This Document of the Month for August dated 5 August 1963, says nothing more than simply instructing all stockists to not appoint new sub-stockists. This led us archivists to think what must have prompted this decision. Further research and exploration revealed that the reason for this decision-making runs deep.

Steel as an ultra-essential raw material faced shortage globally from 1950s to 1960s. Newspapers from these decades consistently reported about the constant fluctuation in steel supply due to increase in its imports, heavy demand for indigenous steel, price hikes coupled with the restrictive License Raj, leaving manufacturers unable to procure sufficient steel for production. This dire steel shortage impacted companies including Godrej & Boyce, resulting in substantial delivery delays, order cancellations, order amendments, low to no discounts, layoffs, etc. The situation worsened as the Indo-China war broke out in October 1962, which was declared a ‘national emergency due to external aggression’. The war affected investment, expansion and manufacturing capabilities of Indian steel plants.

To navigate this challenging paradigm, companies were compelled to adapt by exploring alternate materials, postponing orders, withholding the manufacturing of certain products, and even discontinuing some. Given the difficulties, Godrej & Boyce too decided the time was not apt for any expansion of the sales organisation and directed the stockists to not appoint any sub-stockists until further notice. At that same time, they give an assurance that business shall commence as usual once the situation returns to normalcy.

As we reflect on these documents, we are reminded how socio-economic and political forces are deeply and symbiotically associated with businesses, how they influence their ability to adapt and shape the decisions they take, and alter the course of companies during times of instability.