- Source: Shashikant Garware
Dr. Shashikant Bhalchandra Garware (born 5 November 1934) is an Indian industrialist who is the founder, chairman, and managing director of Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited (formerly known as Garware Polyester Limited). He is considered the doyen of the polyester revolution in India which he began in June 1957.
Early life and education
Shashikant Garware was born in Bombay (Mumbai) on November 5, 1934. He is the son of Padma Bhushan Abasaheb Garware. After completing his basic education, he went to London to pursue further education at Dulwich College, and then Business Management at the University of Edinburgh. In 2022, Mumbai University conferred an honorary D.Litt. for his outstanding contributions in the polyester industry, and philanthropic services to society.
Career
Garware returned to India in 1951 and joined his father at Garware Motors Ltd. They soon got involved with a new venture of polyester films in 1957, Garware Polyester Ltd now known as Garware Hi-Tech Films Ltd. (GHFL) brought U.V. Stabilized Polyester Film to India in 1982. The U.S. Patent Authority issued a patent for this product because of its efficiency and energy saving.
Philanthropy
The Garware Charitable Trust was established in 1962. The Trust makes charitable donations for education institutions and to various hospitals and healthcare centres. For the promotion of sports, financial aid was extended by Garware Trust to BCA, Bombay Cricket Association, which named the club house and the members pavilion of Wankhede Stadium as Garware Club House. The Garware Community Centre was established in 1993 at Aurangabad.To facilitate and promote sports and cultural activities by people in and around Aurangabad, financial help was given to Aurangabad Municipal Corporation to develop the Stadium in MIDC Chikalthana Area and it is known as Garware Stadium.
Garware was a Director on the Central Board of the State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India. He was also an Honorary Consul General of Turkey for their Western India Office, and President of Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industry during.
Honours and awards
In 2022, Garware was conferred an honorary D.Litt. degree by the Governor of Maharashtra and Chancellor of Mumbai Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari. He was awarded Gold Sheild for Import Substitution by the Government of India in 1981 and was awarded Plexconcil,Top Exporter's Award by the Government of Indiafor GHFL for the export of high-tech polyester films for more than three decades consecutively.