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Ramji Hansraj Kamani (Gujarati: રામજી હંસરાજ કમાણી; 21 February 1888 – 14 May 1966) also called Ramjibhai, was an Indian entrepreneur and industrialist born in the village of Dhari in the Amreli district of Saurashtra, Baroda State. He was the patriarch of the Kamani group which broke up due to family infighting leading to litigation, financial crisis and labor trouble in the group companies and their closure. Nicol Road, a street in the Ballard Estate business district of Mumbai where the company office, Kamani Chambers is located, was rechristened Ramjibhai Kamani Marg in his honor.
Entrepreneurship
Ramjibhai Kamani pioneered many firsts for the Indian industrial sector, electric power transmission being one, the others being production of various derivatives of non-ferrous metals and alloys for use in specialized industrial applications viz. arsenical copper plates, cupronickel sheets and production of lead oxide and zinc oxide. Kamani Engineering Corporation (KEC) also manufactured a unique and innovative road roller with the trade name Tractmount — the design created a light-weight standalone road roller which could be easily transported in a truck and could be mounted on by a tractor for use at its destination. Several were sold all over India especially in hilly and mountainous areas where it would otherwise be difficult to lug a full-sized road roller up steep mountain roads.
Ramjibhai Kamani founded Kamani Engineering Corporation (KEC) in 1945 which became the first electric power transmission company in Asia and a pioneer in the field of electric power transmission and railway electrification. In 1950, the company received an order from the Indian government to supply transmission towers for the prestigious Bhakra Nangal Dam project and a steel tower fabrication plant was established in Bombay in partnership with R. Foures, France. This was augmented by a second unit in Jaipur, Rajasthan and by 1967, KEC was supplying three-fifths of India's demand for transmission towers.
By the 1970s, the Kamani group as it came to be known, consisted of seven companies with several manufacturing units in Bombay, Bhavnagar and Jaipur, and doing business in varied fields ranging from metals to rubber and chemicals to jewel bearings not to mention power, in both national and global markets.
By the 1970s KEC had carried out turnkey power transmission projects in various countries across the globe. With eighty per cent of its turnover of almost ₹800 million (US$12 million) being earned through exports, KEC soon became the largest manufacturer of transmission towers in India and the second largest in the world, next in rank to SAE of Italy.
KEC accumulated heavy financial debt during the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis both of which adversely affected international transactions conducted in US Dollars as world crude oil prices quadrupled. Completing its project commitments while incurring heavy losses and unable to clear its debts, the company was auctioned by the Maharashtra government in 1982 for recovery of dues and was acquired by the RPG Group and in 1984, renamed KEC International.
Historical timeline of Ramji H. Kamani and the Kamani Group
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 21 February 1888 | Ramjibhai Kamani born in Dhari village to Hansraj and Dudhima |
| 25 November 1892 | Brother Narbheram born in Dhari village |
| 28 February 1898 | Wife Jadavlaxmi born |
| May 1911 | Ramjibhai marries Jadavlaxmi |
| 1912 | Comes to Calcutta, is helped by local businessman Jeevanlal Motichand Shah and begins selling aluminium utensils door-to-door |
| 1914 | Ramjibhai and Jeevanlal Motichand Shah collaborate to supply aluminium sheets to Tatas |
| 6 April 1917 | First child, son Poonamchand born |
| 1917 | First factory set up in Calcutta for manufacture of alumnium utensils |
| December 1919 | Reaches self-set target for earning and retires from business for a short time |
| 1920 | Gives interest-free loans to teachers in Amreli Distributes free food and medicines to patients suffering from an influenza epidemic in Amreli Joins Mahatma Gandhi's Non co-operation movement Starts Khadi institute in Amreli |
| 20 May 1920 | Second son, Rasik born in Chorwad village, Junagadh State |
| 1922 | Becomes member of Khadi Mandal Mahatma Gandhi visits Ramjibhai's house in Amreli |
| 9 April 1924 | First daughter, Sarla born in Chorwad village, Junagadh State |
| 1926 | Takes ill and moves to Tatanagar (Jamshedpur) to brother Narbheram's house |
| January 1926 | Is invited by Jeevanlal Shah to join him once again in Calcutta Both start a business of aluminium utensils Takes on rent a house at 10/1 Elgin Road, Calcutta |
| 17 January 1926 | Third son Navin born |
| 1927 | Jeevanlal Company's 'Crown' trademark registered for manufacture of aluminium utensils Mahatma Gandhi visits Ramjibhai's house in Calcutta Gandhi asks Ramjibhai to wear Khadi when he goes abroad |
| 1 May 1927 | First foreign trip—visits trade fair in Leipzig, Germany The name 'Kamani' used for the first time on luggage |
| December 1927 | Returns to India on a freighter |
| 17 January 1928 | Second daughter Nalini born |
| 1929 | Jeevanlal Shah's company made into a limited company with Canadian assistance and named Jeevanlal (1929) Limited Freedom fighter and future Indian ambassador to the United States, Gaganbihari Mehta and his wife Saudamini visit Ramjibhai's house in Calcutta on their way to Rangoon, Burma Pratap C. Gaikwad, Colonel Shivaj Singh, Vithalbhai Patel also visit Ramjibhai's house Family begins eating in Chinaware Attends Kathiawar Rajkiya Parishad conference in Bombay while residing at Birla House, Sandhurst Road |
| 19 December 1929 | Fourth son Hasmukh born |
| 11 November 1931 | Fifth son Navnit born |
| January 1932 | On Gandhi's request urges Jamnalal Bajaj to join Non co-operation movement in Amreli and assist in development activities |
| 8 May 1932 | Establishes Udyog Mandir (forum for industry) in Amreli Becomes President of Khedut Shala (school for agricultural studies) in Amreli Opens school for agricultural training in Jesangpara, a suburb of Amreli |
| 8 October 1932 | Suggests in a meeting that people residing within a radius of 24 miles of Amreli begin wearing self-stitched Khadi clothes |
| 1932 | Kathiawar Swadeshi Sangh established with Ramjibhai as President Harijan Nivaran Sangh (to abolish untouchability) established with Ramjibhai as Chairman |
| 1933 | Manufacture of Khadi proliferates |
| 19 October 1933 | Fifth and youngest son Chandravadan born |
| 1934 | Starts a farm on the basis of model farm in Dhari village, names it 'Ram Baugh' |
| 1936 | A society from plantation of fruit trees established with Ramjibhai as President Establishes a gau shala (home for cows) in Amreli Establishes a home for old and weak farm animals in Visavadar village, Junagadh State Eldest son Poonamchand sent to Japan to study agriculture |
| 1937 | Sir Sayyaji Rao Gaekwad III, Maharaja of Baroda felicitates Ramjibhai with the title of Rajyaratna (Jewel of the State) for his role in the advancement of the field of agriculture |
| 12 July 1937 | Last child, daughter Mridula born in Amreli |
| 1938 | Becomes Managing Director of Mukand Iron and Steel Works Limited, Bombay jointly owned by Jamnalal Bajaj and Jeevanlal Shah Eldest son Poonamchand also joins the company |
| 1939 | Purchases M/s. W. Leslie and Company through goodwill Purchases a small furnace for melting of scrap metal alloys |
| 1940 | Leaves Mukand Iron and Steel Works and returns to Calcutta to manufacture gunmetal for use in production of arms for the War Begins manufacturing brass sheets at one Mr. Asmatullah's rolling mill |
| 28 October 1940 | Establishes factory on Dhanteras day (under the W. Leslie and Company name) laying the foundation of the 'Kamani Group' in Calcutta |
| 1941 | Fearing Japanese invasion, Government of India requests Ramjibhai to shift his factory from Calcutta to a safe place Ramjibhai re-establishes W. Leslie and Company at Bombay |
| March 1942 | Shifts Calcutta factory to Mehsana Establishes W. Leslie (Punjab) at Lahore |
| September 1942 | Shifts factory from Mehsana to Jaipur Establishes Jaipur Metal Industries |
| 1942 | Establishes enamelware factory at Kalyan, Bombay |
| 1943 | Jaipur Metal Industries is converted into a public limited company Arsenical copper rods manufactured for the first time in India at Jaipur factory Bombay office opened at Devkaran Nanji Street, Fort Factory set up at Kurla for manufacture of brass and copper utensils and aluminium sheets |
| 1944 | Establishes Kamani Metals and Alloys Limited (KMA) at Bombay (first company to bear the 'Kamani' name) Cupronickel strips manufactured for the first time in India, fabricated specially for use in marine vessels (KMA would later supply cupronickel sheets to the Indian Navy) Arsenical copper plates also manufactured |
| 1945 | Establishes Kamani Engineering Corporation Limited (KEC) Brass and copper manufacturing unit of W. Leslie and Company shifted to KEC at Kurla Manufacture of aluminium, brass and stainless steel utensils also shifted to KEC and manufacturing continues up to the beginning of 1960 |
| 13 February 1945 | Jaipur Chamber of Commerce established with Ramjibhai as founding President |
| May 1945 | Ramjibhai purchases Marlboro House at Pedder Road, Bombay as the family residence, names it 'Kamani House' |
| 11 June 1945 | Indian Non-ferrous Metals Manufactures' Association established in Calcutta with Ramjibhai as President Government introduces tariff protection for non-ferrous metals and alloys later that year |
| 22 October 1945 | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru felicitated by union leader of Jaipur factory Kalyan factory closed |
| 1946 | Distribution of metals under tariff protection is sought Western India Sheet Rollers' Association established in Bombay Group companies' office shited to Kamani Chambers at Nicol Road, Ballard Estate, Bombay Kamani group become agents for import of various raw materials, machinery, etc. Office opened in Australia A depot for retail business is opened in Gulalwadi, Bombay Ramjibhai suffers a massive heart attack |
| 1947 | Lahore factory (of W. Leslie and Company) is lost to Pakistan on account of partition Expansion of agency division for import of electrical and mechanical machinery and equipment and spare parts Group companies join aluminium pool for allocation of raw materials |
| 1948 | Ramjibhai tours the US and Europe |
| 23 March 1948 | Canteen and medical facilities opened for workers at Kurla |
| 22 April 1948 | Minister for Industry and Supply, Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee inaugurates Robertson rolling mills at Kurla factory Provident fund and gratuity schemes introduced for workers |
| 1950 | Industrial sheets manufactured for the first time in India The Kamani group acquires agencies for tractors (Escorts), powerplant, rolling stock and rolling mills Production of copper conductors begins at Jaipur factory KEC receives its first order from the Government of India for supply of electric power transmission towers for the Bhakra Nangal Dam project KEC collaborates with R. Foures, France for the project |
| October 1950 | KEC's tower division established |
| 1951 | Production of cadmium-copper conductors at Jaipur factory and zinc oxide at Bombay factory begins Eldest son Poonamchand becomes managing director of the Group companies |
| 16 May 1951 | Kamani Metallic Oxides established |
| 15 August 1951 | Galvanizing section at KEC begins |
| 1952 | Production of electric meters begins at Jaipur factory Manufacture of zinc oxide begins in Kurla, Bombay |
| 1953 | Wagon assembly plant established in Okha, Gujarat Production of cadmium-copper conductors begins in Jaipur The name 'Jaipur Metal Industries Limited' is changed to 'Jaipur Metals and Electricals Limited' |
| 1954 | Production of 'Tractmount' road rollers begins at KEC's Kurla factory |
| 10 October 1955 | Ceylon Metal Industries Limited set up in Colombo in a joint venture with one Mr. Chhotubhai Bhatt |
| 23 June 1956 | Tractmount road roller exhibited |
| May 1958 | Monthly target of 1000 tons achieved at KEC |
| 1958 | Export division established at KEC |
| 19 June 1959 | Kamani Tubes Private Limited established |
| 4 October 1959 | Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru visits Kurla factory, lays down foundation stone for Kamani Community Centre |
| 17 December 1959 | Red lead litharge manufacturing begins at Kamani Metallic Oxides, export begins |
| 2 January 1960 | Rod mills inaugurated by Union Minister for Commerce, Manubhai Shah |
| 20 August 1960 | Manufacture of copper and brass rods begins at Kamani Tubes |
| February 1960 | Kamani Tubes collaborates with Yorkshire Imperial Metal Company for manufacture of tubes |
| 7 May 1960 | Kamani Foundation, Kamani Charity Trust, Kamani Community Centre established |
| 20 December 1960 | Indian Rubber Regenerating Company (IRRCO) established in Thane, Bombay |
| 15 June 1961 | Foundation stones for Kamani Science College and Prataprai Arts College laid in Amreli by Dr. Jivraj Mehta, Chief Minister of Gujarat |
| 25 October 1962 | IRRCO begins production |
| 15 September 1963 | Manufacture of reclaim rubber begins at IRRCO, Thane |
| 15 October 1963 | Industrial Jewels Limited established at Bhavnagar for manufacture of jewel bearings for watches |
| 1964 | Kamani Tubes begins export |
| June 1964 | KEC's tower testing facility shifted to Jaipur from Kurla |
| May 1965 | Ramjibhai embarks on his last trip abroad - to Europe |
| 19 June 1965 | Ramjibhai returns from his foreign trip |
| 26 June 1965 | Ramjibhai attends office for the last time |
| 27 June 1965 | Ramjibhai Kamani breathes his last |
| 14 May 1966 | Ramjibhai Kamani Memorial Trust formed |