It was September 24, 2014. Almost every single person at the Walchandnagar industrial township was glued to the television set. No, it was not a World Cup final match! India's Mars Orbiter Mission was inching towards its destination. And soon enough, it successfully entered the orbit of the Red Planet. India became the first nation to successfully send a mission to Planet Mars on its first attempt.

While our Prime Minister was congratulating the scientists at ISRO, the industrial township of Walchandnagar erupted in joy. From its school to the shopfloors and from the administrative block to the residential area, everybody was celebrating and congratulating each other.

Walchandnagar Industries Limited had once again played a key role in a national cause and they were all proud of it. "The kick that you get out of such achievements is simply enormous; it is something you cannot quantify in terms of monetary value," says G K Pillai, MD & CEO, Walchandnagar Industries Ltd (WIL) recalling the day.

This distinct colour of patriotism is part of the culture at Walchandnagar; in fact, it is an integral part of the Group's foundation laid by Seth Walchand Hirachand decades ago, Pillai says. "So whether it is contributing to the space missions or the intercontinental missiles, whether it is contributing to the sub-marines and frigates or to the all important nuclear projects, we have been playing our role in building India's DNA - Defence, Nuclear and Aerospace," he explains.

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