A social reformer who worked with Arya Samaj, started business at 13, his empire is now worth Rs 41710000000, actress Juhi Chawla is his…

Born in Gujarat, Nanji Kalidas Mehta moved to British East Africa at the young age of 13. Here's his full story.

Jay Mehta, a man whose work exceeds the glitz of Bollywood and thrill of Cricket, stands at the helm of the Mehta Group today, but here is a story of a man without whom Jay Mehta’s success was unimaginable. This global powerhouse, managed by Jay Mehta today, spans across a multitude of sectors and regions worldwide. The group’s business interests are diverse, including cement, construction materials, and engineering—impacting over 15,000 individuals globally. Here are all about the business and social endeavors of Nanji Kalidas Mehta .

Coming to the point, the successful empire of Jay Mehta finds its roots in his grandfather Nanji Kalidas Mehta, whose legacy continues to shape the trajectory of growth for the Mehta Group. The Mehta Group, currently led by Jay Mehta, has assets exceeding $500 million thanks to his entrepreneurial prowess and strategic vision. The rich business empire, once started by Nanji Kalidas Mehta, is now worth Rs 4,171 crores.

For those unversed, Jay Mehta, the grandson of Nanji Kalidas Mehta, is married to Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla.

How Nanji Kalidas Mehta started business?

Born in Gujarat, Nanji Kalidas Mehta moved to British East Africa at the young age of 13. From the very young age, he was determined that he wanted to achieve something big and consequently, he laid the groundwork for a business empire that spanned East Africa and India. Nanji started his career in the cement industry before gradually branching out to other sectors like sugar, textile, and cotton. In the year of 1924, he established the Uganda Sugar Factory, which turned into a significant player in boosting the local sugar industry. Moreover, his decision to export Ugandan cotton to Japan served to strengthen his business ties.

Why Nanji Kalidas Mehta joined Arya Samaj?

Nanji was born at a time when India was going through a cultural revolution. From the very childhood, Nanji was deeply committed to social reform and as a member of the Arya Samaj, he promoted the establishment of schools and colleges in both East Africa and India. Moreover, as a member of Arya Samaj, he was also known for hiring people from scheduled castes despite facing social challenges.