S. L. Kirloskar
Encyclopedia
Shantanurao Laxmanrao Kirloskar (28 May 1903-24 April 1994) was an India
n businessman of Maharashtrian Karade Brahmin family. He was instrumental behind the rapid growth of the Kirloskar Group
.
He was the son of Laxmanrao Kirloskar
, who established the Kirloskar Group
and the township of Kirloskarwadi
. He earned a Bachelors of Science
degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in Cambridge
, Massachusetts
, U.S.
. He was also the among the batch of first Indians to graduate from MIT.The others being Chintalapati Satya Narayana Raju(Former Chief Engineer[THERMAL]Central Water Power Commission)of Visakhapatnam Dist under the Madras Presidency(Present Andhra Pradesh).
Shantanurao was a global thinker and an enterprising person who had the courage and the confidence in the potential of his own country even in the pre-independence era. He often said, "Economic preparedness is as vital as military preparedness." He always looked at India as a part of the rest of the world and worked towards making India globally competitive.
After the end of World War II
, the Kirloskar Group grew rapidly under the leadership of S. L. Kirloskar. In 1946, he established Kirloskar Electric Company and Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited at Bangalore
and Pune
respectively. He is credited with developing the manufacture of diesel engine indigenously as an import substitute after India attained independence
. He penned an autobiography
under the title Cactus and Roses.
He created a business empire that enjoyed one of the highest growth rates in Indian history, a staggering 32,401% growth of assets from 1950-1991. Today, the Kirloskar Group is India's largest Engineering Conglomerate.
In May 2003, Atal Bihari Vajpayee
, the then Prime Minister of India
, released a commemorative postage stamp
marking Mr. S.L. Kirloskar's 100th anniversary.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n businessman of Maharashtrian Karade Brahmin family. He was instrumental behind the rapid growth of the Kirloskar Group
Kirloskar Group
The Kirloskar Group is India's largest Engineering and Construction Conglomerate with sales exceeding $3.5 billion...
.
He was the son of Laxmanrao Kirloskar
Laxmanrao Kirloskar
Laxmanrao Kashinath Kirloskar was an Indian businessman. He was the founder of the Kirloskar Group.In 1888, he set up his first venture - a small bicycle repair shop at Belgaum...
, who established the Kirloskar Group
Kirloskar Group
The Kirloskar Group is India's largest Engineering and Construction Conglomerate with sales exceeding $3.5 billion...
and the township of Kirloskarwadi
Kirloskarwadi
Kirloskarwadi is an industrial township based around the Kirloskar Brothers factory in the Sangli district, in Maharashtra state, India. It is the second oldest industrial township in India...
. He earned a Bachelors of Science
Bachelors Of Science
Bachelors of Science is the stage name of Phil "Rene", Chris and Lukeino. They met in California and formed a successful act, quickly becoming one of the top drum and bass producers in the electronic music scene...
degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was also the among the batch of first Indians to graduate from MIT.The others being Chintalapati Satya Narayana Raju(Former Chief Engineer[THERMAL]Central Water Power Commission)of Visakhapatnam Dist under the Madras Presidency(Present Andhra Pradesh).
Shantanurao was a global thinker and an enterprising person who had the courage and the confidence in the potential of his own country even in the pre-independence era. He often said, "Economic preparedness is as vital as military preparedness." He always looked at India as a part of the rest of the world and worked towards making India globally competitive.
After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Kirloskar Group grew rapidly under the leadership of S. L. Kirloskar. In 1946, he established Kirloskar Electric Company and Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited at Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
respectively. He is credited with developing the manufacture of diesel engine indigenously as an import substitute after India attained independence
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. He penned an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
under the title Cactus and Roses.
He created a business empire that enjoyed one of the highest growth rates in Indian history, a staggering 32,401% growth of assets from 1950-1991. Today, the Kirloskar Group is India's largest Engineering Conglomerate.
In May 2003, Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is an Indian statesman who served as the tenth Prime Minister of India three times – first for a brief term of 13 days in 1996, and then for two terms from 1998 to 2004. After his first brief period as Prime Minister in 1996, Vajpayee headed a coalition government from...
, the then Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, released a commemorative postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
marking Mr. S.L. Kirloskar's 100th anniversary.