Page 51 - YKK Flipbook

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etc. which were governed by rigid engineering tolerances and there were hardly enough mills in the country capable of producing such products. Yogesh bhai also received Import Substitution Award from the Ministry
of Defence, Government of India.
His talent in development and bulk production of such technical fabrics induced him to get deeply involved in technical textiles, a name coined in global forums for such functional textiles. Many do not know, he was the first Indian to author a paper on Geo-textiles, which was presented in a seminar
on Defence Textiles in 1985. The Indian textile industry and research bodies were probably not even aware of such emerging technology offering high value addition and good remunerative price.
In 1996, I joined Sasmira and came in closer contact with Mr. Kusumgar who was elected as President of Sasmira subsequently. So far l had seen him from a distance, but now I could understand him at the spot about his management acumen, negotiating capability with labour union, his sympathy towards staffs, empathy for all, interest in staff welfare, monitoring
R & D projects, etc. apart from his depth of knowledge and expertise in the field of Technical Textiles. At that time there was hardly any knowledgeable person in IIT or textile colleges in this field. Under the guidance of Mr. Kusumgar, Sasmira got deeply involved in projecting the importance of Technical Textiles not only for revival of the then-ailing textile industry, but also to survive and thrive with the help of this emerging technology. Thankfully, the Ministry
of Textiles accepted the proposals of this new area in its New Textile policy as a ‘thrust area’, which culminated, ultimately, in setting up of large number of ‘Centres of Technical Textiles’ in many states of India.
I have no doubt today that the advent of Technical Textiles as ‘thrust area’
owes its very existence to Mr. Y. K. Kusumgar and therefore he deserves to be recognised as the “Father of Indian Technical Textile Industry”.
In his stepping forward to the landmark “Eighty years”, I humbly pay my regards to him and pray that Divinity bless him with good health and many more peaceful years.
Burdhan