Page 47 - Gujar Mal Modi

he came to know that the white oily substance which was stored in the factory

in huge wooden barrels and was being used in the manufacture of toilet soaps
was nothing else but tallow.

“Can’t we manufacture toilet soap without the use of tallow?” Mr. Modi enquired.

“No” said the chemical engineer, “for it is only tallow which keeps the soap cake
hard and dry.”

“I can make it possible’’, asserted the visitor. “Will you use vanaspati?”

“Yes”

“But that will be a costly affair.”

“Sometimes sentiments have more value than money,” asserted the visitor.

This casual acquaintance between the two grew and Mr. Modi was able to per-

suade Mr. Dasgupta to join his toilet soap making project at Modinagar. And,
thus. the year 1941 saw the emergence of the toilet soap factory at Modinagar.

Modis started manufacturing soaps under the brand names, Modi No.1 and Pre-
fect soap.

In 1941 came the Modi Tin Factory to fulfil the demand of the vanaspati unit for
tin containers. The construction of the Modi Hospital too was taken up the same

year. By now the ever-expanding activities at Modinagar had come to a point
where Mr. Gujarmal Modi had to decide to cut off his links with Patiala.

The year 1941-42 saw many countries get involved in the World War and the

British Government was hard pressed for resources and for arranging civil sup-
plies for the armies. It wanted to involve its protectorates too in the war effort. In

India several new industries were set up to provide civil supplies to the armies.
The biggest need of the hour was food and clothing. Some way had to be found

to process dehydrated vegetables and other foods for the armed forces. An En-
glish General was asked to explore the possibilities of setting up such industries

in India. The General came to this country and called a meeting of the leading
industrialists. He was surprised to see that no one was willing to come forward

to set up any such industry.

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