125 years ago, Ardeshir Godrej, a young man of 29 years, set up a small factory inLalbaug in Bombay to make locks — the first of its kind in India. This was the humbleorigin, of what today has become a trusted household name — ‘Godrej’. The story ofthe Godrej family is a tale of courage, innovation and entrepreneurship.Naoroji ‘Naval’ Pirojsha Godrej followed in the illustrious footsteps of his uncleArdeshir Burjorji Godrej, and father Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej to uphold the ideals of‘Swadeshi’ and excellence in manufacturing. Naval was a self-taught engineer withan inquisitive and restless mind that enjoyed mechanical challenges. He joined thefactory at age 17 and learned by working on the factory floor. He pioneered thedevelopment of the Machine Tool industry in India. He led the Godrej team increating the first Indian-made typewriter, refrigerator and forklift trucks. He workedhard to realize his father’s dream of Pirojshanagar as an ideal garden-city. To hiscredit also is Godrej's successful foray into making crucial components for the Indianspace programme. Naval Godrej was instrumental in setting up the Indian MachineTools Association and established an international exhibition of machine toolmanufacturers, IMTEX. As his uncle and father before him, Naval was also devotedto many philanthropic and charitable works.Naval’s philosophy of responsible corporate behaviour and worker’s welfare was wellahead of his time. His soft-spoken, easy style of management and true devotion tothe ideal of the larger Godrej 'family' will always be remembered and emulated bythe generations that follow him.
