jacket SLK... the fire never dies Cactus & Roses Cactus & Roses - An Autobiography S.L.Kirloskar Cactus & Roses Building on his father's sure foundations, Shantanurao Kirloskar - An Autobiography developed the small venture of Kirloskar Brothers into a group of companies with branches all over the world, whose interests range from oil engines and electric motors to machine tools and tractors, hotels and consultancy services. “Shri SLK”, as he was respectfully known to many, was a man of both Indian and international stature. This book is the story of his life, his struggles and achievements, his thoughts and Rs. 750 his “philosophy of industry”…. S.L.Kirloskar ISBN 140391006-5 matters which cannot fail to interest the reader who cares for our country's progress. The views of a man who had done 9 7 8 1 4 0 3 9 1 0 0 6 6 so much and risen so high, necessarily deserve the greatest respect. The author's views will be read with Special Birth Centenary Edition wonder, with interest and with advantage. Macmillan India Ltd. I have immense pleasure in presenting you Cactus & Roses, my grandfather's autobiography. This book has always been a great source of inspiration to me. And what better time to bring it to you, than the Birth Centenary year of Shri S. L. Kirloskar, the man who believed in making a difference. To the nation. And to the lives of people. I'm sure, you will find it just as valuable as I have. Atul Kirloskar Cactus & Roses Cactus & Roses - An Autobiography - An Autobiography S L Kirloskar © Kirloskar Proprietary Limited, Pune, 2003 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. First Published, 2003 PREFACE Reprinted, 2008 MACMILLAN INDIA LIMITED Pune Mumbai Ahmedabad Delhi Chennai Bangalore Jaipur I can fairly claim to have lived through tumultuous times. Kolkata Patna Bhopal Chandigarh Coimbatore Cuttack When I was born, man was just learning how to fly. The ‘air Guwahati Siligudi Hubli Hyderabad Lucknow Madurai age’, which then opened, has given us much more than faster Nagpur Raipur Thiruvanathapuram Visakhapatnam travel; it has brought about changes with bewildering swiftness—political, social, economic and technological. It was Companies and representatives throughout the world. my good fortune, as I see it, to have lived through those changes, to have experienced their effects upon my life, work ISBN 1403-910065 and thinking, and perhaps to have made my own small Published by Rajiv Beri for Macmillan India Ltd. contribution to their development. 8 Shrinad Apartment, 2030 Sadashiv Peth, Tilak Road, Pune 411 030. This thought leads me to explain that my book, in case it should be found to differ from the regular pattern of Printed by S. M. Yogan at Macmillan India Press, Chennai 600 041. autobiographies, should be regarded rather as an account of how I reacted to the times through which I lived. Chronological sequence has been broadly followed, but modified when deemed necessary in favour of the grouping together of similar The views and content of this book are solely of the author(s). The author(s) of the ideas and topics. I have presented the story of the work which book has/have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the contents of the book do I felt called upon to do, the problems I faced, the solutions not violate any existing copyright or other intellectual property rights of any person in any manner whatsoever. In the event the author(s) has/have been unable I found, the progress I was able to achieve, and my to track any source and if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please encounters with the many who assisted me in my work—as notify the publisher in writing for corrective action. well as the comparatively few who sought to hinder it. i My book does not aim at presenting a record of the My life, as will be seen, falls broadly into two parts- widespread Kirloskar Group with its activities ranging from the years before Independence and the years following it. In oil engines to electric motors, from machine tools to tractors, the first part I was battling the problems, which India faced from hotels to consultancy services. Although I have due to her long political and economic domination by a highly mentioned most of the members of the Group, dealing in industrialised and politically organized country like Britain. more detail with such points and problems as were common The second part began in an atmosphere full of hope that our to all or many of them, there remains much more to be told own government would establish a golden age for Indian of them than could possibly come within the scope of a book. industry and the country as a whole. If I have necessarily devoted more space to those enterprises I do not intend to overlook the many enlightened and with which I was more closely associated, this is not to forget co-operative measures taken by our government, and trust or underrate the tremendous contribution of the rest. that I have done justice to them. However, the extent to which The same explanation holds good in the case of the many our first hopes were dashed is a matter of common knowledge, individuals, from my relatives and business friends to my which this book tries to describe, analyse and account for. colleagues and fellow workers, who have extended a helping Finding myself pushed forward more and more to the position hand to the plans I set in motion. I have frequently referred of a leader and a champion of Indian industry, I was obliged to my parents and my two uncles because they greatly inspired to criticise and advise our government from many platforms. me. I found in my three brothers—Rajaram, Prabhakar and Therefore, I have included many extracts from my speeches, Ravi—and in my other colleagues Shambhuanna Jambhekar, from press comments, and from the press conferences, which Anantrao Phalnikar and my two cousins Shankarbhau I addressed at various times. Kirloskar and Nana Gurjar, a group who not only shared my My adverse criticism of the government, related to two thoughts but devoted themselves fully to the Kirloskar main points – (1) Mistaken ideology which took insufficient Organization. My friend and counsellor Lala Shri Ram, helpful notice of economic realities, (2) Inordinate delays which wasted statesmen like Shri. T. T. Krishnamachari and Shri. Manubhai precious resources, caused enormous losses in production, and Shah also deserves special mention. But there remain sometimes doubled the cost of essential schemes. As an hundreds of others, including senior and junior officers in the engineer, I call each part of a machine by its rightful name; Kirloskar Group, whose names I have no space to mention and it should surprise no one if, as an economic or political even though their loyal contribution to my work deserves the critic, I call a spade a spade. But the bluntness of my criticism most grateful recognition. has sprung from a sincere wish to help our country, its citizens This is perhaps the place to mention Sarvashri Narayan and their varied activities, and the government we have elected Puranik, Thomas Gay and Mukundrao Kirloskar. If this book to guide and direct us. Never have I aimed at hurting any man now sees the light of the day, it is due to the great pains taken in his individual or private capacity. by them. I offer my sincere thanks to them for drafting, editing As I look around me, I am filled with surprise and pleasure and producing this book. at the large number of young men and women striving in their ii iii small business ventures to achieve something positive in their lives. This was particularly the case when I visited the recent IMTEX-82 held in Bombay. These young industrialists displayed not only an enterprising spirit but also the required skills to make their ventures successful; in spite of the discouraging climate CONTENTS and disobliging attitudes, which surround them. The sight of these bold and skilful adventurers carry me back to more than fifty years; back to the desperate struggle waged by me and my colleagues against the Great Economic Depression, in the face of the prejudices against Indian manufactures, and in competition with the solidly entrenched 1. The Kirloskars; My Birth 1 British firms. These fifty years have seen changes whose 2. Laxmanrao’s life in Bombay 5 rapidity has vastly increased since our independence, and the young entrepreneur of today is mercifully free from many of 3. Early struggles at Belgaum 10 the disabilities and handicaps which came close to 4. Final struggles at Belgaum 14 overwhelming us in the Thirties and Forties. Yet the need for sustained and devoted effort is still there and will always be 5. Rajasaheb’s Offer 19 there. This is the thought, which I commend to all those young 6. Kirloskarwadi; Boyhood and Schooling 23 industrialists who may pick up this book. If the story of my struggle to do my best, as I saw it, 7. Secondary Education; to USA 29 for my country and for Indian Industry in particular, should 8. M. I. T. 32 inspire the younger generations to work with dedication, 9. Military Training; Home Coming 40 undismayed by difficulties, and to begin where I left off; if it should move those in authority to make the road smoother 10.