Kasturbhai Lalbhai

Indian industrialist who transformed the textile industry and pioneered corporate social responsibility in the mid-20th century

Industrial Innovator

Kasturbhai Lalbhai (1892-1971) revolutionized India's textile sector by introducing powerlooms in 1920s Ahmedabad. His Lalbhai Textile Mills became the first Indian company to export fabric to Europe, creating 10,000 jobs during British colonial rule. He developed the 'Lalbhai Model' of worker welfare that included housing, healthcare, and education facilities long before it became common practice.

Philanthropy and Nation Building

Post-independence, he funded over 500 schools and hospitals across Gujarat through the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Foundation. His establishment of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) in 1961 set new standards for business education. He also played key roles in India's first five-year plan, advocating for rural industrialization.

Legacy

His 'profit with purpose' philosophy influenced later entrepreneurs like the Ambanis. The Kasturbhai Lalbhai National Award for excellence in manufacturing is now India's highest industrial honor. His memoir My Journey Through Textiles (1965) remains required reading in business schools.