Walchand Hirachand Biography 
Walchand Hirachand was an Indian industrialist and founder of Walchand group of companies. He established India’s first modern shipyard, first aircraft factory and first car factory and has also diversified his business interests to other fields like construction companies, sugar plantation, sugar factory, confectionery and engineering companies. Many of his business interests were not at all easy to fulfill in those days and situations, as it was British monopoly then.
The first Indian ship SS Loyalty made by Walchand group, made its first voyage on 5 April 1919 by sailing from Mumbai to London. With Indian Independence in 1947, Walchand group of companies was one of the ten largest business houses in the country. But absence of direct male heirs slowly resulted in the disintegration of his business empire and most of his firms were used for other purposes later. He is mostly remembered as the man who dared to dream and materialize most of his dreams into reality using his will power and dedication.
He belonged to a family from Wankaner in Gujarat which later settled in Solapur, Mumbai. He was born in Solapur on 23 November 1882 to Seth Hirachand Nemchand Doshi and his first wife Raju. Hirachand was engaged in cotton trading and money lending. Walchand lost his mother soon after his birth and later his father remarried. His step-brothers were Gulabchand, Ratanchand and Lalchand. He studied at Sholapur Government High School and completed graduation from St. Xaviers College. Later he discontinued his studies to join family business. In 1900, he married to Jiu Kilachand while he was a student. His wife died during the birth of their daughter and later he remarried in 1913. Both the kids born in this wedlock died in infancy.
Walchand lost interest in his family business of banking and cotton trades. Instead he became a railway contractor for constructions in partnership with a railway clerk. The partnership later became Phatak-Walchand private limited and was successful. Walchand diversified his business interests to other segments as well. Though his first success was through construction business, later he started sugar, shipping, aircraft and insurance industries as well. He was the person who started the shipyard at Vishakhapatnam in 1940 and the foundation stone for the shipyard was laid by an Indian, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 21 June 1941, which was unthinkable in those days. He also started a car factory in early 1940’s. he retired from business in 1950 following a stroke and died in 1953.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 06, 2014
