Jute Industry A Historical Perspective 1830-2006

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Jute Mills under American management. It was a sound learning process in refined management system in mid 50's. Thus he became proficient Industrial Engineer. Joined UIRA in the inspection wing of IJIRA, UMAQIC Was responsible to introduce statuary Pre-shipment Inspection system in the jute industry in 1964. Thereafter, he was retained in IJIRA as first rank R&D scientist. Elevated to HOD, Mechanical Processing Division. Opened new division, Industrial Engineering. Initiated Infer Firm Comparison, IFC, a powerful tool to improve industry wide level of productivity. In 1992 he took charge of GOVUNDP project on jute spinning and made extensive survey on the status of technology in Europe and USA to identify the possible technology that would be the future generation technology for jute. Retired from IJIRA and took charge of GOI/UNDP project component entrusted to UMA. Later, joined Lagan Jute Machinery Co. Ltd. to help them to reshape next generation of technology far away from the conventional technology.

Sanjay Kajaria, 48, a graduate in Commerce. After schooling joined his father Muraladhar Ratan Lal in the business of jute bag making. Along three brothers, Bijoy, Ajay, helped father to boost the jute business and assumed as a leading export house status in the jute trade, a trusted trading house for the jute goods importers in USA, Europe, Africa. Latin America. Sanjay Kajaria, a visionary, among the family, took imitative to step into jute manufacturing industry and was instrumental for acquiring Hastings Jute Mill in 1992. He took active interest in jute industry and became member of the Executive Committee of IUMA. Later, became two these Chairman of IJMA. Being the member of MA he took interest in labour matters. During E's tenure as Chairman, UMA, two labour disputes ere resolved avoiding showdown ending industry wide strike and could all parties agree principles of productivity linked piece rate, first time in decades of attempt. Besides, labour issue he concentrated in the technological development that e needed help of MOT/GOI and impressed the Textile Ministry, Govt.of India to recognize the urgent need in developing new generation machines for the jute industry. Meanwhile, he acquired the Lagan Jute Machinery Co. Thus he was instrumental for widening the MREL to wider corporate interest. He is now Chairman, Private Sector Consultative Board, UGG, an UN outfit of CFC.

Jute is natural fiber renewed from the Vedic times and has been in use in different forms for diverse applications. It occupies a pride of place in the list of natural resources and renewable wealth of India. It is playing remarkable role in the context of eco- balancing and protection of environment so crucial for survival of Mother Earth.

As a raw material for the organized 200-year old jute industry, this fiber has travelled many a geographical area and covered countless milestones. The too well known products of the industry-Hessians and Sacking-have served the interest of packaging needs of a vast array of commodities and products all over the Globe over the years.

Contrary to the earlier speculations of the advocates of synthetic industry, there is no diminishing or disappearance of this industry in the face of competition from the synthetic substitutes. On the other hand, the challenge of competition has only proved a blessing in disguise for this natural fiber to convert this threat into a golden opportunity for renewal, rejuvenation and reinvention in terms of new products and hitherto undiscovered new usages.

It is against this background the progress of this industry deserves to be documented in the correct historical perspective. I am happy to note that Shri S. Palit one distinguished and practical R & D scientists has taken this initiative to bring out this volume which is long overdue. I am particularly happy because that Shri Palit was one of the close members of my team in the 80's and 90's when we pioneered, against all odds, the mission meant for Jute modernization and diversification.

It is a matter of gratification that is no longer a debate in the concerned circles regarding the need for transformation of the jute industry from low end usages to high value added applications. The efforts and endeavors of the past have strengthened the foundation. Imbued with experience, this industry and diversified entrepreneurs are fully capable of taking care of the challenges of the future. The book focusing on the momentous periods through the industry had passed since independence will be a valuable guide and reference document for Planners, Policy Makers, Captain of industry, R&D Personnel and Scholars interested in the economic history of India.

I heartily complement and congratulate Shri Palit for his devotion to the cause of Jute Fiber and his zea to peruse as the mission of his life.

It was in 1956 when I graduated from Bengal Textile Institute, Shrirampur. I had two options left either to go to cotton textiles or Jute. I opted for Jute Reason, every day I used to pass a jute mill, India jute Mill. Its splendid quarters facing river Hooghly. Style of living of the Europeans, tempted me to join jute industry. My entry was at Ludlow, world's best jute mill, than to UMARI [UIRA) If I look back, I have passed four decades in jute. During last 40 years I had seen rise, fall and rice of many corporate houses in the jute world. No single book is available to quench the thirst of keen readers in one collection to know about jute. Jute has its own story to tell. What I have done is to collate facts from various sources, like rare books from the National Library. Kolkata, web search, added to it my own experience. Writing a book has been made easier, just to have a PC and Internet connection, sitting at house, I could access valuable wealth of information available on jute. So many organizations, have posted when on jute as research output, corporate portals. Thanks to IT revolution Wealth of information are at the desk top and thus made my task easier. Yet it has taken three years to compile Hope, my effort would be of some satisfaction to eager readers. Finally, I must acknowledge the encouragement I had received from LV. Saptharishi, an Indian bureaucrat who loved jute so deeply and advised me to write a book on jute. But for him the book would not have seen the light of the day I have received enormous encouragesnes from Mr. Sanjay Kajaria, who needs no special introduction in the present day jute world. He has given me time to write the book while I am engaged as Technical Consultant to Lagan. Besides, I owe much to my son Sukanchan for taking time in editing the text, next to Mrs Pamela Godfrey and Mrs Dolly Daffader, in providing secretarial support. Mr. Sil Sankar Chacravorty, Lagan and Mr Mritunjay Banerjee, Brilliant Enterprise, who helped me to overcome some trickzy problems of PC and software. Finally, I have come across many scholars through their publications which 1 have used profusely with acknowledgement. To my purprise jute has been researched by many and yet Professor Christopher Whatley says "There is no comprehensive study of Dundee's jute industry and historians are only just beginning to explore the relationship between Dundee and Calcutta in any detail. I wasn't able to go to a single text but instead had to gather together bits and pieces of information from a variety of sources "Jute is not wholly studied. Again I have tried to gather together pieces.