Subhash Dandekar, the founder of the renowned stationery brand Camlin, passed away at the age of 86 on July 15. At the time of his death, he held the position of chairman emeritus at Kokuyo Camlin. His cremation took place in central Mumbai on Monday, with a condolence meeting scheduled for Thursday, as reported by PTI quoting Dandekar’s family.
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to Subhash Dandekar, describing him as a pivotal figure in Maharashtra’s industrial landscape.
He remarked, “With the passing of senior entrepreneur Subhash Dandekar, who established the Camlin industry, Maharashtra has lost a venerable figure who brought immense prestige to the Marathi industrial sector.”
कॅम्लिन उद्योग उभे करणारे ज्येष्ठ उद्योजक सुभाष दांडेकर यांच्या निधनाने मराठी उद्योगविश्वाला नावलौकिक मिळवून देणारे दादा व्यक्तिमत्त्व आपण गमावले आहे.
सुभाष दांडेकर यांनी केवळ कॅम्लिन उद्योगाची उभारणी केली नाही तर हजारो तरूणांच्या हाताला रोजगार देऊन त्यांच्या जीवनात रंग भरले.… pic.twitter.com/5FPWUAlVXB
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) July 15, 2024
Fadnavis highlighted Dandekar’s significant contributions to employment generation through Camlin, emphasizing his commitment to upholding labor dignity and preserving traditional values.
He noted, “Subhash Dandekar not only founded the Camlin industry but also enriched the lives of countless youths by creating employment opportunities. He placed great importance on upholding moral values.”
Reflecting on Dandekar’s impact on the younger generation, Fadnavis underscored his role as a mentor and exemplar for aspiring entrepreneurs, stating, “He set a remarkable precedent that a Marathi individual could build an industry through skill and hard work. His passing is a loss for today’s youth.”
Founded in 1931 by brothers D P Dandekar and G P Dandekar as Dandekar & Co., Camlin initially specialized in stationery products before diversifying into art materials under Subhash Dandekar’s leadership in 1960. The company was renamed Camlin and became Camlin Ltd. in 1988. In 2011, Kokuyo Co., a prominent Japanese stationery maker, acquired a majority stake in Camlin, facilitating the introduction of Kokuyo products in India and expanding Camlin’s presence internationally.
