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{{Short description|Indian chemical engineer}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}{{Use Indian English|date = December 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Keki Hormusji Gharda
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1929|09|25}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Institute of Chemical Technology|UDCT]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Science|Bachelors in]] [[Chemical Engineering]])}}<br/>[[University of Michigan, Ann Arbor]] {{small|([[PhD]])}}
| occupation = Chemical Industrialist
| organization = Gharda Chemicals
| awards = [[Padma Shri]]<br>[[Chemical Pioneer Award]]
}}

'''Keki Hormusji Gharda''' (born 25 September 1929) is a prominent Indian chemical engineer, chemist and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and managing director of Gharda Chemicals Limited,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Luke|first1=Alexander K.|title=Passport of Gujarat: Hazardous Journeys (Chapter 22: Gharda Chemicals Ltd.)|date=2015|publisher=Manas|page=313|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tvG7CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA313|access-date=2016-04-22|isbn=9788170495024}}</ref> a [[Research and Development|R&D]]-based company with business interests in [[agrochemical]]s, [[polymer]]s, and high performance [[pigment]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gharda.com/about-us/|title=COMPANY PROFILE – Gharda Chemicals|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> He was honoured by the [[Government of India]] with the award of [[Padma Shri]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/specials/in-depth/list-of-padma-awardees-2016/article8151985.ece |title=List of Padma awardees 2016 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2017-05-01}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Gharda was born on 25 September 1929, to Hormusji and Ratanbai in a Kadmi [[Zoroastrian]] [[Parsi]] family in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news |last= Engineer |first=Shernaaz |title=Man with a Mission |url=https://zoroastrians.net/2009/09/30/dr-keki-gharda/ |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[Jam-e-Jamshed]] |date=October 1, 2009}}</ref><ref name="DNA at 80"/> He attended [[St. Stanislaus High School]], in [[Bandra]], [[Bombay]], graduating in 1941.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dr. Keki Gharda visits his Alma Mater |url=http://stanislites.org/alumni/content/dr-keki-gharda-visits-his-alma-mater |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=stanislites.org |language=en}}</ref> He acquired Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Technology Degree from University Department of Chemical Technology at the [[University of Mumbai|University of Bombay]] (now the [[Institute of Chemical Technology]]). He then obtained a master's degree and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the [[University of Michigan, Ann Arbor]] in 1952 and 1959, respectively.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6kpYAAAAMAAJ|title=TechniUM.|date=1974|publisher=UM Libraries|pages=72|language=en}}</ref> He also studied at [[University Of Oklahoma]].<ref name="businesstoday"/>

== Career ==
Gharda began his career as an Assistant Professor, Process Design & Chemical Engineering at the [[University of Oklahoma]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghardafoundation.org/drgharda_awards.html|title=Dr. K.H.Gharda ( Dr. Keki Hormoosaji Gharda )|website=www.ghardafoundation.org|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref><ref name="cewindia">{{cite news |last1=Dalvi |first1=Girija |title=A First Generation Entrepreneur with a Noble Heart |url=https://issuu.com/cewindia/docs/april_2015/20 |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=Chemical Engineering World |date=April 2015 |language=en}}</ref> During this time he was granted his first two patents for projects he undertook for an oil company.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Upon his return to India, Gharda briefly taught as a visiting faculty member at UDCT<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fl_iBQAAQBAJ|title=An Unfinished Agenda: My Life in the Pharmaceuticals Industry|last=Reddy|first=K. Anji|date=2015-01-15|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5118-921-3|language=en}}</ref> and then established Gharda Chemicals. His strategy of producing off-patent at extremely cheap prices led to successful start for the company.<ref name="businesstoday">{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/features/who-is-keki-gharda,-and-why-is-he-being-wooed/story/4499.html|title=Who is Keki Gharda, and why is he being wooed?- Business News|website=www.businesstoday.in|access-date=2019-12-28}}</ref> His move into agrochemicals was a result of being invited to be an observer of an investigation by the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission into an alleged monopolistic product.<ref name=":1" /> However, his foray in bulk drug production was not successful.<ref name=":0" />

Among his many awards, Gharda was elected to be a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1976 in the field of Process Design. Other awards include the Distinguished Alumnus award by the UDCT and the Indian Chemical Councils Lifetime Achievement Award. For his contribution to chemistry and chemical engineering, Gharda is a recipient of the [[American Institute of Chemists]]'s [[Chemical Pioneer Award]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chemical Pioneer Award Winners |url=https://www.theaic.org/award_winners/chem_pioneer.html |website=www.theaic.org |publisher=[[American Institute of Chemists]] |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> He also got the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce And Industry ([[FICCI]]) Award For Research And Technology for the Development And Commercialisation of Poly Ether Ether Ketone ([[PEEK]]).{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

==Gharda Chemicals Ltd.==
Gharda Chemicals Limited, established in 1967,<ref name=":3" /> is a research and development company manufacturing agrochemicals, high performance pigments, and high performance polymers. It has five manufacturing units located across the country at [[Dombivli]] in Mumbai, [[Lote, India|Lote Parshuram]] in [[Chiplun]] (Maharashtra), [[Panoli, Gujarat|Panoli]] & [[Ankleshwar]], Saykha, [[Bharuch]] in Gujarat and [[Samba, Jammu and Kashmir|Samba]] in [[Jammu Division|Jammu]].

Innovation through research and development has seen the company rise from a rented shed<ref name=":1" /> in 1964 to a leadership position in the agrochemical industry.<ref name="cewindia"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jacobs|first1=Dan|title=Gharda: The Iconoclast|url=http://www.agribusinessglobal.com/agrichemicals/the-iconoclast/|date=6 October 2015|publisher=Agri-Business Global|access-date=2016-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pursuit and Promotion of Science : The Indian Experience (Chapter XXIII – Chemical Engineering and Industry)|url=http://www.iisc.ernet.in/insa/ch23.pdf|publisher=Indian National Science Academy|access-date=2016-04-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Luke|first1=Alexander K.|title=Passport of Gujarat: Hazardous Journeys (Chapter 22: Gharda Chemicals Ltd.)|date=2015|publisher=Manas|page=323|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tvG7CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA323|access-date=2016-04-22|isbn=9788170495024}}</ref> The company was valued at over {{INR}}1,200 [[crore]] in early 2000s by [[DuPont (1802–2017)|Dupont]], which had tried to acquire it.<ref name="Jayakumar B.S."/> In 2009, the turnover & profits were roughly {{INR}}1,000 crore & {{INR}}100 crore.<ref name="businesstoday"/> In 2018, the company had a turnover of {{INR}}950-crore and valuation of the privately held company was estimated at anywhere in the range of {{INR}}3,000-9,000 crore.<ref name="Jayakumar B.S."/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sunkara |first1=Keshav |title=KKR, Blackstone eye stake in Gharda Chemicals; Binny Bansal-backed VC firm gets funding |url=https://www.vccircle.com/kkr-blackstone-eye-stake-in-gharda-chemicals-bandhan-bank-gruh-finance-may-merge |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[VCCircle]] |date=7 January 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gharda is married to Abaan, who was a graduate of [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]] and also earned a PhD from the University of Mumbai. She died 2017. He is an avid reader and has promoted Bai Ratnabai Gharda Library in [[Bandra]], Mumbai. Gharda has said that he follows a frugal lifestyle.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|title=How Keki Gharda stunned the MNC giants|url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/may/12inter.htm|access-date=2016-04-22|work=Rediff.com|date=12 May 2007}}</ref><ref name="Jayakumar B.S."/>

Gharda is also known for his philanthropic contributions, with the first foundation started in 1966.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gharda Foundation |url=http://www.ghardafoundation.org/aboutus.html |website=www.ghardafoundation.org |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> The Abaan and Keki Gharda Memorial Trust named after his wife and him has been formed in 2009 and receives 99% of the proceeds from the sale of his shares in the company.<ref name="DNA at 80">{{cite news |last1=Eluvangal |first1=Sreejiraj |title=At 80, Gharda wants to discover new tech, give fortune to charity |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/interview-at-80-gharda-wants-to-discover-new-tech-give-fortune-to-charity-1277439 |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[DNA India]] |date=March 16, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="businesstoday"/> He has promoted the Gharda Scientific Research Foundation, a non-profit limited-liability company, dedicated to develop and research basic technologies.<ref name="Jayakumar B.S.">{{cite news |last1=Jayakumar |first1=P. B. |title=Gharda Chemicals promoters to sell stake to push research, philanthropy |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/gharda-chemicals-promoters-to-sell-stake-to-push-research-philanthropy-109072000023_1.html |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=[[Business Standard]] |date=20 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Foundation to sell Gharda stake for funding R&D |url=https://www.worldofchemicals.com/media/foundation-to-sell-gharda-stake-for-funding-rd/1838.html |work=worldofchemicals.com |date=6 October 2018}}</ref> The aim is to use the earnings of this foundation to promote more technologies in the areas of health and education.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gharda Chemicals to sell stake for research, philanthropy |url=https://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---1403.htm |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=AG news |date=July 22, 2009 |language=en}}</ref> He also founded the [http://www.git-india.edu.in Gharda Institute of Technology] in [[Ratnagiri District]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Shree Dr. K. H. Gharda Research Scientist Gharda Chemicals GIT |url=http://git-india.edu.in/git/about_drgharda.html |website=git-india.edu.in |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://git-india.edu.in/git/about_drgharda.html Biography at Gharda-Tech]
*[http://www.ghardafoundation.org Gharda Foundation]
*[http://www.process-worldwide.com/dr-gharda-talks-about-gharda-chemicals-contribution-to-the-indian-chemical-industry-a-304255/ Dr Gharda Talks About Gharda Chemicals' Contribution to the Indian Chemical Industry" 21 February 2011]

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gharda, Keki Hormusji}}
[[Category:20th-century Indian inventors]]
[[Category:Indian chemical engineers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:University of Michigan College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:University of Oklahoma faculty]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in trade and industry]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian chemists]]
[[Category:Scientists from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Institute of Chemical Technology alumni]]

Keki Hormusji Gharda - Revision history

UpdateBot at 00:13, 20 April 2022