The founder of our Group Late Badri Prasad Poddar was a multi-faceted personality. After graduating from the University of Calcutta, he embarked on a career in business at the tender age of 19. Within a few years he was a name of reckon with in the industrial, social and educational spheres.

Since the early years of Independence, he involved himself in a nation-building exercise by promoting core sector industries like coal mining, textiles, jute, tea plantation, engineering, chemicals and infrastructure development. Being a man of foresight, he realised the need to update the manufacturing technology of the country. He entered into various technological collaborations with leading manufacturers of the world to make available to the country the benefits of contemporary technologies.

He served as a member of the West Bengal legislature for 11 years and of the All India Congress for over 16 years. He was President of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Calcutta, for two successive terms and also the President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. As Chairman of Commission (Asian & Pacific Affairs) and member of the Executive Board of International Chamber of Commerce, he kept abreast of international development in the fields of industry and finance.

He was involved in many educational institutions of the country. He was Chairman of Birla Industrial and Technological Museum and Executive Committee Member of the National Council of Science Museums. He was on the Court of Governors of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and on the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta. As Chairman of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, he was responsible for initiating the latest Engineering System of Education in close co-operation with British Institute of Technology.

He took active personal interest in various community development programmes and other social welfare activities. He was Vice-President of the Association of Prevention of Blindness, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society and the National Productivity Council.

A man of vision, his fond memories and ideals are our source of inspiration.