First recipients of the “Padma Shri Award”, fourth highest Indian civilian award honored by The Government of India in 1954. Industrialist, Educationist, Social worker and the founder of MGB Group of Companies in 1940. In 1960, he established Stumpp, Schuele and Somappa, a joint venture with renowned German spring manufacturers, Stumpp + Schuele. The Business group has grown since 1940 to have interests in Manufacturing, Engineering, Transport, Agriculture, Information Technology, Energy, Rural BPO, and Retail brands.