SHRI ARVIND ATHALYE : A DOYAN OF PLASTIC INDUSTRY
Shri Arvind Shankar Athalye was a scholarly, dynamic personality, closely associated with Plastic Industry in India for the past 60 years. He has been a dedicated crusader who worked hard to give a “place of pride” to Plastics amongst the materials, serving the needs of mankind by spreading the knowledge of Plastics and their use. He was considered as a Guide . a Philosopher and a Teacher by many in Plastics Industry for his unstinted, selfless, and unblemished service rendered to the Plastic Fraternity in different capacities.
Shri Arvind Athalye graduated in Polymer Engineering from Michigan State University, of the USA in the year 1958. He began his professional career with Dow Chemical Corporation in Michigan, USA. He was deputed by Dow as a Member of their Commissioning Team for their ABS Plant at Kawasaki in Japan in the year 1959. His working association in a foreign land. though remained for a brief span, left an indelible and distinct impression of his experience amongst his colleagues and associates, which paved a long way for his illustrious career on his return to India in 1960.
On his return to India, he worked with Polychem Ltd., a Dow Chemicals joint venture with Kilachand group, who produced PS, HIPS & other Styrinics Plastics. During the years 1960-65, he headed the Technical Services Department and Application Development Group of Polychem Ltd. Thereafter he joined Hoechst Dyes & Chemicals, producers of HDPE, heading the Technical Services and Application Development Department until he left it in 1972.
His curious mind and inquisitive approach prompted him to move, to take on bigger challenges in the
Industry. He joined Thackersey Group in 1972. During this association, Shri Athalye played a crucial role in Business Diversification and new Investments in the In-House production of a variety of products. He
established CSIR, recognized R&D Centre for testing products like HDPE – Woven Sacks, Leno Sacks,
Fibrillated Tapes for Twines and Ropes etc. He played his role in the development of these products till
successful commercialization. The Industry seeking the benefits of his wide knowledge and experience
sought his association in Business Development. He was the Director on the Board of Thackersey Group
Companies, as well as those in the Dilip Piramal Group, including Blow Plast Ltd.
In the year 1981, Shri Athalye started his own independent activity of Projects Consultancy in the field of
Plastics Processing and Packaging. He creditably serviced about 100 Clients, both at Home and Overseas.
Shri Athalye was the Fellow of the Institute of Materials, UK, The Indian Standards Institution, The Institute of Standard Engineers, Indian Plastic Institute (IPI), and a Senior Member of Society of Plastics Engineers, (SPE) Inc, USA. He was also a member of the Managing Committee of AIPMA and of. Technical Education Committee, Government of Maharashtra.
He played an important role in the formation of the Indian Plastic Institute and served as its Hon. Secretary and
continued to take an active interest in all activities of IiPI. In consideration of his yeoman service to the Plastic Industry, the Indian Plastic Institute Awarded him with the “Life Time Achievement Award” in 20.. in a glittering function in Mumbai.
Shri Athalye had remained an enthusiastic learner, as well as an influential Teacher of Plastics all through his life. In the midst of his professional activity and commitments, Shri Athalye also invested his valuable time to edit Popular Plastics & Packaging, a Monthly Journal for the last 60 years, until he breathed his last. As the Hon. Editor of this Magazine, he has been disseminating knowledge to Plastics Fraternity with great commitment.
Shri Athalye has a unique experience of publishing several Technical Books on the Processing of Plastics,
Plastics Materials, Plastics in Flexible Packaging, Testing of Plastics, etc. His books including one on PVC Technology jointly authored with Mr. Prakash Trivedi are being used as reference material for Polymer courses all over India. In addition, Arvind Athalye presented several Technical Papers on Plastics Processing and End-Use Applications, at various Seminars and Conferences.
Some years back he shifted his personal residence from Mumbai to Pune and in spite of suffering from health issues, he kept in contact with the Plastics Industry Fraternity. Arvind Athalye has been highly respected as a fatherly figure of the Plastics Industry for almost eight decades and his contribution will be remembered for the time to come.
He breathed his last on ______ and in his demise, the void created in the Plastic Industry is very difficult to be filled in. Our sincere condolences to his wife and other family members and pray for eternal peace for his soul.
J. R. Shah.
