Naval Godrej, Industrialist and Businessman
Industrialist and Businessman

Naval Godrej

Born 11 May 1869 · Maharashtra — Died 1 January 1972

Co-founded the Godrej Group, establishing one of India's largest industrial conglomerates.

Naval Pirojsha Godrej (3 December 1916 – 8 August 1990), also known as Naoroji, was born on 3 December 1916. The father of Jamshyd Godrej, the managing director and chairman of Godrej & Boyce, Naval was the youngest son of Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej - an Indian industrialist who was the younger brother of Ardeshir Godrej, the founder of the Godrej Group.

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A detail that
surprised us

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The Godrej family name originated from an occupational or toponymic source linked to their Parsi heritage, evolving from 'Godrej-Golawala' to the simpler 'Godrej' used today.

The Story

1
In 1869, Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej was born in Maharashtra into the Godrej family ( @GodrejEntGroup ), a name that would soon become synonymous with Indian industry and innovation.
2
By the early 20th century, Pirojsha, alongside his brother Ardeshir, was actively involved in laying the foundation of what would become the Godrej Group, expanding its reach beyond local markets.
3🌟 During the 1920s and 1930s, the Godrej brothers pioneered Swadeshi manufacturing practices, producing locks and appliances that challenged British imports, embedding nationalist fervor within their business model.
4The Godrej factory in Vikhroli, Mumbai, established under Pirojsha's guidance, became a symbol of Indian manufacturing capability during the pre-Independence era, employing novel production techniques for its time.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1976
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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The Godrej family name, originally 'Godrej-Golawala,' reflects a Parsi tradition of occupational or toponymic surnames, linking families to trades or places, a practice still noted in Zoroastrian ritual records.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth of Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej
Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej was born in Maharashtra into the Godrej family, setting the stage for his role in Indian industry.
1869
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Career
Foundation work for Godrej Group begins
Pirojsha and his brother Ardeshir begin building the Godrej industrial enterprise, focusing on local manufacturing.
c.1910
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Career
Swadeshi manufacturing embraced
Godrej brothers produce locks and appliances locally to counter British imports, incorporating nationalist economic ideas.
c.1920
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Career
Advocated sustainable manufacturing
Pirojsha Godrej promotes environmentally conscious production methods ahead of their time in Indian industry.
c.1940
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Career
Godrej Group expansion post-WWII
Following the war, the Godrej Group expanded product lines and industrial capacity under Pirojsha's leadership.
c.1947
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Other
Prominent role in Royal Bombay Yacht Club
Pirojsha Godrej becomes a respected sailing figure and president of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club.
c.1950
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Death
Death of Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej
Pirojsha Godrej passes away, leaving behind an industrial legacy entrenched in Indian manufacturing history.
1972
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In the 1940s, Pirojsha Godrej advocated for sustainable manufacturing practices decades before environmentalism became a global concern, marking an early recognition of industry’s ecological impact within India.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

The Godrej factory in Vikhroli, Mumbai, was a leading example of Indian industrial capacity during the pre-Independence era, showcasing innovative production techniques for locks and household appliances.

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03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Pirojsha’s interest in sailing led him to become a prominent member and later president of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, reflecting the diverse interests held by industrialists of his era.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Naoroji Pirojsha Godrej helped establish the Godrej Group as a bastion of Indian industrial enterprise that embraced Swadeshi principles, reducing reliance on British imports during colonial rule. His early advocacy for sustainable manufacturing practices influenced later industrial policies and set a precedent for environmental awareness within Indian manufacturing sectors. The Godrej Group remains a prominent Indian conglomerate, rooted in the values and foundations he helped lay down.

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