Khatau
The Khatau Group of Companies is one of the oldest business conglomerates in India. The Khatau Group was founded in 1874 by Seth Khatau Makanji (also known as Makanji Khatau). This business family prospered into one of the leading Indian industrial houses by the mid twentieth century, with ventures in textiles, chemicals, shipping, cement, aviation, automobile, and other industries.
In addition to its flagship textile business, the Khatau Group helped pioneer India's industrial revolution by founding several leading companies in collaboration with other leaders of the time such as the Tatas and Walchand Hirachand, including ACC Limited (1936),[1] Hindustan Aircraft Company (1940) which was later renamed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Premier Automobiles Limited (1944).
One of Seth Khatau Makanji's grandsons, Dharamsey Mulraj Khatau (son of Mulraj Khatau, who was the son of Makanji Khatau) led the Khatau Group in these diverse ventures. He was a board member of each of these companies and a chairman of ACC in the 1950s. Dharamsey Khatau was an honorary member of The Textile Association of India, along with other doyens of Indian textile industry, including leaders of the Birla, Tata, Singhania, and Ambani industrial houses.[2] Sunit Khatau then chairman of the company was shot dead in Mumbai in 1994 by the underworld gang.
The Khatau family's companies were separated in 1994 and are now run independently by the current generation of heirs and professional managers.
References
- ↑ ACC Limited, Heritage - A Corporate Saga, ABOUT US::HERITAGE page on the website of ACC Limited, formerly known as the Associated Cement Companies Limited.
- ↑ The Textile Association of India, Roll of Honour, listed under Activities on the website of the Association.