In 1991, market forces were said to be unleashed but the old regime of ‘Inspector and Permit Raj’ did not crumble automatically. A decade after globalization, Ashok Atre was to realize that the nexus between Inspector Raj, big industrial houses and politicians was still powerful. The unchallenged monopoly of the state boiler department over inspection and certification worsened the situation. The dangerously powerful boiler inspectorate acted as another trade barrier and trade manipulator.



On this background the fight waged by Ashok Atre becomes more relevant. In the times when industrial leadership was traditionally based on birth, wealth and family assets; entry of the technocrats like Ashok Atre heralded a challenge.



A genius engineer, BE (VJTI, Mumbai), IIT post graduate (a semi IITian!!), he believed that future industrial wars will be fought with technology. With vision and innovation, he built an enterprise around core concepts of Energy and Environment Conservation (EEC) with path breaking innovations. In hardcore conservative boiler market, he sold the idea of sustainibility. He created standards for what he called the ‘responsible capitalism’.



A boy from Dombivali (educated in DNC School), Atre went on to be the President of Indian Boilers Manufacturers Association (IBMA). He could sense the institutional crisis and in the spirit of a true engineer; he worked on solutions. He led a nation wide movement for reforms in Boiler legislation with unprecedented vigour.



In 2007, The Indian Boiler Act was amended; ending the monopoly of Inspector Raj from boiler sector.



It is story of a man who dared to confront, who could transcend his battles from personal to sociopolitical; and make an impact.