Inspiring Journey Of Nirma Founder Karsanbhai Patel, A Farmer Son To The Forbes List Of Billionaires

One successful experiment and one accident changed Karsanbhai Patel’s whole life, from belonging to a farmer’s family to becoming a billionaire, the journey of this man can inspire millions. He proved that with hard work and determination one can surely achieve their goals in life.

Here is everything you need to know about Karsanbhai Patel and his detergent brand Nirma:

Who is Karsanbhai Patel?

Karsanbhai Patel was born in 1945. He graduated in chemistry at the age of 21, then he started working in a firm. He worked as a lab technician in the New Cotton Mills which was owned by the Lalbhai group. After that, he started working at the Geology and Mining Department under the Gujarat government.

The invention of Nirma detergent by Karsanbhai Patel

Well, being a chemistry student and a lab technician Karsanbhai always had the interest to test and try new experiments. In the year 1969, he tried to mix soda ash with a few other ingredients with which he ended up with the perfect formula for his detergent. He started producing detergents in the 100sq ft backyard of his home as an after-office business.

The accident that changed his life

Just when everything was going well in Karsan Ji’s life, at an unfortunate incident he lost his daughter in a car accident that changed his life. Besides mourning, he also found a way to make sure his daughter is never forgotten. When his daughter was alive only a few people knew about her but Karsanbhai made his daughter immortal by making her famous and now her name is known by millions of people across the country.

Who is the iconic girl in the white frock on the pack of Nirma detergent and TV commercials?

Nirupama aka ‘Nirma’ was Karsanbhai’s dear daughter. After her death in the tragic accident, he decided to name his detergent brand ‘Nirma’ which was the nickname of his beloved daughter. The iconic illustration – the girl in the white frock on the pack of detergent and Nirma commercials is none other than his daughter. Karsanbhai’s love for his daughter is evident. The jingles of the Nirma commercial are etched in our memories and every 90s kid knows it by heart.

Karsanbhai’s journey from 100sq ft backyard to the Forbes list of Billionaires

Karsanbhai started as a one-man company, he used to cycle through the neighborhoods selling handmade detergent packets door to door at a nominal price of Rs 3 per kg, which was almost one-third the price of leading detergent brands at that time as one of the detergent brands that dominated the market, ‘Surf’ by Hindustan Lever was priced at Rs. 13 per kg.

Nirma’s TV commercials were a huge hit, the housewife-friendly advertisement jingles revolutionized the market which created an entirely new segment in the market for detergent powder. He was clever enough to target the middle-class houses in India which led to his success.

“Washing Powder Nirma, Doodh Se Safedi Nirma Se Aayi, Sabki Pasand Nirma”

Karsanbhai founded the Nirma University

In 1995, Karsanbhai Patel founded the Nirma Institute of Technology in Ahmedabad. Later, the Gujarat State Legislative Assembly passed a special act to establish the Nirma University in April 2003. He also has a leading pharmacy institute by the name, of Nirma Institute of Pharmacy.

Karsanbhai Patel also runs Nirma Memorial Trust, Nirma Foundation, and Chanasma Ruppur Gram Vikas Trust.

Karsanbhai Patel was listed among the list of Billionaires in the world

According to Forbes, Nirma’s annual sales were as high as 8,00,000 tonnes in 2004. Karsanbhai Patel, who started his small detergent company from his home, ranks 1012 on the list of Billionaires of the world, and among the list of richest people in India, he ranks 46 as of 2022.

Karsanbhai’s net worth

In 2021, Forbes listed Karsanbhai’s net worth to be US$4.9 billion.

As of now, his successful business is in the hands of his two sons, Rakesh Patel and Hirenbhai Patel. He was awarded ‘Padma Shri’ by the former President of India, Pratibha Patil in 2010. The ‘Nirma’ company went private in 2012 and even today, ‘Nirma’ remains the largest producer of soda ash in the world.

Besides low-price detergents, Nirma launched several premium products including Nirma beauty soap, Nirma toilet soaps, toothpaste, shampoo, edible salt ‘Shudh’, and premium detergent Super Nirma detergent.

His cement unit was recently listed in August 2021 by the name of Nuvoco Vistas.

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