Industrialist Rajendra Shirgaonkar passes away at 92

Kolhapur: Veteran industrialist and former president of the Deccan Sugar Technologists’ Association, Rajendra Vinayak Shirgaonkar, passed away at his residence in Kolhapur on Thursday.

He was 92.Fondly known as ‘Rajabhau’, Shirgaonkar was a pioneering figure in the sugar and distillery sector and played a key role in shaping agro-based industries in western India.Born in 1935, he began his entrepreneurial journey by setting up a jaggery unit after returning from England, where he had pursued engineering studies, and following a brief stint as a chemical engineer with a Delhi-based company.He later established a sugar cane feed-based distillery and gained recognition for introducing several liquor brands. He went on to found Ugar Sugars in Karnataka, with the distillery becoming the first in India to receive ISI certification.Shirgaonkar also set up Karnataka’s first bagasse-based power co-generation facility, marking a significant step in sustainable industrial practices.Apart from his business ventures, he contributed to various social causes and industry bodies over the years.He is survived by his son Sachin Shirgaonkar, nephew Sohan Shirgaonkar, daughter, daughter-in-law, son-in-law and grandchildren.His last rites were performed at Ugar Khurd in Belagavi district of Karnataka.