Founder
“The patriotic industrialist whose life was a triumph of persistence over adversity”. -Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister
“Walchand Hirachand was a dreamer, a visionary, a great builder and a great leader of the industry. Above all, he was a patriot, and in his own way, he was an inspiring leader of our struggle for freedom. I salute his memory. The lesson I draw is that the ultimate spur to growth and development is individual creativity and enterprise”. -Dr.Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India (2004 – 2014)
“In my opinion in one word. Walchand was the creative genius’
- Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Former President of India
About our Founder, Visionary Industrialist and Patriot
Seth Walchand Hirachand was a visionary Patriot, who pioneered Industrial revolution in pre-independent India. He stirred the patriotic minds of fellow Indians, to realize the sole aim of his life, which was along with the political freedom from British, was to win back the economic Independence of his motherland. He Renounced the Titles “C.I.E” & “J.P.” conferred by the British, when Mahatma Gandhi is arrested
A man of courage, conviction and self-belief, who envisioned the Industrial needs of Independent India, who in the in the first half of 20th century was one of the two towering persons, who stood out as the pioneering nation builders, who despite all adversities undertook the industrialization of India in various core sectors by their intense passion, patriotism and indomitable spirit of entrepreneurship.
Seth Walchand promoted and established Indian Managed business ventures in various core sectors like Civil Engineering(Construction of dams, bridges and tunnels), Aircraft manufacturing, Maritime Shipping, Shipbuilding, Hume Pipes, Organized farming And Automobile manufacturing.
Pioneer in Aircraft manufacturing: Founder Hindustan Aircraft Limited
He founded “Hindustan Aircraft Limited” which manufactured planes like Harlow Trainer, Glider, Hawk-P36, Horlow-PC5 etc. Later it was nationalized by Government of India.
Pioneer in Maritime Shipping: Founder Scindia Steam Navigation Company
On 5th April 1919 the ship “SS Loyalty” sailed on its maiden voyage, a crucial step when sea routes were controlled by the British. 5th April is now celebrated as “National Maritime Day” in India.
Pioneer in Shipbuilding Industry: Founder Hindustan Shipyard, Vizag
Seth Walchand recognized the need of country’s infrastructure for ship building and established a shipyard in. Vishakhapatnam in 1948. The company’s 1st ship “Jal-Usha” was commissioned by India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Later on the shipyard was nationalized by Government of India.
Pioneer in Organized Farming
He successfully transformed the barren, rock-strewn, practically uncultivated land near Kalamb village into lush green sugar cane fields and organized sugar cane farming. This led to the foundation of Walchandnagar Industries Limited in 1934 for a sugar factory to process the sugar cane. The township of Walchandnagar was built around this sugar factory.
Heavy Engineering Project Execution and Manufacturing: Founder, WIL
Since 1934 WIL has grown and diversified into a high-tech heavy engineering project execution and manufacturing company across various sectors.
Other Companies pioneered By Seth Walchand Hirachand
- Walchand & Phatak Ltd.
- Hindustan Construction Company
- The Indian Hume Pipe Company
- Ravalgaon Sugar Farm Ltd.
- Premier Construction Company
- Cooper Engineering Ltd.
- Premier Automobiles Ltd.
Association with Various Industry Bodies
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