Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel is an Indian businessman, the self-made billionaire Founder and Chairman of Nirma Group, a massive conglomerate specializing in detergents, soaps, industrial chemicals, and cement. Born in Gujarat, India, in 1945, his career is rooted in science and entrepreneurship. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry.

Patel's career began humbly: he worked as a lab technician for the Gujarat government's Department of Geology and Mining while selling his product on the side. His pivotal entrepreneurial act came in 1969 when he started manufacturing detergent powder in the backyard of his house and selling it door-to-door. His philosophy centered on disrupting the market with a high-quality, low-cost product to challenge multinational giants.

• Nirma Group (Founder & Chairman): The core private asset, a massive conglomerate spanning detergents, soaps, industrial chemicals, and cement (with a significant presence in FMCG).
• Retail Disruption: He disrupted the Indian detergent market by selling his product at Rs 3 per kg, undercutting the established multinational brands (like Hindustan Unilever).
• Industrial Integration: He successfully expanded into industrial chemicals and cement to vertically integrate his supply chain.
• Academic Background: He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and briefly taught the subject.

Karsanbhai Patel's strategic genius was his commitment to value pricing and mass marketing. His initial product, Nirma washing powder, was priced at Rs 3 per kg, which was three times cheaper than the market leader (Surf). He used aggressive, catchy advertising (the Washing Powder Nirma jingle became a national cultural phenomenon).

Under his leadership, Nirma rapidly grew into a national brand, becoming one of India's largest FMCG manufacturers. He successfully diversified into industrial chemicals (to produce his own raw materials) and cement, creating a massive vertically integrated industrial empire. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the mass-market consumer goods and essential industrial sectors.

Karsanbhai Patel's social impact is structural, stemming from Nirma's role as a massive industrial employer and foundational provider of affordable essential consumer goods (detergents, soaps) for the Indian mass market. His company contributed significantly to price competition in the FMCG sector.

His structural contribution is tied to his founding of the Nirma University of Science and Technology (where he is the President), a major private university in Gujarat, supporting engineering, pharmacy, and law education.

Karsanbhai Patel maintains the professional, pragmatic style of an industrial executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits or traditional Indian business attire. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a leader in the high-capital industrial sector.

Residing in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to industrial scale, technological innovation, and the long-term, stable growth of the FMCG and chemical empire.