2401:4900:5B81:84E0:CC08:DBEA:B35:4DE3 at 14:03, 14 November 2021

2021-11-14T14:03:58Z

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{{short description|Indian businessman}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Karsanbhai Patel
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1945}}
| birth_place = [[Mehsana]], [[Gujarat]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence =
| nationality = [[India]]n
| children =
| spouse =
| occupation = [[Businessman]]
| net_worth = {{up}} [[US$]] 4.7 Billion <ref>https://www.forbes.com/profile/karsanbhai-patel/?list=india-billionaires&sh=4694a2252b1b</ref>
| alma_mater =
| website =
}}

''' Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel''' (born 1945, Ruppur, [[Mehsana]], [[Gujarat]]) is an [[India]]n billionaire businessman, industrialist and founder of the Rs. 52,500 crore [[Nirma]] group a company with major business interests in cements, detergents, soaps and cosmetics. As of 2021 Forbes has listed his net worth at US$ 3.9 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karsanbhai Patel|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/karsanbhai-patel/|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> He has interests in education, and founded leading pharmacy college (Nirma Institute of Pharmacy)and a leading engineering college/ university .

==Life==
Born into a farmer family from north Gujarat, Karsanbhai finished his B.Sc. in Chemistry at age 21 and worked as a lab technician, first in the New Cotton Mills, [[Ahmedabad]], of the [[Kasturbhai Lalbhai|Lalbhai group]] and then at the Geology and Mining Department of the state Government. In 1969, Karsanbhai started selling detergent powder, manufactured and packaged in his backyard. This was an after-office business - a one man company. Karsanbhai would cycle through the neighbourhoods selling handmade detergent
packets door to door. At a price of Rs. 3 per kg, (one third the price of
leading detergents), it was an instant success. Karsanbhai branded his detergent soap, Nirma, after the name of his daughter.
<ref>{{cite news | author =Swati Daftuar | title = ...and then NIRMA stormed in | quote = His Nirma, derived with love from the name of his daughter Nirupama, was going to be “Sabki Pasand Nirma”. | newspaper = The Hindu | date = November 2, 2014 | url =http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/and-then-nirma-stormed-in/article6555533.ece?google_editors_picks=true }}</ref>
After three years, Karsanbhai felt confident enough to quit his
job. Later he said, "The lack of any such precedent in my family made the venture fraught with failure. But farmers from North Gujarat are known for their spirit of enterprise."
Karsanbhai set up shop at small workshop in an [[Ahmedabad]] suburb. The Nirma brand
quickly established itself in [[Gujarat]] and
[[Maharashtra]].

The high quality and low price of the detergent made for great value.
Fuelled by housewife-friendly advertisement jingles, Nirma
revolutionized the detergent market, creating an entirely new segment in the market for detergent powder. At the time, detergent and soap manufacture was
dominated by [[multinational corporations]] with products like [[Surf (detergent)|Surf]] by
[[Hindustan Lever]], priced around Rs. 13 per kg. Within a decade,
Nirma was the largest selling detergent in India. Since production was labour-intensive, Nirma also became a leading employer (employing 14,000 people 2004).
Made without some phosphates, Nirma was also somewhat more environment friendly.

After establishing its leadership in economy-priced detergents, Nirma entered the premium segment, launching toilet soaps Nirma bath and Nirma beauty soap, and premium detergent
Super Nirma detergent. Ventures into shampoo and toothpaste were not as successful, but the edible salt Shudh is doing well.
Nirma beauty soap is one of the leading soaps, behind Lifebuoy and Lux.
Overall Nirma has a 20% market share in soap cakes and about 35% in detergents.
Nirma also has successful operations in neighbouring countries.

In 1995, Karsanbhai started the [[Nirma Institute of Technology]] in Ahmedabad, which grew into a leading engineering college in Gujarat. An [[Institute of Management, Nirma University|Institute of Management]] followed, with the entire structure being consolidated under the [[Nirma University of Science and Technology]] in 2003, overseen by the Nirma Education and Research Foundation. The [[Nirmalabs]] education project, aimed at training and incubating
entrepreneurs, was launched in 2004.

Karsanbhai's two sons, daughter and son-in-law are now at leading positions in the
Nirma organization:<ref>
{{cite web
|url = http://www.nirma.co.in/genesis.htm
|title = Nirma group home page: Genesis
|date = 2004
|access-date = 2006-11-24
}}</ref> Rakesh K Patel (MBA) looks after procurement and logistics, Hiren K Patel, chemical engineer and MBA, heads marketing and finance, while Kalpesh Patel is in human resources and Healthcare Industry (Nirlife healthcare).
==Awards and recognition==
In 2009, Karsanbhai was ranked #92 by Forbes magazine, for the list of India's Richest persons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Billionaires|
url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/77/india-billionaires-09_Karsanbhai-Patel_LCYW.html|work=Forbes Magazine}}</ref>

In 2001, Karsanbhai was awarded an honorary doctorate by [[Florida Atlantic University]], recognizing his exceptional entrepreneurial and philanthropic accomplishments.

In 1990, the Federation of Association of Small Scale Industries of India
(FASII), [[New Delhi]], awarded him the 'Udyog Ratna' award. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce felicitated him as an 'Outstanding Industrialist of the Eighties'. He has served twice as Chairman of the Development Council for Oils, Soaps and Detergents.

Patel has been conferred with [[Padma Shri]] Award for the year 2010.<ref name=pib1>{{cite press release |title=This Year's Padma Awards announced |url=http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=57307 |publisher=[[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] |date=25 January 2010 |access-date=25 January 2010}}</ref> The award was formally conferred by the President of India Mrs [[Pratibha Patil]].

It was also announced on June 7, 2013 that he bought 40 crores six-seater chopper. After [[Adani Group|Adani]] Group chairman [[Gautam Adani]] and [[Zydus]] group promoter [[Pankaj Patel]], Karsanbhai is the third [[Ahmedabad]]-based industrialist to buy a chopper.

In 2017, Karsanbhai was ranked #38 by Forbes magazine, for the list of India's Richest persons ($3.6 billion).<ref>https://www.forbesindia.com/lists/india-rich-list-2017/1655/1</ref>

In 2019, Karsanbhai was ranked #30 by Forbes magazine for the list of India’s richest persons ($3.9 billion).<ref>https://www.forbesindia.com/lists/india-rich-list-2019/1807/all</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Trade & Industry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patel, Karsanbhai}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Mehsana district]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Gujarat]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]

Karsanbhai Patel - Revision history

2401:4900:5B81:84E0:CC08:DBEA:B35:4DE3 at 14:03, 14 November 2021