Jeewanlal Motichand Shah (1881–1971) was a noted Gandhian and an industrialist, who was co-founder of Mukund Limited. He was the father of Viren J. Shah.[1]
Jeewanlal was born to Motichand Pethraj Shah in year 1881 in a Gujarati family based in Calcutta.[2][3] He was married to Jayaben with whom he had a son, Viren born in 1926.[4]
Business careeredit
Aluminum utensils factoryedit
Jeewanlal started his business career in 1912, as a dealer of aluminium utensils but soon started an aluminium utensils factory, in his name Jeewanlal & Company. Later he expanded business and established a large factory in 1917 at Belur the products of which were sold under very popular "CROWN" brand. He very soon became established and noted industrialist of Calcutta. He helped Ramjibhai Kamani, get established in town in his early years who began his business career by selling Jeewanlal's aluminium utensils in 1912. Kamani later became one of the leading industrialist of his time. Jeewanlal and Kamani also later joined hands to supply aluminium sheets to Tatas. They became close associate of Tatas.[5][6]Jhaverchand Meghani, often referred to as 'National Poet' worked in Jeewanlal's aluminium factory at Belur during the years 1918–1921.[2][3]
Mukund Steeledit
Both Jeewanlal and Kamani were close associates of Mahatma Gandhi in Calcutta and were highly influenced by him. Gandhiji advised Jeewanlal to do away with the aluminium utensils business, as eating, cooking food in aluminium utensils was poisonous, and he should be involved in this if he believed in his philosophy.[3]
Meanwhile, Jeewanlal came in contact with Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja, who was in town for building Bally Bridge - through their common friends - Devram bhai and Lirabhai Raja.[3] Jeewanlal informed Jagmal Raja, that he wished to do away with the aluminium utensils production business, as per advise of Gandhiji and was looking for other business opportunities.[3][7] Jagmal Raja, who was an established industrialist having glass and ceramics factories at Bombay, Derol and Allahbad, learned that Lala Mukund Lal was willing to sell his iron mill at Lahore.[3] He informed both Jeewanlal and Gandhiji about this opportunity.[3][7] But for takeover of the business. they needed more capital than they were able to muster together. Gandhiji, therefore, persuaded his another close follower, Jamnalal Bajaj to put money into buying Mukund Steel jointly with Jeewanlal from Lala Mukund Lal, who also was Gandhian.[8] The duo finally purchased Mukund Steel in 1937.[9][10][11] Jeewanlal along with Ramjibhai Kamani managed the affairs of the Mukund Steel for ten years from 1937.[9] Jeewanlal was offered shares in all Bajaj group companies, which he declined and retired from active business around 1950, while Jamnalal had already died in 1942.[9] Mukund Steel lost Lahore mill during partition and they decided to set up new plant in Kurla, which was successfully implemented in 1948.[11] The partnership, stood firmly over the period of time and successive generation and Mukund Limited, is still jointly run by descendants of Jamnalal Bajaj and Jeewanlal. Viren Shah, his son, later served for many years as the Chairman of Mukund.[11]
Sale of aluminum factoryedit
Jeewanlal, after getting firmly established with Mukund Steel business, sold his aluminum business to Canadian partners in 1940, although company name remained Jeewanlal (1929) Limited.[5] another noted Gujarati industrialist from Calcutta, Rai Bahadur Himchand K. Shah became the director of the firm after the sale.[5][3]
Retirementedit
After retirement, Jeewanlal settled down in his native place at Chorwad in Saurashtra to run a farmhouse.[9] Incidentally, Chorwad is also the hometown of Dhirubhai Ambani, another prominent industrialist. Jeewanlal donated large portion of his assets and monies for freedom struggle.[9][3]
Philanthropyedit
J.M Vinay Mandir School in Chorwad was founded by him.[3]
^Jeewanlal Motichand Shah is the Founder of Mukand Ltd.[dead link]
^ ab"Jhaverchand Meghani". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
^ abcdefghijkKutch Gurjar Kshatriya Community : A brief History & Glory by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (Kolkata, 2007) pg:18 Rai Bahadur Jagamal Raja - a multi-faceted personality.
^India Who's who. INFA Publications. 2000. p. 259. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
^A Frank Friendship: Gandhi and Bengal : a Descriptive Chronology by Gopal Gandhi, Seagull Books, 2007 :pp-224
^ abNanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published in Gujarati in 1999 from Vadodara. Author: Dharshi J. Taunk: Life sketch :RAI BAHADUR JAGMAL RAJA.pg:05
^Kamath, M. V. (1988). Gandhi's Coolie: Life & Times of Ramkrishna Bajaj. Allied Publishers. p. 189. ISBN9788170234876. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
^ abcdeHerdeck, Margaret; Piramal, Gita (1985). India's Industrialists. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 52. ISBN9780894104152. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
^Damodaran, Harish (2008). India's new capitalists: caste, business, and industry in a modern nation. Permanent Black in association with The New India Foundation. p. 34. ISBN9788178242187. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
^ abcBusiness India - Issues 263-269 - Page 196 1988
^Automobile India. Garg Publishing Company. 1971. p. 55. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
November 11, 2023
jeewanlal, motichand, shah, 1881, 1971, noted, gandhian, industrialist, founder, mukund, limited, father, viren, shah, contents, early, life, business, career, aluminum, utensils, factory, mukund, steel, sale, aluminum, factory, retirement, philanthropy, death. Jeewanlal Motichand Shah 1881 1971 was a noted Gandhian and an industrialist who was co founder of Mukund Limited He was the father of Viren J Shah 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Business career 2 1 Aluminum utensils factory 2 2 Mukund Steel 2 3 Sale of aluminum factory 3 Retirement 4 Philanthropy 5 Death 6 ReferencesEarly life editJeewanlal was born to Motichand Pethraj Shah in year 1881 in a Gujarati family based in Calcutta 2 3 He was married to Jayaben with whom he had a son Viren born in 1926 4 Business career editAluminum utensils factory edit Jeewanlal started his business career in 1912 as a dealer of aluminium utensils but soon started an aluminium utensils factory in his name Jeewanlal amp Company Later he expanded business and established a large factory in 1917 at Belur the products of which were sold under very popular CROWN brand He very soon became established and noted industrialist of Calcutta He helped Ramjibhai Kamani get established in town in his early years who began his business career by selling Jeewanlal s aluminium utensils in 1912 Kamani later became one of the leading industrialist of his time Jeewanlal and Kamani also later joined hands to supply aluminium sheets to Tatas They became close associate of Tatas 5 6 Jhaverchand Meghani often referred to as National Poet worked in Jeewanlal s aluminium factory at Belur during the years 1918 1921 2 3 Mukund Steel edit Both Jeewanlal and Kamani were close associates of Mahatma Gandhi in Calcutta and were highly influenced by him Gandhiji advised Jeewanlal to do away with the aluminium utensils business as eating cooking food in aluminium utensils was poisonous and he should be involved in this if he believed in his philosophy 3 Meanwhile Jeewanlal came in contact with Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja who was in town for building Bally Bridge through their common friends Devram bhai and Lirabhai Raja 3 Jeewanlal informed Jagmal Raja that he wished to do away with the aluminium utensils production business as per advise of Gandhiji and was looking for other business opportunities 3 7 Jagmal Raja who was an established industrialist having glass and ceramics factories at Bombay Derol and Allahbad learned that Lala Mukund Lal was willing to sell his iron mill at Lahore 3 He informed both Jeewanlal and Gandhiji about this opportunity 3 7 But for takeover of the business they needed more capital than they were able to muster together Gandhiji therefore persuaded his another close follower Jamnalal Bajaj to put money into buying Mukund Steel jointly with Jeewanlal from Lala Mukund Lal who also was Gandhian 8 The duo finally purchased Mukund Steel in 1937 9 10 11 Jeewanlal along with Ramjibhai Kamani managed the affairs of the Mukund Steel for ten years from 1937 9 Jeewanlal was offered shares in all Bajaj group companies which he declined and retired from active business around 1950 while Jamnalal had already died in 1942 9 Mukund Steel lost Lahore mill during partition and they decided to set up new plant in Kurla which was successfully implemented in 1948 11 The partnership stood firmly over the period of time and successive generation and Mukund Limited is still jointly run by descendants of Jamnalal Bajaj and Jeewanlal Viren Shah his son later served for many years as the Chairman of Mukund 11 Sale of aluminum factory edit Jeewanlal after getting firmly established with Mukund Steel business sold his aluminum business to Canadian partners in 1940 although company name remained Jeewanlal 1929 Limited 5 another noted Gujarati industrialist from Calcutta Rai Bahadur Himchand K Shah became the director of the firm after the sale 5 3 Retirement editAfter retirement Jeewanlal settled down in his native place at Chorwad in Saurashtra to run a farmhouse 9 Incidentally Chorwad is also the hometown of Dhirubhai Ambani another prominent industrialist Jeewanlal donated large portion of his assets and monies for freedom struggle 9 3 Philanthropy editJ M Vinay Mandir School in Chorwad was founded by him 3 Death editHe died in 1971 12 3 References edit Jeewanlal Motichand Shah is the Founder of Mukand Ltd dead link a b Jhaverchand Meghani Retrieved 23 October 2014 a b c d e f g h i j k Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Community A brief History amp Glory by Raja Pawan Jethwa Kolkata 2007 pg 18 Rai Bahadur Jagamal Raja a multi faceted personality India Who s who INFA Publications 2000 p 259 Retrieved 16 September 2017 a b c Light Metals Volumes 13 14 Page 570 1950 A Frank Friendship Gandhi and Bengal a Descriptive Chronology by Gopal Gandhi Seagull Books 2007 pp 224 a b Nanji Bapa ni Nondh pothi published in Gujarati in 1999 from Vadodara Author Dharshi J Taunk Life sketch RAI BAHADUR JAGMAL RAJA pg 05 Kamath M V 1988 Gandhi s Coolie Life amp Times of Ramkrishna Bajaj Allied Publishers p 189 ISBN 9788170234876 Retrieved 16 September 2017 a b c d e Herdeck Margaret Piramal Gita 1985 India s Industrialists Lynne Rienner Publishers p 52 ISBN 9780894104152 Retrieved 15 September 2017 Damodaran Harish 2008 India s new capitalists caste business and industry in a modern nation Permanent Black in association with The New India Foundation p 34 ISBN 9788178242187 Retrieved 15 September 2017 a b c Business India Issues 263 269 Page 196 1988 Automobile India Garg Publishing Company 1971 p 55 Retrieved 16 September 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jeewanlal Motichand Shah amp oldid 1147944977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
