Ratibhai Makwana
Ratibhai Makwana | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Industrialist, Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Gujarat Pickers Industries |
| Awards | Business Excellence National Award (2015) |
Ratibhai Makwana, also known as Ratilal Makwana, is an Indian industrialist and entrepreneur from Gujarat. He is the founder and chairman of Gujarat Pickers, a company involved in the trade of polymers and petrochemicals. As a member of the Dalit community, he is noted for building a successful enterprise despite facing significant caste-based discrimination. His story was featured in the 2013 book Dalit Millionaires: 15 Inspiring Stories by Milind Khandekar and the 2014 book Defying the Odds: The Rise of Dalit Entrepreneurs.
Career
[edit]Makwana's family was involved in business before him. His father, Gala Bhai, operated a tannery on land gifted by a local ruler in Bhavnagar.[1] The family business later shifted to producing pickers, a component used in textile power looms, which were traditionally made from animal hides, a trade often associated with Dalit communities. Makwana joined his father in this business, overseeing production while his father handled sales across the country.[1][2]
He later founded Gujarat Pickers Industries in 1962 as a partnership firm manufacturing pickers and other textile accessories.[3] The business eventually diversified into distributing plastics, polymers, and petrochemicals. During his early years as an entrepreneur, Makwana faced severe social and economic boycotts from competitors due to his caste. Banks were unwilling to provide him with loans, and he experienced social ostracism, including being served tea from a distance and being expelled from a temple.[3][4] According to one account, when he was offered an agency for the Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, the local plastics industry boycotted the inauguration ceremony.[5]
Gujarat Pickers eventually grew into a major enterprise, with reported annual turnovers ranging from ₹200 crore (US$24 million) crore to ₹750 crore (US$89 million) crore at different times.[6][1]
From 1983 to 1998, Makwana also served as a director on the board for the Gujarat circle of the State Bank of India.[3]
Recognition
[edit]Makwana's entrepreneurial journey has been cited as an example of Dalit empowerment. In 2011, his contributions to Indian industry were recognized by Ratan Tata at a trade fair organized by the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI).[3] In 2015, he received the "Business Excellence National Award" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[3]
His story is one of several included in the book Defying the Odds: The Rise of Dalit Entrepreneurs co-authored by Devesh Kapur.[2][7] He was also featured in the 2013 book Dalit Millionaires: 15 Inspiring Stories by Milind Khandekar.[8] The chapter focusing on him is titled "Beating the Boycott," detailing his struggle against caste-based opposition in the business world.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Fighting the Brahmin and Baniya raj". Forward Press. 14 October 2015.
- ^ a b Kapur, Devesh; Babu, D. Shyam; Prasad, Chandra Bhan (18 July 2014). Defying the Odds: The Rise of Dalit Entrepreneurs. Random House India. ISBN 978-81-8400-639-1. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Sharma, Reema (25 August 2023). "Breaking The Caste Barrier This Gujarati Industrialist Is Owner Of Rs 400 crore Business; Even Ratan Tata Salutes His incredible feat, Got Awarded By PM Modi". Zee News.
- ^ "जाति की बाधा को दूर कर इस उद्योगपति ने खड़ा किया 400 करोड़ रुपये का बिजनेस, PM Modi से लेकर Ratan Tata से लेकर भी कर चुके हैं सम्मान" [Overcoming the caste barrier, this industrialist built a business of Rs 400 crore, honored from PM Modi to Ratan Tata]. Prabhasakshi. 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Non Fiction Archives - Page 279 of 351". Penguin Random House India. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Bhasin, Shradha (13 June 2011). "Dalit Entrepreneurs: From Job Seekers To Job Givers". Forbes India.
- ^ Mehra, Preeti (27 July 2014). "Inspirational tales of economic mobility" (PDF). Center for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ Khandekar, M. (2013). "3. RATILAL MAKWANA Beating the Boycott". Dalit Millionaires: 15 Inspiring Stories. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-93-5118-583-3. Retrieved 10 July 2025.