Walchand Hirachand Doshi was born in 1891. He started his career by joining his family business. Walchand’s family was engaged in business like shipbuilding and textiles but Walchand was particularly interested in aircraft manufacturing.
We’re going to share the story of a truly charismatic industrialist who established a company in the pre-Independence era, which continues to contribute to ‘Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat’ today.
You may have heard of names like Ambani, Adani, Tata and others among leading businessmen-but have you ever heard of Walchand Hirachand Doshi?
Walchand Hirachand Doshi had established a company which is, of course, known to people by and large in the country. Yes, we are talking about-Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has a market cap of Rs 2,93,458 crore and investors have made enough money through its shares.
Walchand Hirachand Doshi was born in 1882. He started his career by joining his family business. Walchand’s family was engaged in business like shipbuilding and textiles but Walchand was particularly interested in aircraft manufacturing.
Walchand established Hindustan Aircraft Works (HAW) in 1940 which was India’s first venture in aircraft manufacturing. Initially, the company was responsible for overhauling and maintenance of aircrafts. But, Walchand wanted to see the company as India’s aircraft manufacturing unit.
The government had acquired the stake in Hindustan Aircraft Works in 1945 and renamed it as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The government’s initiative gave an impulse in the field of industrialization in the country.
HAL got assignment of maintenance and overhauling in its initial days but soon it started manufacturing fighter jets, trainer jets and transport aircrafts.