NydiaChiodo9 at 06:58, 5 May 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
'''Kanji Morarji Rathor<ref name=w/> / Kanzi Morarji Rathore<ref name=cg/>''' (1913–1989) was a [[Kutchi people|Kutchi]] industrialist from [[Raipur]], India. He is noted for founding first steel plant of [[Chhattisgarh]].

==Birth==
He was born to Morarji Karsan Rathor and Mithi Bai on 15 November 1913<ref name=w/> at village [[Khedoi]] in [[Princely State of Cutch]] in small but enterprising [[Mestri (community)|Mestri community]].<ref name=r/> His father, who initially worked as a railway contractor and later settled in [[Raipur]] and founded Mahakaushal Flour Mills and Raipur Electrical Engineering Co.<ref name=r/>

==Business career==
Kanji Morarji started his career in steel industry with M.P. Iron & Steel Works, which was his first venture in to steel business. He had also interest in real estate business and was Partner in Nav Nirman Co. and Nav Sarjan Engineering Co. based at Raipur.<ref name=w/>

Further, he inherited from his father, who died in 1938, the partnerships in Mahakaushal Flour Mills and Raipur Electrical Engineering Co <ref name=ww>{{cite book|title=Who's who in India|year=1986|publisher=Guide Publications|page=368|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eoNmAAAAMAAJ&q=raipur+}}</ref> Also he was Director in Jai Hind Oil Mills of Raipur from 1948 to 1951.<ref name=ww/> He served as a member of [[Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Limited|Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board Consultative Council]] for some years.<ref name=w/>

===Steel Industry===
He is noted for founding first steel plant of [[Chhattisgarh]] as a [[H.U.F.|joint family]] venture.<ref name=cg>{{cite book|title=Chhattisgarh Pre-B. Ed. Examination By Dr. Lal & Jain|page=21|isbn=9788174829344|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBxi6BRZMWsC&q=RATHORE+FIRST+STEEL+CHHATTISGARH&pg=RA1-PA21|last1=Lal & Jain|first1=Dr|date=September 2010}}</ref><ref>Chhattisgarh General Knowledge By Upkar Prakashan - Editorial Board,pp 21.</ref><ref name=r/> In year 1960 he established first steel plant in Chhattisgarh region named Himmat Steel Foundry Limited,<ref name=rc/> which was later made a public limited company in 1980.<ref name=w/><ref name=s/> Himmat Steel was a steel plant manufacturing the special steel casting with an installed capacity at 3000 tonnes having its factory at [[Kumhari]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Strategies in Development Planning: Professor Mohammad Shafi Felicitation Volume edited by Et. Al. A.K. Singh, Vinay Kumar Rai, Anand Prasad Mishra|year=1997|page=488|isbn=9788171009053|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TW0XCaXKmpIC&q=HIMMAT+STEEL+FOUNDRY&pg=PA488|last1=Shafi|first1=Mohammad}}</ref> He served as its chairman since its inception in 1960<ref name=rc>{{cite book|title=Geography of Industrial Complex By R. C Singh|year=1994|page=69|isbn=9788171005291|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4ApIgrqQl_AC&q=HIMMAT+STEEL+FOUNDRY&pg=PA69|last1=c Singh|first1=R.}}</ref> till his death in 1989.<ref name=r/> His younger brother Himmat Morarji Rathor, who was the Managing Director of the company after 1969, was mainly responsible for guiding company for next 2 decades.<ref name=r>Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj : A brief History & Glory by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007)</ref> But after 1989, An expansion programme, could not be executed properly mainly due to uncertain market conditions and non support of the banks. after 1989 Himmat Steel Foundry went into debts and subsequently closed down in year 1998–99,<ref name=r/> the assets of which were finally auctioned in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=हिम्मत स्टील की नीलामी 22 को|url=http://www.bhaskar.com/article/CHH-OTH-977543-1557076.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328233608/http://www.bhaskar.com/article/CHH-OTH-977543-1557076.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 March 2014|accessdate=28 July 2013|newspaper=Dainik Bhaskar|date=17 November 2010}}</ref>

==Public life==
He was closely associated with [[Ram Krishna Mission]] and served as President of Ram Krishna Mission, Raipur unit from 1968 till his death in 1989 and was also responsible for establishment of Ram Krishna Kutir at [[Amarkantak]].<ref name=w>{{cite book|title=Who's who in India|year=1986|publisher=Guide Publications|page=386|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eoNmAAAAMAAJ&q=cutch+gurjar+kshatriya+samaj}}</ref>

He served as a member of advisory board of [[Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya|Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Mahasabha]], its national and apex body from 1980 till his death in 1989 and was also served as President of Raipur unit of community for years 1968–77.<ref>{{cite book|title=Who's who in India|year=1986|publisher=Guide Publications|page=386|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eoNmAAAAMAAJ&q=cutch+gurjar+}}</ref><ref name=s>''Sansmriti'': A memoir written by Nanalal Amarsinh Chauhan of Bagalkot in Gujarati language published in 2004. The book gives details of re-organization and history of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas after 1950 till 1985 and also brief life-sketch of some noted people of the community.</ref><ref name=r/>

==Death==
He died in the year 1989 at Raipur.<ref name=s/><ref name=r/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rathor, Kanji Morarji}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:People from Kutch district]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in the steel industry]]
[[Category:People from Raipur]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chhattisgarh]]

Kanji Morarji Rathor - Revision history

NydiaChiodo9 at 06:58, 5 May 2026