Page 50 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

Koyana Dam was the brainchild of Ogale brothers. Shripad
became President of Maratha Chamber. Shripad was a strong
patriot and hosted underground workers of ‘Patri Sarkar’, like
Y.B. Chavan Nana Patil, Kissan Veer etc. They were in safe and
secret custody of Ogales. Therefore, after the death of Mahatma
Gandhi, when enraged non-Brahmin masses had started riots
arsons and fires during 1948, both Satara Congress leaders
and non-Brahmin workers of the factory defended by strongly
standing against the attackers.

Kirloskars
This group is among the top 20 industrial houses of the
country. It exports its products to more than 80 countries. It
was started in 1888 when Tilak was the exalted leader and
visionary thinker of Maharashtra, who inspired hundreds of
entrepreneurs. Laxamanrao the founder used to run a bicycle
shop. He had native engineering aptitude and skills, who along
with his elder brother Ram jointly approached Balasaheb Pant
Raja of Aundh who offered them a vast piece of land on lease in
his in the vicinity of Karad. Laxanrao had made a well thought
out plan of producing Nangars (Steel Ploughs). India had more
than 70 %people depending on farming during 1888, Therefore,
obviously there was a potential to ignite demand and market
the product. ‘Kirloskar Nangar’ became as popular and well
known as ‘Prabhakar Kandil’.
His son Shantanu who was a MIT graduate in engineering
joined Kirloskar and operations shifted to Khadki Pune in 1950.
He started manufacturing diesel engines which are used to lift
water from the source to the crop fields. Here too, the market
potential was infinite. Kirloskar diesel reached almost 80% of
rural households and brought a great fortune to the industrial
house. From 1950 to 1991 the company had grown at a rate of
3240%.
In 1985-86 Fergusson College celebrated its centenary. Along
with Principal Bal Gadgil, I approached Shantanurao for the
‘Donation Drive’. He not only gave a sumptuous donation
but also talked to his colleagues from Pune based industries
who also gave us good amounts of donations for honoring the

Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata 48