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Revision as of 14:16, 1 December 2024 by Nizil Shah (talk | contribs) (→Career)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Tribhuvandas Kalyandas Gajjar (1863–1920) was an industrial chemist and educator 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.
Early Life and Education
Tribhuvandas Gajjar was born in 1863 in Surat, 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. Gajjar displayed early mechanical aptitude, experimenting with broken laboratory equipment and mastering carpentry skills in his father’s workshop.
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.
Career
Gajjar initially tried to start a polytechnic in Surat but failed. He joined Baroda College as professor of chemistry in 1886. Recognizing the need for practical education, 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 resigned from Kala Bhavan in 1896, and moved to Bombay.
Gajjar 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.
References
- ^ 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.