50
Years Ago - (Garavi Gujrat-19th February
1999)
On December
15th , 1948 the First Indian High Commissioner to Britain Mr. V. K.
Krishna Menon formally inaugurated the opening of the first Indian
industry in Britain ‘Jai - Hind Works’ at Mozart Street, London W10. Some
twenty one years later on Diwali Day 8th November 1969 another
distinguished High Commissioner, late Shri Raja Apa Pant, witnessed the
plant’s progression when the factory moved its operation to its
prestigious place in Minerva Road, London NW10.
At its Golden
Jubilee on 20th December 1998 speaking at the reception and photographic
exhibition at ‘Laguna’ the present High Commissioner to Brotain, His
Excellency Shri Lalit Mansingh, paid tribute to the plant’s founder late
Shri Pandurang Banarase, a patriot, philanthropist and an enterpreur par
excellence for his work for Swaraj in the India League, Assam Earthquake
Relief Fund 1950 with Lady Mountbatten and the India Defence Fund 1962
Chinese Crisis and to his distinguished preceding High Commissioners for
their encouragement in this enterprise.
An introductory speech by
Dr. Deshmukh (former staff member of Jai-Hind Works and ex Mayor of
Camden) was followed by a novel suggestion by His Excellency that Hindi
film be made about the founder’s fascinating life. Dayanand Banarase, son
of the founder thanked His Excellency and proposed a toast to continued
co-operation between the Indian High Commission and Jai Hind Works. He
also praised V. K. Krishna Menon’s contribution to post independence
India’s history and presented His Excellency with an impressive photo of
1948 opening ceremony. He further obeserved his late father’s philisophy
as ‘ action not words, deads not promises’. Mr Harry Sexton, aged 82, a
retired chief Engineer with 45 years od dedicated service proposed a toast
to the memories of late Mr. & Mrs. P. S. Banarase. After a sumptuous
dinner live musical entertainment was provided by a group led by Pratap
Banarase playing tenor saxophone in Jazz style.
The late Shri
Banarse was imbued with the spirit of his times. In Amoroati
(
Maharashtra) his early talent for photography was turned to a
proffessional basis with ab ward from the renowned Leprosy care pioneer
Dr. Patwardhan. As a young man he met the patriot Bhagat Singh in Lahore
and shared his radical views. While still at Lahore the renowed film
maker, Mr. V. Shantaram, encouraged him to study cinematography and armed
with this ambition to make a career in the film industry.
Young
Banarase arrived in England in 1936, he was soon embroiled into the
changing political climate of pre-war Europe and had to abandon his
ambition, insted his entreprenurial qualities led him to try his hand at
various activities like importing Indian grains, spices and incense
sticks, later these sticks and other cosmetics were modified to suit local
tastes and along with his brother he started selling Banarase products at
open air town Markets.
The social upheaval by World War 2 led to a
very high demand for the Banarse Brother’s goods. In the midst of the War
the raw material shortage dried up the supply of plastic caps and Mr.
Banarase decided to start manufacturing plastic caps on his own. By the
time the War ended and manufacturers of luxury goods returened to the
market place Banarase become a leading name in the cap moulding business-
the first Indian industry in Britain, a beacon to posterity, supplying
such household names as Sainsburys, Boots, Parker Pen, Faberge etc.
His son and their respective wives Pratap & Jackie, Dayanand
& Shobha and Bapu are currently carrying on these
activities.
Contact
details: Shobha Banarase: SBanarse@aol.com |
