Gautam Sarabhai

Gautam Sarabhai (4 March 1917 – 28 August 1995)[1] was an industrialist and businessman from the Sarabhai family of Ahmedabad.

Gautam Sarabhai
Alma materCambridge
Occupation(s)Industrialist, Educator, Businessman
Known forNational Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Notable workCalico Dome
SpouseKamalini Sarabhai
ChildrenMana Sarabhai, Shyama Sarabhai
FamilySarabhai family
Gautam Sarabhai, center, with family, at Gautam's home, overlooking the Sabarmati River, in 1952. L to R: N. R. Nadkarni, Dr. Rake, Gautam Sarabhai, Ambalal Sarabhai, Dr. H. B. Sreerangachar

Birth

Gautam was born to industrialist Seth Ambalal Sarabhai and Sarladevi on 4 March 1917. He was the fifth child and second son of the couple. His elder brother was Surhid and younger was Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program.

Family

He was married to Kamalini Sarabhai, a trained psychoanalyst from Tavistock Clinic and the founder of BM Institute of Mental Health.[2] The couple has two daughters named Shyama and Mana Sarabhai Brearly. Cricketer Mike Brearley is Gautam Sarabhai's son-in-law.[3]

Career

Gautam Sarabhai joined Calico in 1940 as a director at the age of 22. With his keen sense of initiative, entrepreneurial talent and an innate financial acumen, he succeeded his father as chairman of the company in 1945. He took control of other group companies after death of his elder brother Surhid Sarabhai in 1945, while Vikram Sarabhai was involved in developing India's space program.

He expanded the textile mills and diversified the group into chemicals, plastics and fibres, harnessing modern technology to meet the challenge of the future. He not only looked after the Calico Mills but also helped start the National Institute of Design along with his sister Gira Sarabhai in 1961.[4][5] The group suffered a setback in 1980s due to family feud also arose between the next of the kin of his brothers and Gautam and Surhid Jr and Kartikeya Sarabhai were ousted from management in 1982 by Gautam Sarabhai.[6][7]

Kamalini and Gautam also helped start The Psychotherapy Study Group and B. M. Institute of Mental Health.[8][2]

He was an avid lover of arts and had a collection of statues and paintings.[9]

Death

He died on 28 August 1995. After his death, the Sarabhai group came into the hands of Kartikeya Sarabhai.[3]

References
  1. Vikram Sarabhai’s sister wants idol theft case quashed
  2. "Kamalini Sarabhai (née Khatau)". 100 years of the Tavistock and Portman. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. Business India. A.H. Advani. January 1997. p. 86.
  4. Jon T. Lang (2002). A Concise History of Modern Architecture in India. Orient Blackswan. p. 48. ISBN 978-81-7824-017-6.
  5. Khushwant Singh (2009). Why I Supported the Emergency: Essays and Profiles. Penguin Books India. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-670-08324-4.
  6. Business World. Ananda Bazar Patrika Limited. October 1987. p. 130.
  7. India Today. Living Media India Pvt. Limited. 1982. pp. 56–57.
  8. Vikram Patel; R Thara (2003). Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Developing Countries: NGO Innovations in India. SAGE Publications. p. 213. ISBN 978-0-7619-9699-6.
  9. Vidya Dehejia (2013). Art of the Imperial Cholas. Columbia University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-231-51524-5.
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