History

It all began, long long ago in 1932, when Takandasji decided that it was time for India to have an optical factory that would manufacture frames instead of relying solely on a cost-increasing import system. He took the initiative to purchase the raw materials and manufacturing equipment required for this ambitious step in self-reliance. He knew that the best way to train his Indian counterparts in the art of manufacturing spectacle frames would be a first-hand, one-on-one session with trained professionals.

He rounded up a few of these professionals from Japan so that they could travel back with him to India for training purposes.

However, just as all tales meshed in the inconspicuous spices of drama and danger entail, there came the existence of those who were eager to prevent Takandasji from having his way. In this case, the nemeses were the numerous optical associations of Japan who believed that their exports would be gravely affected by Takandasji’s bold step. Armed with their own radical tactics, they threatened the Japanese men who were to leave with Takandasji and coerced them to go underground. What started as a small blip on the radar had now become a full-fledged agitation, the intensity of which resulted in flyers being issued in Kobe and Osaka. Even the local government was asked to take a cold stance resulting in the denial of visas to Indians wishing to travel to Japan.

It was an auspicious start to the new year for Takandasji and waiting to embrace them with open arms was Kewalram Kataria, Takandasji’s brother and business partner. Kewalram ensured that the premises upon which the factory would see a first of its kind installation was secured at Mereweather Tower on Bunder Road. February 5th, 1933 was a celebrated day, remembered for the lavish attendance of people who had gathered there to see what was soon to become the start of an entirely new production technique that was sure to help the nation grow by leaps and bounds. The inauguration was done by none other than T. Vijayaraghavacharya and the ceremony was made unforgettable by the presence of leading citizens of Karachi including the late Shri Jamshed Nusserwani Mehta, President of the Karachi Municipal Corporation. On that day, a prophecy was made by Shri Dastur, a Parsi journalist. He believed that the factory would prosper abundantly because there were seven letters in each of the words that formed the name ‘Kataria Optical Factory’. According to him, it was an auspicious sign that spelt good fortune.

The prophecy did come true and the factory was able to overcome the many obstacles that tried to drag it down into the pit of misfortune. Running a factory was no easy task and soon a few difficulties began to crop up. There began to rise a feeling of unrest among the Japanese men and after a few misunderstandings with the management, they began to leave the country one by one. By the end of 1934, all that remained was the expertise of one trained Japanese man in the factory. He worked long and hard in this foreign land, his loyalty to the Kataria factory a constant reminder of how some bonds that exist between people never cease to amaze. In 1936 he went back to Japan, eager to take some time off. Even though his plan was to return to India after a few weeks, the Japanese authorities refused to renew his passport as the agitation against the Kataria factory had yet to die down even after the years had passed and times had changed. Since then all the workmen of the factory have been of Indian decent.

The birth of something new is always looked upon as a cherished process, close to those who partake in its formation. The 1950s saw the birth of a brand that quickly reached a high stature in the market soon after its launch. ASTA - a name that was both fluid on the tongue and represented the four valves of the family business that pumped life into its core. The name was short for Ashok-Sunderdas-Takandas-Arjandas (Ashok being Sunderdas’ son). For many people, the brand became the very first frames they sold! There was a sudden boom in the manufacturing sector and with those four letters came the rise of a multitude of factories that spread all across the nation. Demand had finally matched supply with a vast quantity of optical frames made in India to cater to the growing need.

Other companies began to contribute to the rise of the optical industry with names such as F. A. Chasmawala, Elite Opticals and Montex becoming familiar with those who worked in the field.

25 years of establishment of the Kataria Optical Factory had to be celebrated for obvious reasons with the panache that was only fitting for such a special occasion. S. K. Patil, Minister for Power & Irrigation, Government of India blessed the event with his presence in 1958.

November 1966 brought forth within its coarse reality, the true meaning of what it was like to feel the pain of irreplaceable loss. Takandasji passed away leaving behind his unforgettable imprint in the optical industry and the larger-than-life memory of a man who had yet to be defeated.