 "Prominent businessman S.S. Kanoria passes away")
Shyam Sunder Kanoria, founder-chairman of Kanoria Chemicals & Industries and chairman emeritus of Ludlow Jute and Specialities, passed away on Thursday morning at his residence here.
Born in 1928, he graduated in economics from Calcutta University and then proceeded on an entrepreneurial journey.
His work at Ludlow Jute and Specialities involved thorough modernisation, from preparatory to finishing stages, and introducing high value-added and diversified products. Under his leadership, Kanoria Chemicals & Industries won the prestigious Industrial Relations Award of 1974 for its remarkable achievement of uninterrupted industrial peace, without loss of a single manday since commencement of production in 1964.
Kanoria also became the youngest-ever president of the Indian Sugar Mills Association, in 1956-57 at the age of 28. In this capacity, he pioneered the export of sugar and also promoted an enduring partnership between sugar factories and cane growers for sustainable growth of agro-based industry.
Elected president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in 1971-72, his tenure was distinguished by efforts to create goodwill and understanding between government and business when it was largely missing. He'd prevailed upon the business community to hold the price line during the Indo-Pak war, which earned him praise. Ahead of the war, he'd done to Germany at the instance of then prime minister Indira Gandhi as leader of an economic delegation, where he had a highly fruitful meeting with the country's chancellor, Willy Brandt.
A widely travelled businessman, representing India in several international forums with distinction, Kanoria was also a president in the Indian national committee of the International Chamber of Commerce. And, made significant contributions as a member of committees such as the Central Advisory Council of Industries, Board of Trade and Direct Taxes Central Advisory Committee.
