Work of late Seth Walchand Hirachand -1
--------- Article by Seth Lalchand Hirachand
The late Seth Walchand Hirachand is considered to be one of the Leading Nation Builders of India and ranks with Sir Jamshedji Tata who a built the Iron and Steel industry of India. Walchand has to his credit the establishment of the modern industries of Shipping, Shipbuilding, Defense Aircraft and the Automobile which are the backbone of the modern transport industry. His ambition was to make India economically strong and he put his full effort to achieve the same.
The British in those days considered themselves the masters of the seas. They disliked that India which was a part of the British. Empire should establish the shipping industry and compete with them. The Scindia Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. was established by him with the co-operation of leading businessmen of Bombay. The British wanted to buy over the small Indian Co. He refused to sell though that meant considerable loss to the Indian Co. but he insisted for continuing to run. The British opposition later collapsed and they made compromise with the Indian Entrepreneurs. Today, Self India has more than twenty modern steamers flying the Indian Flag proudly over all the seven seas of the world. While Mahatma Gandhi won the political freedom from the British, Walchand won the Freedom of the seas from the British,
Not satisfied with the shipping industry, he established the ship-building industry at Vishakhapattam on the East Coast of India.
A chance meeting with an American industrialist, Mr. Pawley, while returning from the United States, Walchand utilised for establishing the Defence Aircraft industry for production of Bombers and Fighters. The second world war was In full swing and allies were retreating. Walchand made his offer to the then British Government of India to manufacture combat aircraft; the government hesitated but with the war becoming increasingly unfavourable to the Allies, the India - Government with the approval of the Brilish Government called Walchand to establish the aircraft industry in seven months' time the ground establishment was made ready at Bangalore and the first aircraft made its first flight on schedule. At this stage the Government of India nationalised the Aviation Industry - both Civil and Defence.
It should be remembered with pride that the aircraft produced at the Bangalore factory won the two wars against Pakistan.
In 1939, Walchand made a trip to America to get collaboration with American car manufacturers for manufacturing cars in India. He first discussed with General Motors, the largest car manufactrurers of America and the world. General Motors were agreeable on majority or at least equal participation with the Indian entrepreneurs: Walchand did not want participation. He, then, approached Ford s who for their own reasons declined. The third important automakers ;viz. the Chryslers showed interest. They did not want participation and an agreement was signed in 1940 for collaboration. As the 2nd world war was in full swing the agreement was kept in abeyance on the advice of the Government of India. in 1944 a new company was formed named - The Premier Automobiles Ltd " to execute the very prestigious project of automobile manufacture.