The Dreamer Who Dared

Father of transportation in India

Every entrepreneur who has braved the odds in his career is an heir to Seth Walchand Hirachand. Known for flexibility and innovative spirit, he was never afraid to take up challenges. His entrepreneurship in shipping, aviation and automobiles earned him the title ‘Father of transportation in India’. He set up the first car factory and first shipyard, he was the original ‘Made in India’ proponent, so much so that even when on trips to London, he would carry along his complete array of toiletries made back home, enough to last him for his entire stay.

Hirachand was born in Sholapur, Maharashtra, on November 23, 1882. He matriculated in 1899 but was not interested in the family business. He entered the construction business, building tunnels through the Bhor Ghats for a railway route from Mumbai to Pune, and laying water pipes from Tansa lake to Mumbai. In 1919, he bought from the Scindias of Gwalior, the ship SS Loyalty. The ship made its maiden international voyage on April 5 the same year, from Mumbai to London. The day is now celebrated as National Maritime Day.

He started Hindustan Aircraft (now Hindustan Aeronautics) in Bangalore and Hindustan Shipyard at Visakhapatnam in 1940 and Premier Automobiles in Mumbai in 1945. Once, he wanted to meet with the CEO of Havro, the British company that made planes, urgently. Rather than wait endlessly for an appointment, he bought a ticket in the same plane the executive was flying. Such were his ways of winning people over. He also ensured equal participation of all his brothers in the businesses, and founded influential industry organisations.