Map Thawing the Regioncu Baehgroand of Kathiawar KATHIAWAR ECONOMICS
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Map thawing the RegioncU Baehgroand of Kathiawar KATHIAWAR ECONOMICS BY A. B. TRIVEDI, M.A.,B.Com., (Banking* Accounting); Preject, University Hostel; Research Scholar, University School of Economics and Sociology; Member Professor C. N. Vakil's Economic Seminar; Investigator, N, D.: Bombay Economic and Industrial Survey Committee; and Lecturer in Economics and Geography) Khalsa College, Bombay. AUTHOR OF STUDIES IN GUJARAT ECONOMICS SERIES: (1) The Gold Thread Industry of Surat, (2) Wood Work and Metal Work of Gujarat (Radio Talk), (3) Fire Works of Gujarat (Radio Talk). (4) Plight of Handloom Industry in Gujarat (Memo• randum submitted to the Handloom Fact Finding Committee), (5) The Washers Manufacturing Industry of Gujarat, etc., etc. 1943. First Published: January 1943 Printed by Mr. R. R. BAKHALE, at the Bombay Vaibhav Press, Sandhurst Road, Bombay 4. and Published by Prof. A. B. TRIVEDI, M.A., B.com., Khalsa College, Bombay 19. To LATE SHETH HARGOVANDAS JIVANDAS, J. P. Late Sheth Hargovandas Jivandas, J.P. who rose to high eminence by sheer hard work and abilities. Born of poor parents and though deprived of the chances of taking University Education, this great industrialist of Kathiawar, showed remarkable business acumen from his early life. He rose with occasions and opportunities and led a very successful life. His life will be a fountain of knowledge, revealing the fruits of patience, perseverance and for• bearance, to the future generations. Born in 7874, he died at the age of 68 in 1942. A short sketch of his career appears in the following pages. SHORT SCETCH OF THE CAREER OF LATE SHETH HARGOVANDAS Sheth Hargovandas Jivandas, J. P., was born of poor Kapol Bania parents at Talaja (Kathiawar) in the year 1874. He received no education and he had to earn his bread at a comparatively young age of 17. His patience, perseverance and abihties soon brought him luck. At the age of 30 he was taken as a partner by Messrs. Kedal Bros., dealing as brokers of Seeds and Cotton. Later he was appointed as a sole Cotton Broker to Messrs. Forbes, Forbes Campbell & Co. Ltd. This brought him many opportunities by which he could amass riches. He soon became one of the leading businessmen of Bombay. In 1932 he started the Mahalaxami Mills Ltd. at Bhavnagar with a capable manager—Sheth Bhogilal Maganlal to assist him. The Mills commenced working in June 1933 and the successive years brought huge profits to the Mills, so much so that not only the Com• pany became financially strong, JDut it also became possible to reduce the capital year by year by returning the same to the shareholders, with the result that the face -value of the share of the Company at present is only Re. 1, while the present market value of the share is Rs. 900. This fact by itself speaks volume for the capable management and the far sighted policy pursued by Sheth Hargovandas and his Manager. With such a remarkable rise in his career Sheth Hargovandas could at once realise the grievances of the poor. Henceforward he began to identify himself with every good cause and be made many munificent donations during his lifetime. He started giving-'Sadavrat' in Bombay and set apart Rs. 25,000 for this purpose; he built a Dharmashala at Trimbakeshwar at a cost of Rs. 25,000; he donated Rs, 25,000 for erecting buildings for a Nature Cure Hospital at Malad; he donated Rs. 25,000 for erecting a Boarding House at Bhavnagar, and, further donated Rs. 10,000 for its maintenance; he set apart Rs. 35,000 for erecting a Dharmashala and 'Anna Kshetra' at Talaja: he also donated Rs. 10,000 for building a School at Talaja; he paid Rs, 10,000 to Bombay Municipality to erect a Band Stand at Victoria Gardens. Thus with his growing desire to serve every just cause he went on taking leading part in the public affairs and he was a trustee in a number of Charitable Institutions in Bombay. Very recently, before his death, he donated a liberal amount of Rs. 32,000 establishing a Maternity Home at Bhavnagar in the memory of his beloved wife—Bai Harkorebai—who died in the year 1941. This maternity home is named Harkorebai Maternity Home, and this Home is a great boon to the citizens of Bhavnagar. Sheth Hargovandas was a leading member of East India Cotton Association Bombay, Bullion Exchange Bombay, Native Stock and Share Brokers' Association Bombay, and, Bharat Vidya Bhuvan Bombay. In addition, he also founded and was a Director of the New Maha- laxmi Silk Mills, Ltd., Bombay; and he was a Director in : the Navsari Cotton Silk Mills, Ltd., Dhrangadhra Chemical Works, Ltd., and, Udvada Vapi Electric Supply, Co., Ltd. In 1941 Sheth Hargovandas started the Master Silk Mills at Bhavnagar in partnership with his manager Mr. Bhogilal. As Sheth Hargovandas was failing in health, his son Sheth Dharamdas was now required to shoulder all the responsibilities and in this he proved to be equally capable as he discharged his duties with the same remarkable zeal and capacity. Sheth Dharamdas, born in December 1911, and, educated at Elphinstone High School, Bombay, joined his father's business at an early age of 20. By his training under such a capable hand like his father's, Sheth Dharamdas has been able to show \ ery remarkable capa• city in managing all the concerns at this his young age. Besides he has established the New Mahalaxmi Silk Mills, Ltd., at Bombay, and he is working as its Managing Agent. He is also the Managing Agent and a Permanent Director of the Mahalaxmi Mills, Ltd., Bhav• nagar; Director in Navsari Cotton and Silk Mills, Ltd; and in the Master Silk Mills Ltd., Bhavnagar. Sheth Dharamdas takes keen interest in riding and is a good horse• man. He also takes regular exercises, and possesses a well- Sheth Dharamdas Hargovandas built body. Like his father he is also taking keen interest in the public affairs and he is a trustee of the institutions like Badri Narayan Dharmashala, Sheth Narandas Devidas Charitable Trust, Sheth Ranchhodji Valji Charitable Trust, Devkorbai Charitable Trust I am highly indebted to Sheth Dharamdas for assisting me in publishing this work, which is bound to be very useful especially to the industrialists and the administrators of Kathiawar. A. B. TRIVEDI, A uthor. FOREWORD Mr, A. B. Trivedi's book " Kathiawar Economics " fills a notable gap in the industrial and economic organisation of the country, by supplying a careful survey of the industrial and economic resources of Kathiawar. Not only this, the book provides a basis for industrial and economic planning by the administra• tors as well as the industrialists. Mr. Trivedi carried out his researches for writing this book for some 5 or 6 years, and has travelled in every part of Kathiawar, and has made extensive inquiries and gathered the material from the written State Records, as well as by issuing questionnaires to the various classes of people. The book is, therefore, a result of great labour and cost; and Mr. Trivedi has successfully handled the subject with the skill of a research scholar. His masterful analysis of the possibilities of a fully developed economic and industrial life in Kathiawar is the most notable part of the book and it is hoped that the States' Administrators will take full advantage of Mr. Trivedi's valuable suggestions. Agriculture is the most vital occupation in Kathiawar, even though the countryside is not blessed with very good rainfall, Mr. Trivedi is to be congra• tulated for bringing out this point forcefully and also for stressing the need of developing it in an adequate and efficient manner. The writer belongs to, and has been brought up in-Kathiawar, that is why he has been able to treat the subject with such an intimate knowledge of facts. This adds greatly to the value of his survey, MOHANLAL T. PARIKH, B, COM. 1st January 1943. Manager, Bullion Exchange Branch Bank of India Ltd., Bombay, PREFACE The dislocation in the spheres both monetary as well as industrial as a result of the post-war boom and the world depression gave rise to a new way of economic thinking which recognised an absolute necessity of a well planned economic order. Every sane economist admitted that in matters of production as well as distribution a planned scheme was a prime requisite for the revival of the inter• national trade and commerce. Unemployment of able-bodied persons as a result of the depression was facing every nation and was a phenomena with which the various States were hitherto unfamiliar. The declme in trade and industry had adversely affected the agriculture and even here the prices -of raw materials had reached a rock-bottom stage. The eco• nomists everywhere tried to find out the root cause of this depression, and though different causes were attributed to it by different economists, almost all were unanimous in recognising the need for a planned economy. Even in India Dr. Sir M. Visveswaraya gave out a ten years scheme for the development of Indian Industries. In Kathiawar, the post-war period gave a new fillip to its industrial activity. The removal of the Viramgam Cordon in 1917 and the recognition of the maritime States' right to develop their ports were instrumental in bringing about a haphazard growth of industries within the province. The maritime States turned their attention towards the development of their ports, and huge expenditures were incurred by them for the said purpose. By dint of their natural position, the cheapness of labour, and, the availability of further facilities, the Kathiawar ports were able to divert a great share of the foreign trade of India towards them from the British Indian Ports.