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| '''Tribhuvandas Kalyandas Gajjar''' (1863–1920) was an industrial ], educationist and industrialist from India. He was a pioneer and proponent of modern industrial chemical industry in western region of India. He introduced German synthetic dyes to the Indian textile industry, initiated large-scale alcohol production, and advanced technical education. He taught at ] in ] (now Vadodara in ]) and later at ], ] (now Mumbai). He was a founder of chemistry laboratories and co-founder of ]. | '''Tribhuvandas Kalyandas Gajjar''' (1863–1920) was an industrial ], educationist and industrialist from India. He was a pioneer and proponent of modern industrial chemical industry in western region of India. He introduced German synthetic dyes to the Indian textile industry, initiated large-scale alcohol production, and advanced technical education. He taught at ] in ] (now Vadodara in ]) and later at ], ] (now Mumbai). He was a founder of chemistry laboratories and co-founder of ]. | ||
| ==Early Life and Education== | ==Early Life and Education== | ||
| Tribhuvandas Gajjar was born in 1863 in ] |
Tribhuvandas Gajjar was born in 3 August 1863 in ] (now in Gujarat) into the ] caste, traditionally associated with carpentry.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Trivedi |first=J. P. |title=ગજ્જર, ત્રિભુવનદાસ કલ્યાણદાસ |url=https://gujarativishwakosh.org/%E0%AA%97%E0%AA%9C%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%B0-%E0%AA%A4%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%AD%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%B5%E0%AA%A8%E0%AA%A6%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B8-%E0%AA%95%E0%AA%B2%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%AF%E0%AA%BE/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=] |language=gu}}</ref> His father, Kalyandas, (1829-1915) was a prominent civil engineer and businessman, owning timber shops in Surat and ]. His father had written books on traditional architecture.<ref name=":0" /> Fulkorben was his mother.<ref name=":2" /> Gajjar displayed early mechanical aptitude, experimenting with broken laboratory equipment and mastering carpentry skills in his father’s workshop.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Kochhar |first=Rajesh |date=2013-04-25 |title=Tribhuvandas Kalyandas Gajjar (1863-1920): The pioneering industrial chemist of Western India |url=https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/104/08/1093.pdf |journal=Current Science |volume=104 |issue=8 |pages=1093-1097}}</ref> he had interest in several subjects including science and maths.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
| After excelling in his ] in 1879, Gajjar joined ], ], earning a BA in chemistry in 1882, standing first in his class. In 1884, he completed an MA in chemistry.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1" /> He had briefly studied medicine at ] as well as law with his friend.<ref name=":1" /> | After excelling in his ] in 1879, Gajjar joined ], ], earning a BA in chemistry in 1882, standing first in his class. In 1884, he completed an MA in chemistry.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1" /> He had briefly studied medicine at ] as well as law with his friend.<ref name=":1" /> He lived in ] for some time.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
| == Career == | == Career == | ||
| Gajjar wanted to start a polytechnic in Surat with help of Tapidas Sheth who had agreed to fund but the project failed due to death of Tapidas.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | Gajjar wanted to start a polytechnic in Surat with help of Tapidas Sheth who had agreed to fund but the project failed due to death of Tapidas.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> | ||
| He joined Baroda College as professor of chemistry in 1886.<ref name=":0" /> He emphasised the education in native languages and founded the Vernacular Academy to promote the cause. Collaborating with Yashwant B. Athlye, he planned a scientific and educational books in Gujarati and Marathi, supported by a grant of Rs. |
He joined Baroda College as professor of chemistry in 1886.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> He started a printing and dying laboratory in Baroda.<ref name=":2" /> He published a Gujarati trimonthly ''Rang Rahasya'' about dying.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Recognizing the need for practical education in science, he proposed a polytechnic institute, leading to the establishment of ] in 1890 under the support of ]. As principal, Gajjar introduced courses in civil and mechanical engineering, textile chemistry, and dyeing.<ref name=":0" /> He emphasised the education in native languages and founded the Vernacular Academy to promote the cause. Collaborating with Yashwant B. Athlye, he planned a scientific and educational books in Gujarati and Marathi, supported by a grant of Rs. 50,000 from ]. This effort resulted in the publication of two book series: ''Sayaji Gnanmanjusha'' and ''Sayaji Laghu Gnanmanjusha''; overseen by Gajjar. He also conceived a multilingual thesaurus but was never completed.<ref name=":1" /> When his idea to convert Kala Bhavan in an industrial university did not succeed, he resigned from Kala Bhavan, and moved to Bombay in 1896.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| He played a critical role in revolutionizing the Indian textile industry. At a time when traditional vegetable dyes were losing global markets to coal-tar-based synthetic dyes, Gajjar partnered with German manufacturers to establish training programs in India. He collaborated with industrialist ] to integrate dyeing technology into Indian mills, setting up laboratories and training schools in Surat, ], Ahmedabad, ], ] and other cities. His efforts helped Indian mills adopt advanced dyeing techniques, saving the industry from stagnation and providing employment to thousands of workers.<ref name=":0" /> | He played a critical role in revolutionizing the Indian textile industry. At a time when traditional vegetable dyes were losing global markets to coal-tar-based synthetic dyes, Gajjar partnered with German manufacturers to establish training programs in India. He collaborated with industrialist ] to integrate dyeing technology into Indian mills, setting up laboratories and training schools in Surat, ], Ahmedabad, ], ] and other cities. His efforts helped Indian mills adopt advanced dyeing techniques, saving the industry from stagnation and providing employment to thousands of workers.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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| In 1903, he started a small factory called Parel Laboratories in Bombay. Later another spirit factory was started in Baroda in 1905 and a lac factory in ] which was operational till 1907. In 1907, he co-founded ] in ] with his student Anant Shridhar Kotibhaskar and his another student Bhailal Dajibhai Amin joined them later. The company initially focused on the production of rectified spirit, pharmaceutical products, and chemical reagents. The company’s distillation facilities were further expanded during ], supplying alcohol and essential chemicals.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The pearl cleaning technique brought him wealth but also legal issues. He also developed and patented a medicine during the ].<ref name=":1" /> | In 1903, he started a small factory called Parel Laboratories in Bombay. Later another spirit factory was started in Baroda in 1905 and a lac factory in ] which was operational till 1907. In 1907, he co-founded ] in ] with his student Anant Shridhar Kotibhaskar and his another student Bhailal Dajibhai Amin joined them later. The company initially focused on the production of rectified spirit, pharmaceutical products, and chemical reagents. The company’s distillation facilities were further expanded during ], supplying alcohol and essential chemicals.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The pearl cleaning technique brought him wealth but also legal issues. He also developed and patented a medicine during the ].<ref name=":1" /> | ||
| He died |
He died on 16 July 1920.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> | ||
| == Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
Revision as of 18:19, 1 December 2024
Tribhuvandas Kalyandas Gajjar (1863–1920) was an industrial chemist, educationist and industrialist from India. He was a pioneer and proponent of modern industrial chemical industry in western region of India. He introduced German synthetic dyes to the Indian textile industry, initiated large-scale alcohol production, and advanced technical education. He taught at Kala Bhavan in Baroda (now Vadodara in Gujarat) and later at Wilson College, Bombay (now Mumbai). He was a founder of chemistry laboratories and co-founder of Alembic Chemical Works.
Early Life and Education
Tribhuvandas Gajjar was born in 3 August 1863 in Surat (now in Gujarat) into the Suthar caste, traditionally associated with carpentry. His father, Kalyandas, (1829-1915) was a prominent civil engineer and businessman, owning timber shops in Surat and Ahmedabad. His father had written books on traditional architecture. Fulkorben was his mother. Gajjar displayed early mechanical aptitude, experimenting with broken laboratory equipment and mastering carpentry skills in his father’s workshop. he had interest in several subjects including science and maths.
After excelling in his matriculation in 1879, Gajjar joined Elphinstone College, Bombay, earning a BA in chemistry in 1882, standing first in his class. In 1884, he completed an MA in chemistry. He had briefly studied medicine at Grant Medical College as well as law with his friend. He lived in Karachi for some time.
Career
Gajjar wanted to start a polytechnic in Surat with help of Tapidas Sheth who had agreed to fund but the project failed due to death of Tapidas.
He joined Baroda College as professor of chemistry in 1886. He started a printing and dying laboratory in Baroda. He published a Gujarati trimonthly Rang Rahasya about dying. Recognizing the need for practical education in science, he proposed a polytechnic institute, leading to the establishment of Kala Bhavan in 1890 under the support of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. As principal, Gajjar introduced courses in civil and mechanical engineering, textile chemistry, and dyeing. He emphasised the education in native languages and founded the Vernacular Academy to promote the cause. Collaborating with Yashwant B. Athlye, he planned a scientific and educational books in Gujarati and Marathi, supported by a grant of Rs. 50,000 from Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. This effort resulted in the publication of two book series: Sayaji Gnanmanjusha and Sayaji Laghu Gnanmanjusha; overseen by Gajjar. He also conceived a multilingual thesaurus but was never completed. When his idea to convert Kala Bhavan in an industrial university did not succeed, he resigned from Kala Bhavan, and moved to Bombay in 1896.
He played a critical role in revolutionizing the Indian textile industry. At a time when traditional vegetable dyes were losing global markets to coal-tar-based synthetic dyes, Gajjar partnered with German manufacturers to establish training programs in India. He collaborated with industrialist J. N. Tata to integrate dyeing technology into Indian mills, setting up laboratories and training schools in Surat, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Amritsar and other cities. His efforts helped Indian mills adopt advanced dyeing techniques, saving the industry from stagnation and providing employment to thousands of workers.
After moving to Bombay, he joined Wilson College as a professor of chemistry and also started a laboratory. He revised the curricula of the University of Bombay to include industrial applications of chemistry. His private initiative, the Techno-Chemical Laboratory in Girgaum, founded in 1900, trained students in starting their own factories, leading to the establishment of several industries. His laboratory allowed to award MA in Chemistry in 1907 by the University of Bombay.
He developed techniques to clean pearls and to refine chemicals in his laboratory. When someone tarred Queen Victoria’s marble statue in Bombay in October 1896, he help it clean it when all other attempts failed. His Rs. 5000 fees were paid by Sheriff of Bombay, Adamji Pirbhai, when the government and the municipality could not.
In 1903, he started a small factory called Parel Laboratories in Bombay. Later another spirit factory was started in Baroda in 1905 and a lac factory in Nadiad which was operational till 1907. In 1907, he co-founded Alembic Chemical Works in Baroda with his student Anant Shridhar Kotibhaskar and his another student Bhailal Dajibhai Amin joined them later. The company initially focused on the production of rectified spirit, pharmaceutical products, and chemical reagents. The company’s distillation facilities were further expanded during World War I, supplying alcohol and essential chemicals. The pearl cleaning technique brought him wealth but also legal issues. He also developed and patented a medicine during the Spanish flu.
He died on 16 July 1920.
Personal life
Gajjar had a son. He was a friend with several writers and poets including Govardhanram Tripathi who died in his bunglow at Bombay.
See also
References
- ^ Kothari, Urvish (2023-10-17). "Tribhuvandas K. Gajjar, the Gujarati chemist who cleaned Queen Victoria's marble statue". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Trivedi, J. P. "ગજ્જર, ત્રિભુવનદાસ કલ્યાણદાસ". Gujarati Vishwakosh (in Gujarati). Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ Kochhar, Rajesh (2013-04-25). "Tribhuvandas Kalyandas Gajjar (1863-1920): The pioneering industrial chemist of Western India" (PDF). Current Science. 104 (8): 1093–1097.
Further reading
- Mandali, Popatlal (2022). Tribhuvanadas Gajjar (in Gujarati). Rannade Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-94337-75-6.