All about Godrej.

For people of my generation, the northern end of the Chowpatty Beach used to have a hoarding of a beautiful looking secretary clicking away on a Godrej typewriter, during the late '70s, with the caption, "The type you would like to click with". 

Given below are Godrej's milestones.

1897       Ardeshir Godrej sets up a locks company.

1918       Godrej launches the first soap in the world not made from animal fat.

1943       Government of Bombay gives the Vikhroli village to Pirojsha Godrej, Ardeshir's brother.

1952       Godrej launches Cinthol soap.

1974       Godrej enters hair colour segment.

1990       Starts Godrej Properties.

1991       Starts Godrej Agrovet.

1994       Enters household insecticides with the acquisition of Translektra.

2001       Makes the first acquisition overseas buying Keyline Brands of the UK.

2008       Enters Africa.

2010       Enters Indonesia through acquisition of PT Megasari.

               Enters Latin America acquiring hair care brands Issue and Argencos.

2011       Godrej acquires Africa's Darling Group; enters 14 other countries.

2014       Partners with ISRO in India's first Mars mission.

2015       Forays into the dairy business acquiring Creamline Dairy.

2016       Godrej acquires US-based hair care brand Strength of Nature.

2020       Enters Financial services industry setting up Godrej Capital.

And can any of the generations of the 1950s to the '70s forget the iconic and smiling Karen Lunell who bathed under a waterfall, clad in a two-piece bikini in green, which was the colour of the Cinthol soap in its advertisement?

And not to forget, all Indians are familiar with the fridges and steel almirahs of Godrej.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by 10.

Lekha had work outdoors viz :-

* collect the monthly dues from the ration stand.

* buy grocery from Harisree Supermarket.

* buy fish for Kittu and Chakki.

* buy bananas.

A quiet evening. Sukesan, the auto rickshaw driver, bought in the fish which could not be bought in the morning.

The late Oommen Chandy sir was laid to rest at the Puthuppally church. What a send off was given by the people of Kerala making me wonder as to why they didn't re-elect him in 2016?