support to the World Marathi Chamber of Commerce and Industries
  • ● Financial aid to various organisations, institutes as well as various NGOs for social causes
  • Distribution of food packets among people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

The path ahead…

Keeping Abasaheb’s vision in mind, Shashikant Garware has completely immersed himself in the activities of the Garware Charitable Trust and Garware Community Centre. He has worked extensively for social welfare in the areas of education, healthcare, social, cultural and sports activities and extended cooperation without any expectations.

Also, going with the vision and teachings of Abasaheb, Shashikantji continues to take Garware Hi-tech Films Ltd. forward with the help of his three daughters and the company employees.

गरवारे हायटेक फिल्मस् लिमिटेड

गरवारे हाऊस, वेस्टर्न एक्स्प्रेस हायवे, विले पार्ले (पूर्व), मुंबई – ४०० ०५७. (भारत)
फोन : + 91 – 22 – 66988000 -14 | ईमेल : ho@garwarehitech.com | वेबसाईट : www.garwarehitechfilms.com

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