An industrial township doffs its hat to Kirloskar

Celebrating the birth centenary of legendary industrialist Shantanurao Kirloskar, SLK to colleagues and admirers, it was a trip down memory lane for family members and long-time family friend, industrialist Neelkantha Kalyani, who visited the factory colony today.

In his autobiography Cactus and Roses, the late S L Kirloskar writes: ‘‘The following day all the three men went to see Rajasaheb (Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi, ruler of the then princely State of Aundh). When Papa (late L K Kirloskar) explained he would need a place near a railway station, Jacob Bapuji brought out a map of Aundh State and pointed to the railway line running through it, with one station with State territory. Papa saw this station — Kundal Road — would be convenient to him. He pointed to this spot on the map. When Rajasaheb said, ‘‘Mark the land you want,’’ Papa drew a blue circle touching the railway station and said, ‘‘Here is the land I want.’’ ‘‘Take it,’’ said Rajasaheb and added, ‘‘Master, that land is yours for all eternity.’’

The iron plough, the first Kirloskar product, became an icon of revolution. Later, Kirloskar went on to transform the tiny Kundal village into an industrial township, laying the foundation for industrialising western Maharashtra.‘‘It’s still the same old factory-village, though changing market needs now play a significant role,’’ says K B Shah, a resident of the factory-colony for the past two decades. Now, the second MIDC is being planned at nearby Palus village, Shah said, adding that Kirloskarwadi gave birth to generations of entrepreneurs in the region.A mobile exhibition on S L Kirloskar was inaugurated by Kalyani today. It spans the story of Kirloskarwadi over nine decades with the spotlight on SLK’s life, vision and convictions.

Kirloskarwadi brought about a revolution when it exported iron ploughs to America and Britain when wooden ploughs were still the norm in India. Today, it is a modern manufacturing facility producing and exporting pumps for every vital sector of the economy.