Pioneer of the Godrej Family Heirloom

If your furniture was purchased from the 2000s, there’s a high chance the company ‘Godrej’ made it. The man who took this brand to another level was Naval Godrej, who had a struggling childhood yet went on to become one of the leading entrepreneurs of India.

The man, the creator: Godrej; Image Source: Udayachal School

If you’re a 2000s kid, you’d be very well acquainted with the cool jingle of the Godrej AD which would play on TV. Your clothes were neatly arranged and kept in a Godrej almirah and there’s a high chance your parents would have kept their gold and cash in a Godrej safe.

In some way or the other, the company Godrej has been a major part of our lives, which is only increasing now with the expansion of their product line to even hair dyes and cheese nuggets. But, where did it all start? More importantly, who took this brand to the level it has achieved today?

The answer to that is Naval Godrej, a man who possessed a deep interest in business and factories. He was not the one who founded Godrej, it was merely a family business till Naval decided it should be turned into a well-known brand in the country.

Naval lost his mother when he was just three. At such a tender age, he barely understood what had happened. His father was caught up with the family business which made it impossible for him to raise his son. Naval was then raised by his grandmother in Karachi. Soon, he was shifted back to Mumbai (then, Bombay) and sent to St. Mary’s High School.

Since his school days, Naval had a naturally inquisitive mind. Doing things like taking apart a watch and putting it back together thrilled him. Pirojsha noticed his mechanical aptitude. Impressed by it, he asked Naval to come and look at the Godrej factories in the holidays after his matriculation.

Naval found his dream job within the walls of the factory. He began contributing to the family business at the first chance he got, which was right after high school.

He always had the mindset to bring in new innovations. For this, he worked hard and introduced the concept of the Godrej Tool room, which were of great help when they couldn’t be imported anymore. Naval also built the first of its kind Indian Typewriter, a technology which made typewriters easily accessible not just around India but to the entire continent. Naval was also the first one to make Godrej refrigerators, a product that is widely sold by the brand even today.

Having achieved so much, the government decided to award him with the Padma Bhushan in 1976. However, as he became older, he could not work with the same vigour and on 8th August in 1990, Naval Godrej passed away at the age of 73 in his residence in Mumbai.

The Godrej Group has achieved the fame it has today only due to his contributions. Not just Godrej but India as a whole will always hold him in high esteem for his work.