Mr. Chaturbhuj Gordhandas Merchant (Kakubhai) was born in Mumbai in 1920 in to a Kutchi Bhatia family. He was educated at Bharda High School and later attended the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai University and completed his B.Com, majoring in Cotton Trade. He was married to Sushila in 1940 and had 3 children – one daughter and two sons. Mr. C. G. Merchant, along with his two brothers and his father Gordhandas Jamnadas were involved in trading and brokerage in commodities like castor, castor oil, cotton etc. In 1958 Mr. C.G. Merchant taking the lead, set up Indian Gum Industries Limited (IGI) in a joint venture with Cesalpinia S.p.A of Italy to process Guar Seeds in India to manufacture Guar Gum. He was thus the pioneer of the Guar Industry in India. A factory was built in Mumbai and went in to operation in 1958..
