CM Fadnavis mourns Vico Laboratories director Sumantarao Pendharkar
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to Sumantarao Pendharkar, director of Vico Laboratories, who passed away on 3 August 2026. Fadnavis called him an 'industrial gem' who gave the Ayurvedic brand global recognition and praised the Pendharkar family's deep roots in Dombivli's industrial and cultural life.
Key Takeaways
Sumantarao Pendharkar , director of Vico Laboratories , passed away on 3 August 2026 .
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis described him as a 'distinguished industrial gem' who gave Vico global recognition.
Fadnavis credited Pendharkar's 'simple living and principled thought' for Vico's international rise and contribution to Ayurveda.
The tribute highlighted the Pendharkar family's lasting role in Dombivli's industrial, educational, and cultural development.
Fadnavis extended condolences to the Pendharkar family and the Vico group, closing with the invocation Om Shanti .
Maharashtra lost one of its quiet industrial giants on Monday, 3 August 2026. Sumantarao Pendharkar, director of Vico Laboratories, passed away, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis offered a heartfelt tribute — honouring a man who built a homegrown Ayurvedic brand into a name recognised far beyond India's borders.
Paying his respects in Marathi, CM Fadnavis wrote: 'विको'ला जागतिक ओळख मिळवून देणारे, विको लॅबोरेटरीजचे संचालक सुमंतराव पेंढरकर यांच्या निधनाने महाराष्ट्राने एक कर्तृत्ववान उद्योगरत्न गमावले आहे.' — 'With the passing of Sumantarao Pendharkar, director of Vico Laboratories, who gave 'Vico' a global identity, Maharashtra has lost a distinguished industrial gem.' He added that Pendharkar's simple living and principled thought were the twin engines that propelled the brand onto the world stage and advanced the cause of Ayurveda.
A Dombivli family woven into Maharashtra's industrial fabric
The tribute singled out Dombivli — the industrial township in Thane district that has long served as a manufacturing backbone of Maharashtra — as a place shaped in part by the Pendharkar family's contributions to industry, education, and culture. Fadnavis said those contributions would be remembered always. The Chief Minister extended condolences to the Pendharkar family and the Vico group, praying for the strength to bear the loss. He closed with the Sanskrit invocation Om Shanti — a customary mark of deep respect for the departed.
Vico's Ayurvedic legacy and Maharashtra's traditional-medicine ambitions
Vico Laboratories is a Maharashtra-based company with a focus on Ayurvedic personal-care and medicinal products, and has pursued international markets over the decades. Maharashtra chief ministers have consistently acknowledged the passing of prominent local industrialists whose work aligns with the state's broader goals — promoting traditional medicine exports and sustaining regional industrial growth. Pendharkar's leadership at Vico placed him squarely within that tradition.
Point of View
The CM frames Pendharkar's legacy within Maharashtra's ongoing push to position traditional medicine as an export-ready industry. The Dombivli reference is also deliberate — the township is a politically significant industrial hub in Thane district, and acknowledging the Pendharkar family's community role reinforces the government's ties to the region's business class. The tribute is ceremonial in form but carries a quiet policy signal about the value the state places on homegrown Ayurvedic enterprise.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Sumantarao Pendharkar?
Sumantarao Pendharkar was the director of Vico Laboratories, a Maharashtra-based Ayurvedic products company. He was credited with building the Vico brand into an internationally recognised name.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say about Sumantarao Pendharkar?
CM Fadnavis called Pendharkar a 'distinguished industrial gem' who gave Vico global recognition through simple living and principled thought. He also praised the Pendharkar family's contributions to Dombivli's industrial, educational, and cultural life.
What is Vico Laboratories known for?
Vico Laboratories is a Maharashtra-based company known for Ayurvedic personal-care and medicinal products. It has pursued international markets and is associated with the promotion of traditional Ayurvedic formulations.
Where is Dombivli and why is it significant?
Dombivli is an industrial township in Thane district, Maharashtra. It has a long history as a manufacturing and educational hub, and the Pendharkar family has been noted for contributions to its industrial and cultural development.
When did Sumantarao Pendharkar pass away?
CM Fadnavis's tribute post was published on 3 August 2026. The post does not specify the exact date of Pendharkar's passing.
