In 1981, K K Jhunjhunwala wanted to set up a paper mill with a twist — using sugarcane waste or bagasse. Having seen his father’s sugarcane mill, he was well aware of the waste generated and its possible usage. He was determined to create paper sustainably, but there was a slight problem — he lacked the funds required for the machinery. His wife stepped in and sold her jewellery to fund his entrepreneurial dreams, leading to the birth of Yash Papers.
Starting as a small paper mill, K K carved a niche in the low-grammage (GSM) kraft market over the next 15 to 20 years. After undergoing heart surgery in the mid-90s due to a congenital condition, his perspective shifted. He aspired to travel the world on his motorbike and hand over the business to his sons — though, at the time, neither was interested.
Ved Krishna, the elder son, had no interest in joining the family business, having witnessed his father’s entrepreneurial struggles. At the time, he was studying sports…
