Ashokbhai Rathod: Turning His Father's Dream into a Life's Work
In 1978, on the day of Vishwakarma Terash, Ashokbhai Rathod rented a small shop in Rajkot for ₹150. Today, he runs three factories under the Tirupati brand, whose food processing machines are sold across India and in America, Australia, Dubai, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Born on 5 September 1955 in Bhavnagar, Ashokbhai has only a first-year B.Com behind him. Yet he designed 54 types of food processing machines himself. His father, Popatlalbhai, had already built drill machines and betel-nut machinery in Bhavnagar, and Ashokbhai learned design and construction from him. At home, his father once said that one of the sons should go to Rajkot and spread the business there. Ashokbhai touched his feet and promised to do it without giving up his principles.
The brand has a story of its own. In 1975, Ashokbhai visited Tirupati Balaji with his father and vowed to make machines under the Tirupati name. He launched the brand in 1978 and still visits Tirupati every two years. The early days were hard, with few facilities, money trouble and long struggle, but he never took a shortcut or cheated a customer.
Tirupati machines cover betel-nut cutting, potato peeling, banana wafers, sev-ganthiya and papdi making, chilli cutting, fruit juicers and much more. Its circle cutting machine is close to a monopoly, built on research his father did about 70 years ago. The first Rathod Machine Tools factory was set up in Mavdi, Rajkot, followed by Rathod Sales & Service in 1990 and Pinakin Machine Tools in 1998. His sons Pinakinbhai, Amitbhai and Dakshesh run the business with him.
Ashokbhai says customers are like God, so quality, service and spare parts come first. Tirupati machines cost slightly more but lead the market, and the brand has won a national quality mark award. He competes on quality, not price, and warns manufacturers against copying others' designs. Cheaper Chinese machines struggle on spare parts, and Tirupati even repairs them.
His wife Ranjanben stood by him through the lean years and once ran the showroom entirely, and she credits his hard work for their success. His father died in 1981, the toughest time of his life, but Ashokbhai says his father's energy still drives him. He wakes at 6, works long hours, exercises daily and keeps family first. He is also active in social service.
Rajkot is known for oil engines and automobiles. Thanks to Ashokbhai, it is now also a hub for food processing machines.