Balvant Parekh

Balvant was born in a Jain family in Mahuva town of Bhavnagar district Gujarat, India. Balvant's grandfather was a magistrate. Balvant finished his initial school education in Mahuva and got his law degree from Government Law College Mumbai. While he was studying, Balvant married Kantaben. Balvant never practiced law and worked in a dyeing and printing press in Mumbai. He changed jobs as a peon in a wood trader’s office where he used to stay in the warehouse along with his wife. Balvant decided to start his own business with the help of investor Mohan and started importing cycle, areca nut, paper dyes from western countries. After starting his business, Balvant moved to a flat in Sion Mumbai along with his wife, son and brother Sushil.

Balvant had two sons Madhukar Parekh and Ajay Parekh both part of the family business Pidilite Industries., and one daughter, Kalpana Parekh. Balvant was close friend of Dhirubhai Ambani founder of Reliance Industries and lived in the same apartment block in Usha Kiran building on Carmichael Road Mumbai.

Balvant died on 25 January 2013 at the age of 88.

Balvant had provided support in starting an Arts and Science college in Mahuva Gujarat India. He donated ₹2 crore for Bhavnagar’s Science city project and also donated to Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. In 2009 Balvant founded Balvant Parekh Centre for General Semantics and Other Human Sciences in Baroda Gujarat India.