The Hindu Business Line : L.M. Thapar - a pragmatic industrialist

Mr Lalit Mohan Thapar, Chairman, Emeritus, Ballarpur Industries Ltd (BILT), who passed away on Wednesday night, is credited with rebuilding India's largest writing and printing paper company.

Though known as a proponent of Indian business, Mr Thapar, 76, was also a staunch believer in the imperatives of globalisation. His approach though, was more pragmatic in terms of level playing field and equal opportunity for Indian business, rather than a protectionist attitude that would have made Indian industry insular.

In an earlier interview to Business Line, Mr Thapar had said that in addition to specific plans and views on the future of the company and the industry, he wants to go beyond the paper segment and explore new business opportunities that a liberalised economy has thrown up.

While crystal clear that paper, the core competence of his company, will be the primary focus of the future, Mr Thapar, fondly referred to as LMT, was equally excited about the agri-business that the company had forayed into. "It's been a hard job, learning the logistics to supply to the western world," he said about Global Green, the family's fresh food company. Extolling the climatic conditions and labour advantage that India has, Mr Thapar said that there is great opportunity in agri-business today and in due course this could become as big as the paper business.

After his initial schooling at Doon School, Mr Thapar qualified as an engineer from the University of Southern California. Some of the interests he developed at an early age and pursued with great vigour over the years included a love for nature and an appreciation of art. He was also a connoisseur of classical music. Though unmarried, Mr Thapar always believed firmly in the family as an institution and deeply respected the values that came with the legacy of his father, the Late Lala Karam Chand Thapar. Mr Thapar is succeeded by his nephew Mr Gautam Thapar, as Chairman of BILT.

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L.M. Thapar - a pragmatic industrialist