Section 34
Walchand Hirachand Doshi
Built India's first modern shipping line, aircraft factory, shipyard and car plant. (Walchand group (Scindia Steam Navigation, Hindustan Aircraft, Premier Automobiles))
- life
- 1882–1953
- era
- Before Independence
- 19 (1929-48)
- Years as president of the Indian National Ship-owners Association · 1948
The story
Walchand Hirachand came from a Gujarati Jain trading family settled in Solapur. He started as a railway and building contractor.
In 1919 he set up the Scindia Steam Navigation Company to challenge British control of Indian shipping. Its ship SS Loyalty sailed on its first voyage on 5 April 1919; India now marks 5 April as National Maritime Day.
He kept entering industries where no Indian firm existed. He founded the Walchandnagar sugar factory in 1934, Hindustan Aircraft in Bangalore and a shipyard at Visakhapatnam in 1940, and Premier Automobiles near Bombay in 1945. Hindustan Aircraft was later taken over by the government, and the shipyard became Hindustan Shipyard.
He led the Indian National Ship-owners Association for 19 years and died on 8 April 1953.
Timeline
- 1919Scindia Steam Navigation's SS Loyalty makes its first voyage on 5 April.
- 1929Becomes president of the Indian National Ship-owners Association.
- 1934Founds the sugar factory at Walchandnagar.
- 1940Founds Hindustan Aircraft in Bangalore and a shipyard at Visakhapatnam.
- 1945Founds Premier Automobiles near Bombay.