Our Dear Founder, Late Shri. Sharadchandra S. Kothari (22nd November, 1936 – 11th October, 2015) born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, was B.A., B.Com and LL.B by education. While completing his education he became actively involved with the family business run by his father, Late Shri. Shoorji T. Kothari, who was in the business of marketing imported dyestuffs since 1922.
In 1971, envisioning the growing opportunity and business need to manufacture dyestuffs in India and to support India’s growing textile industry, he independently started a manufacturing unit for Reactive Turquoise Blue at Mulund, Mumbai. He started a manufacturing unit for a range of Reactive dyes and Intermediates in 1973 in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai and made the first forays for export of Reactive dyes out of India in 1976. Because of his astute business policies and emphasis on customer relationships, Jaysynth was able to become a preferred supplier to leading textile mills all over the country in a short period of time, while facing competition of much larger companies including MNCs.
Shri. Sharadchandra S Kothari was a visionary who had deep insight into the needs of the global textile industry as well as a highly innovative and creative approach to dye chemistry. He was able to guide the R&D team of Jaysynth to develop several new dye molecules and intermediates for the first time in India ( Bifunctional reactive dyes, Disperse intermediates – azoic and anthraquinone based intermediates) and also popularize them in the industry with innovative technical support.
Jaysynth Group grew rapidly to become one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of Reactive and Disperse dyes in India and started additional plants in Patalganga, Raigad District (1983) and Vapi, Gujarat (1993). The product range covered reactive dyes (vinyl sulphone, bifunctional ME/HE/NE/HEXL) and Disperse dyes (azoic as well as many specialty anthraquinone) and pthalocyanine dyes and pigments by 1995.
He was passionate about building a strong, innovative and independent organisation manufacturing dyes and intermediates and was an instrumental in India becoming self reliant and emerging as a global hub for dyes and intermediates.
In the late 90s the dyestuff industry faced turbulent times on account of unfair competition and dumping of products from China, which resulted in huge losses not only for Indian manufacturers but also other multinationals across the globe.
However, not to be shaken by adversity, he persevered in the strongest possible headwinds with a passion to revive he turned his focus towards innovation with the foresight to start development of digital inks as early as 2003. By the year 2007, Jaysynth was the first Indian manufacturer of inks for digital printing of textiles. He was able to bring down the costs and substitute imported inks, which enabled the domestic textile industry to make rapid advancements in digital printing.
He was a kind soul who helped many people become independently successful along the way. A person of great ethics who kept a positive and enthusiastic outlook, regardless of the many personal and business adversities he faced. His perseverance and creativity will serve as an inspiration for Jaysynth Group for the generations to come.