Sarabhai family


The Sarabhai family is a prominent Indian family active in several fields. The patriarch, Ambalal Sarabhai, was a leading industrialist. While he created significant wealth, his children interested themselves in a wide variety of other endeavours, and the family is better known for those activities, rather than for their industrial enterprise. The family's business activities continue through Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises.

Family history

The Sarabhai family are a major business family in India belonging to the Shrimal Jain Bania community. Its twentieth century patriarch, Sheth Ambalal Sarabhai, was a Jain industrialist. He had five daughters and three sons who were involved in the family business as well as the Indian independence movement. After India's independence, the family remained involved in developmental tasks undertaken by the Government of India.
Ambalal Sarabhai was a prominent mill owner and also interested in philanthropic activities. His wife Sarladevi Sarabhai was impressed by the Maria Montessori philosophy and in the year 1922, Montessori sent E. M. Standing to India for the homeschooling of Sarabhai children.
Sarabhai Enterprises branched out after India's independence and many pioneer ventures were made in fields dominated by foreign companies. The manufacture of drugs and pharmaceuticals, chemicals and intermediates, dyes and pigments, industrial and household detergents, soaps and cosmetics, industrial packaging and containers, and later engineering and electronic products.

Family members

Prominent members of the Sarabhai family include:

Institutions built by Sarabhai family

  1. Calico Mills - Ambalal Sarabhai
  2. Jubilee Mills - Ambalal Sarabhai
  3. Kasturba Gandhi Rashtriya Smarak Trust - Sarladevi Ambalal Sarabhai
  4. Majoor Mahajan - Anasuyaben Sarabhai
  5. Jyoti Sangh - Mridulaben Sarabhai
  6. Vikas Gruh - Mridulaben Sarabhai
  7. Shreyas Foundation & School - Leenaben Mangaldas
  8. B.M. Institute of Mental Health - Gautam Sarabhai
  9. The Psychotherapy Study Group - Gautam Sarabhai
  10. National Institute of Design - Gautam Sarabhai and Gira Sarabhai
  11. Darpana Academy of Performing Arts - Mrinalini & Vikram Sarabhai
  12. Calico Museum of Textiles - Gira Sarabhai
  13. Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises, Baroda - Gautam Sarabhai, a commercial venture
  14. Centre for Environment Education - Kartikeya Sarabhai
  15. VIKSAT - Kartikeya Sarabhai
  16. CHETNA - Kartikeya Sarabhai
  17. Sangeet Kendra - Geeta Mayor
  18. Darpana for Development - Mallika Sarabhai
  19. Mapin Publishing - Mallika Sarabhai and her husband Bipin Shah

Major institution building efforts of Vikram Sarabhai (1947-1971)

No.4 was renamed the Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre after Dr. Sarabhai’s death in 1971. No.18 & 19 were merged under the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre after Dr. Sarabhai’s death in 1971. Nos.21,22,23,24,25 and 26 were merged under the Space Applications Centre after Dr. Sarabhai’s death in 1971. No. 31 was renamed Vikram Earth Station after Dr. Sarabhai’s death in 1971.

File:Sitting fourth from left is Vikram Sarabhai. Baroda, 1950.jpg|Vikram Sarabhai
File:This luncheon group photo with several members of the Sarabhai family. Baroda, 1951.jpg|Seated Gita Sarabhai Mayor, Vikram Sarabhai and Gira Sarabhai.
File:Gita Sarabhai Mayor, Ahmedabad, 1952.jpg|Gita Sarabhai Mayor
File:Gita Mayor, Baroda, 1951.jpg|Gita Sarabhai Mayor
File:Gita Mayor in either Ahmedabad or New York, 1952.jpg|Gita Sarabhai Mayor
File:Mr. Pandya of Sarabhai, Gita Sarabhai Mayor and daughter Pallavi, Dorothy Waller, and Satyadev Mayor seeing off the Hamiltons,Bombay Airport, 1953.jpg
File:Baroda, 1951.jpg|Seated fifth from left, Gita sarabhai Mayor
File:Luncheon at the Polo Club, Baroda, 1951.jpg|Ambalal Sarabhai can be spotted at the back close to the glass windows/doors.
File:Gita and Ambalal, Ahmedabad, 1952.jpg|Gita and Ambalal Sarabhai
File:"Retreat", Sarabhai Residence, Ahmedabad, 1951.jpg|Ambalal Sarabhai and Saraladevi Sarabhai
File:Gautam's home, Ahmedabad, 1952.jpg|Gautam Sarabhai wearing half shirt and tie, third from the left standing next to his father Ambalal Sarabhai
File:Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, Ahmedabad, 1951.jpg|A young Vikram Sarabhai
File:Retreat, Ahmedabad, 1951.jpg|Ambalal Sarabhai third from left. First from left is Nathan Hughes Hamilton, an employee at Squibb- Sarabhai Chemicals, Baroda.
File:Gita Mayor and others. Shiv Mahal Palace, Baroda, 1952.jpg|Gita Sarabhai Mayor in black saree wearing a bindi, on the right.
File:Gira Sarabhai Ahmedabad 1951.jpg|Gira Sarabhai probably at Calico Museum of Textiles