By Joe C. Mathew

The book is a window into the good old days of India’s optical industry, peppered with anecdotes.

If you are interested in learning the history of India’s optical lens industry, Mansion of Glass: The GKB Story is a book you would want to flip through. It is easy to read and alternates between the family history of author K.G. Gupta, the promoter of the `120-crore GKB Prime Group, and the evolution of the organised optical products manufacturing and marketing sector in the country.

When Gupta and his brothers floated an optical lens enterprise under the GKB brand in Agra in 1960, the industry was in its infancy. Like any other business set up during the pre-liberalisation era, GKB also weathered the licence quota raj storm to establish itself as one of the leading brands in the ophthalmic lens business. The Gupta brothers were the first ones in India, the book claims, to talk about quality and standards in the optical lens business. They became the leading homegrown exporters of lenses after setting up a 100 per cent export-oriented manufacturing unit in Goa in 1981. Business Today recognised Gupta's efforts by conferring the best SME in International Trade award in 2010. The brothers split and the author independently runs the Goa-headquartered GKB Prime Group that comprises GKB Ophthalmic Ltd, GKB Vision Ltd and Prime Lenses Pvt Ltd, today.

The book is full of anecdotes and reminiscences, some of which are textbook examples of how quality, attractive packaging and customer loyalty can build brands. A passionate recollection of how licence raj used to harm genuine manufacturing interests and growth prospects could be of historical interest, but the perils of inverse duty structures – where import of finished goods are cheaper than local manufacturing – still hold important lessons for the NDA government and its ‘Make In India’ slogan. However, too much of family history can be boring.

If you already know what GKB (Gopal Krishna and Brothers) stands for, you can safely skip the first three chapters. It does not really talk about the optical business. Gupta first published the book in 2010, and came out with a revised and updated version in 2015. He could have avoided that. The newly added chapters – 11, 12, 45 and 46 – are of little value to a reader who is trying to gain industry insights from the book.

There was one more compelling reason for Gupta to write the book. He wanted to narrate the story of his life and times to his grandchildren. And he has succeeded in doing so. ~