Divya Bhaskar releases book on A’bad textile industry

To mark the completion of 150 years of textile industry in Ahmedabad, Divya Bhaskar Group released a book ‘Manchester of East’ on Saturday evening at Rajpath Club.

The group published the book as a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative and it was dedicated to the public by the union textile minister Shankarsinh Vaghela and leading industrialists from the textile industry. The book narrates the golden era of the industry in the city.

While releasing the book, Vaghela pointed out that India was able to export embroidery clothing at a price lower than China.  He said, “Textile industry in Surat is giving a tough fight to beat the global recession, as nearly 1.5 lakh diamond workers have joined embroidery units and there is a boom in processing houses. Exemption in taxes has facilitated such development and today, the industry can even compete with China.” Professor Makarand Mehta, former GU professor of history, cited the glorious moments of Ahmedabad textile industry.

He said, “While Ahmedabad’s population was 1.5 lakh in 1900, nearly 17,000 labours were earning their bread butter from the textile mills at that point of time.”

Representatives of some of the mills, which have contributed a lot for the growth of the industry in the city, were also honoured at the function. Jagdeesh Sharma, chief operating officer of Divya Bhaskar Group, Ajay Umat, editor, Gujarat, Dharmendra Mishra, Ahmedabad unit head and Mahendra Shah, PRO of Divya Bhaskar were present at the function.