Our group began, as you all know
125 years ago.
It started with our illustrious founder
We couldn't have asked for someone sounder.
Though just a lawyer by profession,
Invention was a strong obsession.
His first case was in Zanzibar
And though he proved to be a star,
The fact that he was forced to lie,
Then made him feel he could not ply
This dubious practice any more,
As honesty was at his core.
So values played a role for sure
We will ensure that they endure.
Now Mahatma Gandhi was a friend.
And self-rule then, the future trend.
Ardeshir once just pointed out
That he still had a serious doubt
That profound economic dependence
Might well preclude our independence.
A point the Mahatma then conceded
But rather promptly he proceeded
To turn the tables on his friend
And asked him to work to that end.
And so he started up his venture
Which proved to be some adventure.
Ardeshir’s focus was invention
His single-minded intention
Was proving that he could do it.
He could succeed and he knew it.
For Indian goods could be the best
Surpass the British by every test.
He scorned the thought of protection.
And chose to prevail by perfection.
And that, he knew he could achieve.
His customers could all perceive
His products were the very best
And constantly put to the test.
To greater heights he would aspire
His safes survived ordeal by fire.
Once, in the harbour, a ship exploded.
Though outer walls of safes eroded,
The inner contents were all intact.
And even when thieves attacked
They could barely pit and dent,
Sometimes, the plates were slightly bent.
But the safes would never break
And so the thieves could never take
Any goods his safes had secured.
For years and years his fame endured.
There was no limit to his scope.
He worked as hard in tackling soap.
For many years he tried his hand
Until he could well understand
The ins and outs of making soap.
To vegetarians he gave hope.
The other makers were all callow
And made their soaps from lard and tallow,
Not prime but rendered in the street
With the stink of rotten meat.
But thanks to his determined toil
Fine soap could now be made from oil.
