{Piyush Desai • 1939-2026}: An industry veteran who believed ‘tea can dissolve differences’

Piyush Desai, a tea taster, philanthropist, and lover of Indian music, passed away on September 15 at the age of 86, according to sources. Narandas Desai, Piyush’s grandfather, began the tea trade in 1892 with a tea estate in Durban and returned to India in 1919 with a "certificate" from Mahatma Gandhi. In Ahmedabad, Narandas founded the Gujarat Tea Depot and launched the Wagh Bakri brand featuring the iconic logo of a tiger and a goat drinking from the same cup.

Desai’s belief in unity and compassion was evident in his philanthropic endeavors. Bhushan Punani, General Secretary of the Blind People’s Association (BPA), recalls how Desai donated Rs 1.51 lakh to BPA in 1984, their largest single donation at the time, after realizing the institute was closed and had no one to guide the blind. Following the 2001 earthquake in Kutch, Desai donated Rs 15 lakh to help rehabilitate victims with physical disabilities, and recently donated 200 smart glasses to visually challenged BPA members.

Desai led BPA as its President from 2014 to 2020 and invited Punani, an IIM-A alumnus, to join the Wagh Bakri board in 2020. During the 2002 riots in Gujarat following the Godhra train burning, Desai was the only corporate leader to speak out against communalism and organized relief and rehabilitation for those affected.

Desai's association with Gujarat Vidyapith, where Narayan Desai was its chancellor, further highlights his commitment to education and community development. A close associate says Desai could not stand anyone in distress and extended his help to all, regardless of their background. He was also a member of the Gujarat Vidyapith committee and served as Vice President of Sadvichar Parivar, an Ahmedabad-based NGO, in 2012-2014. Desai donated Rs 31 lakh for a hostel for physically challenged people in Uvarsad, Gandhinagar.

Under Desai's leadership for six decades, Wagh Bakri Tea Group expanded its presence to more than 66 countries and holds a 9% share in India's tea market, valued at approximately Rs 2000 crore.