1400s
Thakur Padmasha, belonging to the ancient city of Ossiya in Rajasthan, was a Sisodia Rajput of the Kshatriya (warrior) clan. He kills a deer, realises his sin and turns to Jainism.
1500s
Sheshkaran, grandson of Padmasha, moves away from the desert region of Rajasthan to the city of Ahmedabad and works at a jeweler’s place.
1615
Shantidas Sheth (1590-1659), a chief jeweler in the courts of Mughal Emperors Akbar, Jehangir and Shah Jahan earns great prestige through his honesty. He funds these emperors in there hours of need and is responsible for saving Jain temples during the Mughal Era. Title of ‘Nagarsheth’ given to him and his family for using their wealth for the benefit of the society.
1725
Khushalchand Sheth (1680-1748), the grand son of Shantidas pays up a sum of 500,000 rupees from his personal wealth on behalf of the city of Ahmedabad to the invading Marathas to save it from destruction. Later, it was decided that Khushalchand and his descendants would receive a levy of a quarter per cent on all goods stamped in the municipal weighing yard. Khushalchand, however, refuses to accept the money.
1870
Dalpatbhai Bhagubhai, great grandson of Khushalchand, starts using his wealth to expand his influence by financially supporting social reforms and education in the city.
1897
Lalbhai, son of Dalpatbhai, establishes Saraspur Manufacturing Company, the first firm of the Lalbhai clan. His name has been there ever since as his descendants’ last name.
1905
Raipur Mills come into existence to lay the foundation stone on which the Lalbhai Industrial Empire would be built.
1920
Kasturbhai Lalbhai, son of Lalbhai and known as the father or modern Indian textile industry, starts the first large scale textile mill named Ashoka Mills.
1931
Arvind Limited comes into being.
1935
Ahmedabad Education Society (AES) is founded by the family and 625 acres of land from the family trust is donated for building various collages.