CITATION

Presented to Shri. Nirmal B. Thakkar

CITATION

Presented to Shri. Nirmal B. Thakkar

Shri. Nirmal Thakkar is a highly qualified, erudite and dynamic personality and is one of the most respected plastic technocrats in India.

Shri.Nirmalbhai obtained his B.Sc degree from the Bombay University. Thereafter, he pursued a career in flying to become a Commercial Pilot, but instead he landed in the USA at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts for his post graduation.

His professional career spreads over -50- years in the plastics industry. In fact in his first job he worked as a Counsellor for children’s Summer Camp in New York and this was followed by working as a colour matching Chemist at Reed Plastics in Massachusetts.

Upon his return from USA, he entered the family business in India and joined the R & D Department at Tipco in the field of thermosetting resins, the first group of engineering plastics. He developed several new grades of Thermosets, which were imported earlier and established Tipco’s R & D activity on a firm footing.

Shri. Bapulal Thakkar, father of Mr.Nirmalbhai was a Chemical Engineer from UDCT and a holder of distinguished alumnus award from his alma mater for pioneering efforts in introducing Thermosetting Resins in India. Mr.Nirmalbhai, a chip of the old block, took new initiatives to develop and establish Thermoplastic Compounds in Indian market, a pioneering effort in this direction.

Shri.Nirmalbhai served the plastic industry in various ways:

He was President of AIPMA in the year 1981-83. During his tenure he highlighted the hardships faced by plastic film manufacturers due to steep import duties on PVC resin imports despite acute shortages in the country to the concerned Ministry.

Shri.Nirmalbhai’s name is synonymous with the Plastindia Foundation. He was instrumental in bringing together a group of like minded people to share a common platform, and with their commonly shared vision, drive and enthusiasm, resulting in the formation of Plastindia Foundation in the year 1987 as an apex body of the plastics industry. This unique feat could be managed due to the sustained and dedicated commitment of Shri.Nirmalbhai.

He is the Founder President of Plastindia Foundation and remained President up to 1990. During his tenure as President of Plastindia Foundation, the first ever International Exhibition on plastics was organized successfully in India. The success of this event created a tremendous impact for the Plastindia Foundation cause in the International scene and on the Government of India as well. This event set a benchmark for all the subsequent Plastindia Foundation Exhibitions. The success of the maiden Plastindia Exhibition was due to the tremendous efforts of Shri.Nirmalbhai and the then Managing Committee members of Plastindia Foundation.

He was the President of SPE India in the year 1988 and a member of the Governing Council of SPE-USA in the year 1989.

He was a member of Governing Council of CIPET in the year 1988-90. He played a pivotal role in establishing CIPET at Bhubaneshwar.

He was a member of ASSOCHEM during the year 1993-94. During his tenure he worked for the promotion of the plastics industry.

He was the President of Indian Plastics Institute from 1994-95 and took great interest in the Education and Training activities of Indian Plastics Institute.

He was also the President of OPPI in the same year i.e. 1994-95. During his Presidentship at OPPI he worked towards protecting the Recycling Industry and he appealed to the Govt. to remove the excise duty on granules made by recycling waste and scrap. He also urged the Govt. to reduce import duty on plastics raw materials.

Shri.Nirmalbhai is a man of multifarious interests and talent. Besides, being a successful technocrat, he followed the ethical and humane path to success.

His late father Bapulal Thakkar was a philanthropist and was also associated with Radha Soami Satsang, Agra for more than three decades. After his demise Shri.Nirmalbhai took the baton from him and pursued the good work of this Satang at Agra.

Shri.Nirmalbhai was inspired with an innovative spirit, a deep desire for technology driven culture and a ‘must succeed approach’. These are his guiding forces and principles and he passed on these values to the next generation entrepreneurs.

Shri. Nirmalbhai will be long remembered by the plastic fraternity for his unstinted support and guidance extended through his professionalism and entrepreneurship.

In recognition of his contribution towards the Indian Plastics Institute and the Plastic Fraternity, this day, the Indian Plastics Institute has duly resolved, to bestow upon Shri.Nirmal B. Thakkar:

“Life Time Achievement Award”

On 18th June 2010, Mumbai

G. K. Srinivasan         Francis Pinto
President                     Chairman

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