Turning 75 this Thursday has been special for Dr Rathi, especially since he single-handedly built from scratch and nurtured and gave shape to an industry which did not exist in India.

Indeed, when Dr Rathi returned from USA in 1950, there was no indegenous technology available to make pigments and speciality chemicals. The products were imported and were priced very high. He had a tough challenge ahead - making quality goods with in-house R&D, lean infrastructure, unskilled workers and the stigma attached to the Indian industry. Sudarshan was begun on a modest capital of Rs. 40,000 in 1951. The company now exports goods worth Rs. 584 million to more than 30 countries. Company sales and other income have touched Rs. 2,250 million. Moreover, Sudarshan Chemicals has acquired the ISO 9001 certification for its pigment division.

The investment of Rs. 5 crore in the waste treatment plant in 1988 was a step ahead of its time. Another joint venture with Dainippon Ink & Chemicals Company of Japan has given a tremendous boost to products in the export market. A new plant has been started in Mahad to manufacture high performance pigments.