Gadkari mourns Vicco Laboratories director Sumantrao Pendharkar

Key Takeaways

Sumantrao Pendharkar , director of Vicco Laboratories , has passed away, as mourned publicly by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on August 3, 2026 .

Gadkari credited Pendharkar with giving Indian Ayurveda a global identity through the Vicco brand.

The minister described Pendharkar's legacy as a confluence of swadeshi enterprise, honest entrepreneurship, and social responsibility.

Gadkari extended condolences to the Pendharkar family and the Vicco fraternity, closing with the invocation Om Shanti .

Vicco Laboratories is an Indian company known for Ayurvedic consumer products with an international presence.

A quiet but consequential chapter in Indian enterprise has closed. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday, August 3, 2026, mourned the passing of Sumantrao Pendharkar, director of Vicco Laboratories, calling his death deeply saddening and offering heartfelt condolences to the Pendharkar family and the Vicco fraternity.

Posting in Marathi, Gadkari wrote: 'भारतीय आयुर्वेदाला जागतिक स्तरावर सन्मान मिळवून देणारे विको लॅबोरेटरीजचे संचालक सुमंतराव पेंढरकर यांच्या निधनाचे वृत्त अत्यंत दुःखद आहे.' ('The news of the passing of Sumantrao Pendharkar, director of Vicco Laboratories, who brought global recognition to Indian Ayurveda, is deeply sorrowful.')

The man who made Ayurveda a household name abroad

Gadkari credited Pendharkar with transforming Vicco from a domestic brand into a globally recognised face of Indian Ayurveda. 'His vision ensured that Vicco was not merely a brand, but became the world's introduction to Indian Ayurveda,' the minister wrote. That is no small legacy. Vicco Laboratories, a Mumbai-rooted company, built its reputation on Ayurvedic consumer products — from toothpaste to skincare — at a time when swadeshi enterprise was as much an act of conviction as commerce.

Swadeshi spirit, social commitment, and a life of values

Gadkari described Pendharkar's work as a 'beautiful confluence' of indigenous enterprise, honest entrepreneurship, and social responsibility — three ideals the minister has championed repeatedly in his own public career. He called Pendharkar's values-driven life an inspiration for generations to come, closing with the Sanskrit invocation Om Shanti — a mark of solemn respect. Cabinet ministers in India regularly issue public condolences for prominent business figures, but Gadkari's tribute carried particular weight: Pendharkar's work sat at the intersection of Ayurvedic industry and the swadeshi manufacturing ethos that has long animated policy conversations around indigenous production. The Pendharkar family and Vicco's broader community now face questions of legacy and continuity — ones that will be watched closely by the Ayurvedic consumer-goods sector.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Sumantrao Pendharkar?

Sumantrao Pendharkar was the director of Vicco Laboratories, an Indian company known for Ayurvedic consumer products, credited with building the brand into a globally recognised name in Indian Ayurveda.

What is Vicco Laboratories?

Vicco Laboratories is a Mumbai-based Indian company that produces Ayurvedic consumer goods, including toothpaste and skincare products, and has an international market presence.

Why did Nitin Gadkari pay tribute to Sumantrao Pendharkar?

Gadkari paid tribute recognising Pendharkar's role in elevating Indian Ayurveda to global prominence and for embodying the values of swadeshi enterprise and social responsibility.

What did Nitin Gadkari say about Vicco Laboratories?

Gadkari said that Pendharkar's vision ensured Vicco was not merely a brand but became the world's introduction to Indian Ayurveda, and praised his values-driven life as an inspiration for future generations.

When did Nitin Gadkari post the condolence message?

Gadkari posted the condolence message on Monday, August 3, 2026 , on the social media platform X.