Khatau Group is one of the oldest Indian business conglomerates. It was founded in 1874 by Seth Khatau Makanji (also known as Makanji Khatau). The group was one of the leading Indian industrial houses by the mid twentieth century, with ventures in textiles, chemicals, shipping, cement, aviation, automobile, paints, and other industries.

History

In addition to its flagship textile business, the Khatau Group helped pioneer India's industrial revolution by founding several leading companies in collaboration with other leaders of the time such as the

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and

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. These included ACC Limited (1936),

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(HAL) (erstwhile Hindustan Aircraft Company (1940), and

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(1944). Two of Seth Khatau Makanji's grandsons, Dharamsey Khatau and Chandrakant Khatau (father of Sunit Khatau) led the Khatau Group in these diverse ventures. Dharamsey Khatau was a board member of each of these companies and a chairman of ACC in the 1950s. Dharamsey Khatau was an honorary member of the Textile Association of India, along with other doyens of Indian textile industry, including leaders of the Birla, Tata, Singhania, and Ambani industrial houses.The Textile Association of India,
''Roll of Honour''
, listed under ''Activities'' on the website of the Association. Sunit Khatau, the then Chairman of the company, was assassinated in Mumbai in 1994 for a dispute about the sale of a mill. The Khatau family's companies were separated and are now run independently by heirs and professional managers.

References

{{Reflist Companies based in Mumbai Indian companies established in 1874 Textile companies based in Maharashtra