The Hindu Business Line : Arvind Lalbhai: He reinvented textile industry

Ahmedabad, Aug. 4 Arvind N. Lalbhai, 89, who died on Friday, was as well known for the denims named after him as he was for his philanthropic activities and his sense of gratitude to the textile workers who had made Rs 1,900-crore Arvind Mills an internationally-known company.

Arvind Lalbhai, born on April 3, 1918, had joined his father, Narottam Lalbhai’s Ashoka Mills after completing his B.Sc. from Bombay University at the age of 21. He remained a bachelor all his life and had adopted his brother Niranjan’s younger son, Samveg.

He remained at the helm of Arvind Mills for 33 long years. In the last few years, he was non-executive Chairman of the company.

Many remembered him as one who had reinvented and taken the textile industry on his strong shoulders when a large number of textile mills, including those in Ahmedabad (“the Manchester of the East”), had closed down over the years.

He was one of the last representatives of the generation of textile mill owners who welcomed the arrival of new business culture and technology.

He was particularly remembered by the residents of Laxmipura village in Sabarkantha district, which he had adopted for all-round development. He headed a large number of business bodies, including as FICCI Chairman (1981-82).

His was a multi-faceted personality, making a mark in the fields of education, health, rural development and welfare of the differently-abled people, including the visually impaired.

Until a few months ago, the avid golfer that he was, he could be seen playing the game at 6 a.m., even as he continued to evince interest in mountaineering and other adventures and sports. A third generation representative of the renowned Sheth Lalbhai Dalpatbhai, founder of the Group, he honed his skills as manager of men and matters under the wings of his disciplinarian father and uncle Kasturbhai Lalbhai.