Keki Hormusji Gharda is a prominent Indian chemical engineer, chemist and entrepreneur.
Education
Doctor Gharda acquired a Bachelor of Science Degree from University Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT, University of Bombay) now Institute of Chemical Technology. Following the defence of a Doctoral Thesis, he received a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Career
He then obtained a Master"s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He started his career as an Assistant Professor, Process Design & Chemical Engineering at University of Oklahoma, Norman Oklahoma. During this time he was granted his first 2 patents for projects he executed for an Oil Company.
Upon his return to India, Doctor Gharda briefly taught as a visiting faculty at UDCT following which he established Gharda Chemicals, which is today one of the largest agrochemical companies in India.
His Foray into agrochemicals was a result of a monopolistic product which was a subject matter of the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, where he was invited as an observer. Doctor Gharda was elected as a Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences in 1976 in the field of Process Design.
He was also awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award by the UDCT. Foreign his contribution to chemistry and chemical engineering, Doctor Gharda is a recipient of the American Institute of Chemists"s "Chemical Pioneer" award. Doctor Keki Gharda is also an alumnus of Saint Stanislaus High School, Bandra, Mumbai.
He still lives in Bandra.
Doctor Gharda is also known for his philanthropic contributions. He has promoted Gharda Scientific Research Foundation, a section 25 company dedicated to develop and research basic technologies. The earnings of this Foundation will be used to promote more technologies and will also contributing to the upliftment of society in the areas of Health and Education.
Gharda Chemicals Limited, established in 1967, is an Research and Development Company manufacturing high quality Agrochemicals, High Performance Pigments, High Performance Polymers.
Gharda Chemicals has five manufacturing units in Dombivali, Mumbai, Lote Parshuram, Chiplun, Panoli, Gujarat, Ankaleshwar, Gujarat and Samba, Jammu. Innovation through a vibrant R&Doctorate has marked the rise of Gharda Chemicals Limited (GCL) from a small unit in 1964 to one of the most successful and reputed companies in the Agrochemical Industry.
A strong and vibrant R&Doctorate program and expertise in process development has enabled the company to capitalize on superior technology. This has led to the production of vital import-substitute products and cost effective agrochemicals on a large scale and consequently to a strong, competitive national and international presence.
His only goal is "Knowledge converted through products to Wealth for the benefit of Society.".