Igorsiw at 22:54, 7 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian businessman}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Indravadan Modi
| alias = Medicine Man of India
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1926|02|18}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|11|26|1926|02|18}}
| death_place = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India
| education = University Department Of Chemical Technology, Bombay University
| occupation = Founder of [[Cadila Pharmaceuticals]]
Founder of IRM
Founder of CPL Bio
| spouse = Shilaben
| children = 1
}}

'''Indravadan Ambalal Modi''' (18 February 1926 – 26 November 2012)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/cadilas-indravadan-modi-the-man-who-fought-angrezi-dawa/article20533074.ece#|title=Cadila's Indravadan Modi — the man who fought angrezi dawa|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref> was an Indian [[Pharmaceuticals industry|pharmaceuticals]] industrialist who founded [[Cadila Pharmaceuticals]] in [[Ahmedabad]]. He is popularly known as the 'Medicine Man of India' for his contribution to the pharmaceutical industry of India post independence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-11-26|title=Indravadan A Modi: The medicine man of India|url=https://www.deshgujarat.com/2012/11/26/indravadan-a-modi-the-medicine-man-of-india/|access-date=2020-10-09|website=DeshGujarat|language=en-US}}</ref>

Modi co-founded Cadila Laboratories in 1951 along with his childhood friend Raman Patel to offer cheaper drugs in [[India]]. In 1995, the company split into two separate entities; Raman Patel formed [[Cadila Healthcare]] while Modi named his company [[Cadila Pharmaceuticals]].<ref name=":1" />

== Early life ==
Modi was born in [[Hansot]], [[Bharuch]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcare/biotech/pharmaceuticals/cadila-pharma-chairman-indravadan-modi-dies-at-87/articleshow/17374915.cms?from=mdr|title=Cadila Pharma Chairman Indravadan Modi dies at 87|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref> He lost his mother while he was very young and was brought up by his grandmother. He graduated in [[Bachelor of Science]], [[Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda|Baroda College]] in 1948{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} and came down to [[Bombay]] for higher studies. He studied [[Pharmacy|Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals]] at [[Institute of Chemical Technology|University Department of Chemical Technology]] (UDCT).<ref>{{cite news |title="Bicycle to a Rolls Royes": The Iron Man of India, I A MODI |url=https://pharmaleaders.tv/bicycle-to-a-rolls-royes-the-iron-man-of-india-i-a-modi/ |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=Pharmaleaders}}</ref> He then did a brief stint as a chief chemist in a chemical manufacturing unit before quitting to start his own venture.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.deshgujarat.com/2012/11/26/indravadan-a-modi-the-medicine-man-of-india/|title=Indravadan A Modi: The medicine man of India|date=2012-11-26|website=DeshGujarat|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref>

== Founding of Cadila Laboratories ==
Post [[independence]], India was dominated by multinational drug making companies. There were few Indian drug manufacturing facilities in the market.<ref name=":2"/> Modi, in 1952, quit his job and established Cadila Laboratories with his close friend, [[Ramanbhai Patel]], a pharmacy professor. They pooled in their resources to start making vitamins to treat [[Anemia]], a disease prevalent in India at that time.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0607/companies-cadila-healthcare-india-pankaj-patel-dark-horse.html?sh=2617af544b7a|title=Dark Horse|last=Karmali|first=Naazneen|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-10-14}}</ref> In the early days, his wife and grandmother helped out in the company. He would take out Rs. 250 for his monthly expenses and would invest the rest into the business. Cadila started developing innovative products such as Livirubra and Cadila Gripe and formulations such as Isopar for treatment of [[Tuberculosis|TB]]. The company focused on providing innovative products every two years.<ref name=":2" /> In 1967, Cadila set up its first factory. In 1970, R&D activities started happening in the company.<ref name=":2" />

=== Cadila's First Employee ===
While Modi was one of the founder of the company, his wife, Shilaben was the first employee of Cadila Laboratories.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/cadila-pharmas-first-employee-passes-away/article9451597.ece|title=Cadila Pharma's 'first employee' passes away|last=Datta|first=Jyothi|website=@businessline|language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}}</ref> She would wash and label the product herself from a 3-room apartment in Azad Society that was taken on rent for Cadila Laboratories. She inspired her husband to enter into the business of Gripe Water, the first indigenous Gripe Water made in the country.<ref name=":6" />

== Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Cadila Healthcare ==
In the year 1995, Cadila Laboratories split up into [[Cadila Pharmaceuticals]] and Cadila Healthcare. Modi, owner of Cadila Pharmaceuticals, brought in his son, Rajiv Modi to take care of the business.<ref name=":3" />

== Philanthropy ==
In the year 1943, Modi's cousin died due to severe illness at the age of 18, due to lack of proper healthcare. Using this as an inspiration, he set up a Kakaba and Kala-Budh Public Charitable Trust under the Bombay Public Charitable Trust Act. Under this, he set up a 30-bed [[hospital]] in the village of Hansot to provide modern healthcare facilities to those who cannot afford it at one-third of the original rates.<ref name=":2"/>

The trust also aids and [[Gujarat]] Government's rural development programs.

== Distinguished positions ==

* Founding member, Resurgent Group of Gujarat.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOJfCgAAQBAJ&q=indravadan+modi+awards&pg=PT17|title=Management Guru Narendra Modi|last=Shekhar|first=Himanshu|year=1901|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|isbn=9788128828034|language=en}}</ref>
* Member, National Working Group on Patent Laws, India (NWGPL).<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/industrialist-indravadan-ambalal-modi-and-founder-of-cadila-pharmaceuticals-died-1353992214-1|title=Industrialist Indravadan Ambalal Modi and Founder of Cadila Pharmaceuticals died|date=2012-11-27|website=Jagranjosh.com|access-date=2019-10-16}}</ref>
* Member, Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association ([[IDMA]])<ref name=":4" />
* Contributor to [[Indian Patents Act]], 1970<ref name=":4" />
* Contributor, 1986 Drug Policy of Government of India<ref name=":4" />
* Vice President, CHEMEXCIL<ref name=":2"/>
* Promoter, B.V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development Centre (PERD)<ref name=":2"/>
* President, [[Ahmedabad Management Association]], 1991-1993<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=2664|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051104100433/http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=2664|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 4, 2005|title=In Conversation With I. A. Modi|website=Lokvani|access-date=2019-10-16}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==

* Lifetime Achievement award, June 2005, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/indravadan-modi-valji-patel-get-lifetime-award-105061501086_1.html|title=Indravadan Modi, Valji Patel get lifetime award|last=|first=|date=|website=business-standard.com|access-date=}}</ref>
* Express Pharma Pulse Lifetime Achievement Award<ref name=":2"/>
* Indian Pharmaceutical Association's Ramanbhai Patel Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award<ref name=":2"/>
* Lifetime Achiever, Power 100: Eminent Personalities of Gujarat<ref name=":2"/>
* Gujarat Glories Power People 50<ref name=":2"/>
* Schroff Memorial National Award 1992<ref name=":5" />
* Outstanding Entrepreneur Award 1993, The Federation of Gujarat Mills and Industries, Baroda<ref name=":5" />
* Lifetime Achievement Award, 2009, All India Medical Association<ref name=":2"/>
* Lifetime Achievement Award, 2010, 3rd Annual Pharmaceutical Leadership Summit by Pharmaceutical Leadership<ref name=":2"/>

== Death ==
In his last days, Indravadan Modi developed a [[lung disease]] which started deteriorating and was put on a [[ventilator]] for the last 9 days. On November 26, 2012, Indravadan Modi succumbed to the infection. He was cremated in Cadila's campus of [[Dholka]], near Ahmedabad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Pharma-legend-I-A-Modi-passes-away-legacy-lives/articleshow/17381185.cms|title=Pharma legend I A Modi passes away, legacy lives|date=November 27, 2012|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-10-16}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian industrialists]]
[[Category:Gujarati businesspeople]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]

Indravadan Modi - Revision history

Igorsiw at 22:54, 7 February 2026