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The Rediff Business Special/B K Karanjia

Sohrab's life: a marathon race against time

Part 4: Love affair with France

It was necessary for Godrej to establish a global presence. They began with Indonesia and struggled for ten years, but had to leave, given the unfavourable industrial climate. They were, however, successful in Malaysia. When the Malaysian Industries Minister visited Pirojshanagar, he was most impressed. Thanks largely to the kind intervention of Malcolm Macdonald, the High Commissioner for the UK in India, who wrote to some British firms in Malaysia, Sohrab received a most cordial reception when he visited the country. Godrej launched their factory in Johore Bahru in 1967 under the name of Godrej (Malaysia) SDN. BHD. With time, another factory was put up in Singapore under the name Godrej (Singapore) Pte Limited.

Godrej began with the manufacture of steel office equipment. The range of office-tables, unlike in India, included single-pedestal and double-pedestal desks made in an attractive combination of rosewood or teakwood tops and steep body structure. They have also manufactured filing cabinets, compactors, steel cupboards, security lockers and chairs.

Steel for their manufacture had been imported from Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. All the workers are very cooperative and most of them are Chinese, with women making up 30 per cent of them. In Singapore, which is duty-free, the wages are almost double of what is paid in Malaysia because of the very high standard of living. The infrastructure in both countries is very good, with excellent natural resources. Godrej faces competition from ten other manufacturers, all of whom, including Godrej, are involved in considerable export.

Sohrab keeps himself abreast of what is happening in the companies. Weekly top-level meetings enable him to be in touch with the latest developments and to keep in touch with the companies' policies. If ever there is a serious complaint about a product or a service, in the spirit instilled into him by his father Pirojsha, he gives immediate personal attention to it.

The art of defending and promoting Godrej products

When, sometimes, his company was by-passed, Sohrab reacted quickly. In 1982, the Jammu & Kashimir government had purchased 250 typewriters from Godrej. In spite of their giving excellent service, at highly competitive prices, the following year the government purchased 500 typewriters from another company. Immediately, Sohrab wrote a letter to Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister of J&K, reiterating that the quality of the Godrej typewriters was 'equal to, if not better than, other makes' and that 'most attractive price terms for bulk supply' were being offered. It was another matter that Godrej still did not get the order.

When in 1973, the Drugs Controller, contrary to world experience with hexachlorophene, prohibited the manufacture of cosmetics containing this compound, Burjor Godrej wrote a strong letter of protest to the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. He said, 'If the European Common Market, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Austria, etc, are allowing and will allow in future also, the use of HCP in cosmetics, is there any reason why it should be banned in India? To say the least, the Drugs Controller, India, is acting as if India were an appendage of the USA, and even going a step further.'

Sohrab followed with another letter pointing out that hexachlorophene was 'irreplaceable as a chemical of its kind' and, far from being risky, 'there is a great risk in not using it.' He added: 'We feel strongly that decisions regarding scientific products should be taken on rational lines; otherwise in our scientifically developed country, one could not take responsible initiatives.'

The Drugs Controller was, however, adamant. Godrej filed and won a suit in the Bombay High Court for using hexachlorophene in toilet powder. But it was a pyrrhic victory. Because of the prohibitive price of hexachlorophene brought about by the unfair action of the US Food and Drug Administration, it could not be used in toilet powder. Dr Eric Jungernan, a highly respected consultant, summed up the entire controversy with a damning indictment: 'The toxicity of hexachlorophene was political.'

On one occasion in Calcutta, Sohrab was present at a function addressed by the then Governor, Dharam Vira. Referring to the unsettled conditions existing in the city then, the Governor remarked in passing that things had got so bad that even Godrej cupboards were being broken open. He was referring to an incident in the patriot C R Das's house. Disturbed by this, Sohrab rang up and spoke to his daughter. Laughingly, she told him not to get so ruffled, as it was only a wooden cupboard that has been broken open by some miscreants!

Restless industrialist with varied interests

But Sohrab has never been content to be an industrialist and nothing more. Like uncle Ardeshir, he is of a restless nature and, like his brothers Burjor and Naval, he has varied interests. International affairs, the 'population holocaust', environmental pollution and degradation, the preservation of wildlife and of our heritage, natural and man-made, are matters of the deepest concern to him. From an industrialist, Sohrab has grown to be a concerned citizen. He tries to balance his companies' affairs and his world interests in an intricate minuet, without missing a step.

The problem isn't the balancing, but the time needed for it. If Sohrab were granted one wish above all others, he would cry: 'Let my day last longer than 24 hours!' His life is a race that began the day he entered the Lalbaug factory, a marathon race against time to make up for the many lost years.

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