Nine decades ago (in 1902) born in the remote village of Malunja in the then arid District of Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) emerged a person, who, literally started from the scratch and built up his career by sheer dint of perseverance. He pondered and decided that this life had nothing more exciting to offer than "continuing endeavor" to redeem one's debt to the Almighty. The only way one can do this is through one's love for one's fellowmen. This has been the fountain-spring of each activity in the career of Shri K. J. Somaiya.

It was a struggling but a hard working trading family and the young Karamshi learnt the lessons of "HONEST HARD WORK" from his very childhood. Completing his School Education in New High School in Bombay (The Bharda School near Bombay V.T) he went back to his hometown in Ahmednagar District and plunged in the wide world quite early in 1917 to do something gainful to support the family.

It was the days of the First World War. It was also the days of the beginnings of movement of Self-Rule in India and the emergence of Mahatma Gandhi on the national scene. The Satyagraha of 1919 greatly influenced the young and impressionable minds and moulded their thinking and action as well as their approach to life.

The two decades from 1915 to 1935 were of great National ferment. India's resolve for Self-Rule and for Progress was getting stronger day by day. These were the days of "Swadeshi" and "Boycott of Foreign goods". This was the time when every young mind was looking forward to "Free India" and make the country industrially and economically independent.

It was in this background that Shri K. J. Somaiya picked up his trading activities in and around his birthplace. For months on end he would traverse from village to village selling his groceries and provisions and booking orders. Very soon after witnessing the national scene Shri Somaiya realized that if India had to become "Independent in the real scene, then India must become economically independent". Poor and struggling but hardworking from a very young age Shri.K J Somaiya was inspired by great stalwarts like Jamshedji Tata, SIR P. C. Ray, Jamnalal Bajaj, Walchand Hirachand and others.

Thus, the youthful and dynamic Shri K. J. Somaiya conjured up dreams for his future course of activities.

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