Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt (1937-2022) was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist, best known as the founder of the iconic indigenous beverage brand Rasna. He is also the former Chairman of Areez Khambatta Charitable Trust and Rasna Foundation. He died of cardiac arrest on November 19, 2022.
Wiki/Biography
Areez Khambatt, also known as Areez P. Khambatta, was born on Wednesday, September 22, 1937, in Karachi, Punjab, British India (now Karachi Punjab Province, Pakistan) (age 85; at the time of death). His zodiac sign is Virgo. He first visited India when he was two years old. Thereafter, he visited India frequently before settling down with his family in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Growing up in Karachi, Areez attended several fun “housie” classes with his mother arranged by the Parsis of Karachi.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′6″
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: brown
family
Parents and siblings
Areez Khambatt’s father, Phiroja Khambatt, founded children’s beverage brand Rasna in 1976. Little is known about his mother.
wife and children
Areez Khambatta lives in Ahmedabad with his wife Persis Khambatta, a Pune girl, in an arranged marriage. In a media interview, Patience revealed that she had always wanted an arranged marriage. Talking about Arez, she said,
He was the first person I met and fell in love with. “
Arez added,
I had met and rejected about 50 girls at that point. “
Arez has a son, Piruz Khambatta, who is chairman of the Rasna Group. Pirouz’s husband, Binaisa, is a businesswoman. He also had two daughters, Derna Boyce and the social reformist Ruzan Kambata.
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt’s son Piruz Khambatt
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt’s daughter-in-law Binaisha and granddaughter Arzeen
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt’s daughter Ruzan Khambatt
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt’s daughter Delna Boyce
grandson
He has six grandchildren – Arzeen (Pirouzi’s eldest daughter), Arzad (Pirouzi’s son), Avan (Pirouzi’s younger daughter), Areez, Firoza and Arnavaz.
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt and his family
religion
He was born into a Parsi family and believed in Zoroastrianism.
Profession
entrepreneur
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt started his career in 1976 with a company called Jaffe. In 1978, he left Jaffe to join the Rasna Group, an iconic local beverage brand founded by Areez’s father as an alternative to high-cost soft drink products. Under his leadership, the brand’s turnover crossed Rs 1 crore in its first year. In an interview, discussing the initial stages of Lasna Group, Arez said:
We had nearly 500 people per shift, packaging drinks by hand, and when demand increased we had to start a third shift. “
His brand focuses on providing people with affordable drinks, which is one of its unique selling points. Areez operates in more than 60 countries, driving its brand to become one of the market leaders in the beverage sector. In the 1980s and 1990s, Rasna’s advertising campaign “I Love You Rasna” gained huge popularity among the audience and dominated the television advertising on the national broadcaster Doordarshan channel.
Rasner products
Over the years, Rasna Group has won many awards, including the 2008 Excellence in Taste Award from the International Institute of Taste and Quality, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in London, Belgium, the World Quality Award, the Master Brand World Brand Conference Award, the ITQI Excellence in Taste and Quality Award etc. Rasna is sold in approximately 1.8 million retail stores and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of concentrated soft drinks. As of 2022, it has 9 manufacturing plants and a strong distribution network across the country, with 26 warehouses, 200 super stockists, and 5,000 stockists. In 1997, Areez Khambatt passed the chairmanship of Rasna Foundation to his son Piruz Khambatt. Arez is the former president of the World Alliance of Parsi-Iranians Zaltostis (WAPIZ). He had also previously served as Chairman of Ahmedabad Zoroastrian Panchayat and Vice-President of Zoroastrian Anjuman Federation of India.
philanthropist
Areez is actively involved in philanthropy and has made great contributions to social development through social services. Under his leadership, the Arez Combata Charitable Trust and the Lasna Foundation are involved in multiple projects related to healthcare, education and scholarships, benefiting thousands of people.
medal
- Indian National Guard Presidential and Civil Defense Medal
Awards and Honors
- President of India Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma receives National Citizen Award for outstanding contribution in business sector
- Chosen as the “First Distinguished Parsi” of Ahmedabad.
die
Areez Pirojshaw Khambatt passed away due to cardiac arrest on November 19, 2022, in Ahmedabad. He had been ill for a long time. After announcing the loss, Rasna Group issued an official statement saying:
It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Areez Khambatt, Founder Chairman of Rasna Group, Chairman Areez Khambatt Charitable Trust and Rasna Foundation, who passed away on November 19, 2022 at his heavenly home. Khambatta has contributed immensely to Indian industry, commerce and most importantly social development through social services. “
Uthamna of the Dead will be held on November 21, 2022 at 3:40 pm at Parsi Agiyari Khamasa Gate, Ahmedabad.
Facts/Trivia
- He is often called the Lion of Ahmedabad and the patriarch of the Parsi community.
- Areez Khambatt served as the Ahmedabad Civil Guard and Civil Defense Commander for 20 years.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education