Godrej and Boyce was born at a time when the nationalist movement was rooting for India’s economic and social independence beyond political freedom. By the turn of the 20th century, the idea of Swaraj became a shared goal in many a great mind including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi and Ardeshir Godrej, the founder of Godrej & Boyce. The deliberations over Swadeshi-ism and Swaraj between Ardeshir Godrej and Mahatma Gandhi led to a friendship lasting decades. Their discussions usually revolved around the ways in which freedom could be achieved. While their opinions on Swaraj did not always match, they held profound respect and admiration for each other.
After Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s death in 1920, Gandhiji founded the Tilak Swaraj Fund to fight caste-based injustices and eradicate poverty amongst Indians. Ardeshir Godrej contributed a sum of three lakhs to which Mahatma Gandhi lauded.
Celebrating their friendship, this month’s feature is from February 1948, days after the death of Gandhiji, declaring a holiday on the account of his Asthi Visarjan (ash immersion).