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It was his fascination for fast bikes that spurred him to launch his first business venture. It was the same all consuming passion that led to Naozer Aga’s end on February 19, 2018 on the old Bombay Poona Highway. Although wearing his helmet and body safety suit when riding the Kawasaki Ninja sports bike, among the fastest in the world, 76-year-old Aga reportedly hit an unmarked speed breaker, lost control and crashed into the median. The impact caused him to be flung on to the Bombay bound carriageway, the helmet getting crushed, and the base of his skull being injured, leading to his instantaneous death.
The car of the chairman emeritus of Virat Industries Limited and chief executive officer of Armayesh Group of companies had gone ahead. By the time the driver of the vehicle realized that the bike was not on course and took a u-turn, Aga lay sprawled on the road, a visual that was shared many times over on WhatsApp groups.
During his college days when pursuing his science degree at St Xavier’s, Naozer had approached his architect father Jamshed to buy him a motorcycle. Worried about his son’s life, Jamshed gave him only half the amount, laying the onus of raising the balance Rs 3,500 on the youngster. Not to be deterred, Naozer and his friends formed Cupid and his Arrows that arranged socials, the income from which financed his two-wheeler. This was the start of his many business ventures that gave him the confidence that he could "make money.”
In September 1972, at the age of 31, he resigned as the all India product manager of the Chemicals Division of Voltas to start his first entrepreneurial venture jointly with his wife Sheila. Named Armayesh, combining the names of their children Armand and Ayesha, they commenced operations as a marketing organization by obtaining agency representations for chemicals, sanitary ware and import of titanium dioxide. After a few years of successful operations, Sheila suggested diversifying into the manufacture and export of hand embroidered items that were commissioned by high fashion designers around the world as also lovers of hand embroidered blouses, gara saris, cushion covers and hand bags. His mother Shirin (daughter of Sir Dhunjisha Cooper who was the founder of Cooper Engineering Limited in Satara) also played an influential role in his decisions, he had acknowledged.
As the dynamic chairman of the Armayesh Group, that now comprises seven private limited companies, one limited liability partnership and one public limited company, he had nurtured and expanded into varied operations. He had even experimented with a car hire firm called Comfort Kars, manufacture of frozen sea foods, manufacture of professional quality printed circuit boards. After the passing away of his father in 1998, he converted Shapoorjee N. Chandabhoy and Company, the fourth generation family firm of architects to Shapoorjee Chandabhoy Finvest Private Limited. The Group also invested in the equity share capital of Virat Industries Limited, the largest manufacturer-exporter of dress socks of all companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
A first generation entrepreneur who dared to go global, he had conveyed in an interview with Parsiana (see "Socking it right,” February 21, 2014) "India can develop into a manufacturing powerhouse competing with any country on quality, prices, delivery and any other parameter. The problem today is that rules, regulations, paperwork and procedures are so excessive that company directors and management are more anxious about not breaking any law than about increasing the business. The trends are favorable but regrettably not translated into visible action by the government.” To the sports enthusiast it was like "a race horse continuously pulled back.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Within the Parsi community in India, the entrepreneurial spirit is still prevalent yet businessmen are finding it difficult to operate in the face of eroding value systems and mounting corruption in the country, Aga had observed. An advocate of the basic tenets of Zoroastrianism, Aga had recommended (see "Exquisite Embroidery Expertise,” Parsiana, October 1997), "Don’t go to the fire temple and then cut others’ throats or cheat someone in business.”
Having married Sheila, a Punjabi, and raised their children as Zoroastrians, he was equally forthright about accepting into the faith children of out-married Parsi women. In an article he had penned for Parsiana, (see "Promoters are Parsis,” November 7, 2013) Aga had expressed, "We should be thankful to the non-Zoroastrian fathers who agree to raise their children as Zoroastrians... The choice is very clear: retain the religious edicts, legal interpretations, pedigree, purity and charitable benefits of the existing community and face extinction of Parsis and the Zoroastrian religion in India, or reconsider all these issues and accept all those who would voluntarily prefer to follow the Zoroastrian faith and let the community survive for a longer time. The handful of wise and forward looking priests and community members who have demonstrated courageous leadership in this recommended direction must be sincerely complimented.” He had indicated his preference for cremation way back in 1997 and accordingly the family used the facilities at the Prayer Hall at Worli.
A keen supporter of the Indian liberal movement for nearly four decades, in the last few years Aga was appointed national mentor of the Swarna Bharat Party formed in 2014 where his primary role was to oversee its functioning in matters of direction, policy and strategy. Among the other secular and business bodies with which he was associated were Freedom First, the Indian Liberal Group where he was general secretary reporting to founder president Minoo Masani, the Forum of Free Enterprise, Indian, Indo-American, Indo-German and several other chambers of commerce and industry, Freemasonry and the Lions Club of Bombay Central where he was founder/charter president. He also made time for the alumni associations of St Mary’s School and St Xavier’s College.
The proud owner of Honda CBR 1000 RR Fireblade and Kawasaki Ninja ZX 10R, 2014 model, every month he looked forward to his bike rides to Panchgani and back with an overnight halt in Poona. Sundays were devoted to avidly following Formula One racing events.
The buoyant businessman is survived by his son Armand and daughter Ayesha Kaizad Dadyburjor.