Ramji H. Kamani Biography 
Ramji H. Kamani was an entrepreneur and industrialist from Baroda, who lived during the period 21 February 1888 – 27 June 1965. He was the patriarch of the Kamani group companies. He was one of the earliest pioneers of industrial sector in India, who got associated with electric power transmission and many of its derivatives. He founded Kamani Engineering Corporation (KEC) in 1945 which is the first electric power transmission company in Asia. The company was later acquired by RPG Group in Maharashtra state auction in 1982 and renamed it as KEC International. Nicol Road, a street in the Ballard Estate in Mumbai has been renamed as Ramjibhai Kamani Marg in his honor.
His full name is Ramji Hansraj Kamani. He was born in Dhari village, Baroda State of present day Gujarat on 21 February 1888. He had one brother, Narbheram 4 years younger to him. He married Jadavlaxmi in 1911, and the couple had 6 sons and 2 daughters. He came to Kolkata the following year and he started selling aluminium utensils door-to-door. He was helped by local businessman Jeevanlal Motichand Shah. Later they collaborated together to supply aluminium sheets to Tatas. Soon after his first son was born in 1917, the duo set up their first factory in Calcutta for manufacture of aluminum utensils.
He joined Mahatma Gandhi's Non co-operation movement in 1920 and also started a Khadi institute in Amreli. His involvement with Khadi also helped him to reach Mahatma Gandhi, who later visited him in Amreli and Kolkata at his residence, and also asked Ramjibhai to wear Khadi when he goes abroad. Ramjibhai Kamani founded Kamani Engineering Corporation (KEC) in 1945, and very soon he turned a business magnet. In 1950, the company supplied transmission towers for Bhakra Nangal Dam project. By the 1970s, the Kamani group had 7 main companies with several manufacturing units in many cities like Mumbai and Jaipur. KEC accumulated heavy financial debt during the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis, and the company was auctioned by state government in 1982 for recovery of dues.
Published: July 20, 2018
Updated: July 20, 2018
