Pradyumna Poddar- PAST CHAIRMAN OF IFMA

I’m truly grateful to have been honored by the Indian Fan Manufacturers Association (IFMA) during their AGM held on the 4th Sept at Hotel The Lalit, New Delhi.

This year marked a significant milestone IFMA’s 75th anniversary, commemorated with the launch of a beautifully curated Coffee Table Book (CTB). A first-of-its-kind initiative, the book features insightful contributions from all major fan brands across India and pays tribute to the thoughts and legacies of past Chairmen.

The concept and execution of this remarkable publication were led with precision and passion by none other than Mr. Hardeep Singh, a legendary figure in Indian marketing, advertising, and the fan industry. IFMA continues to benefit from his active involvement as an Independent Member, as he tirelessly drives impactful programs for Associate Members throughout the year.

It was especially thoughtful of IFMA to invite and felicitate all past Chairmen during the event—a gesture that added immense value and sentiment to the celebration. I had the privilege of reconnecting with another stalwart of the industry, Mr. Sunil Wadhwa, whose presence added further gravitas to the occasion.

A warm welcome was extended to Mr. Gaurav Dhawan, BU Head (ECD) at Orient Electric, who was inducted as the new Chairman of IFMA.

The event also saw enthusiastic participation from representatives of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and CLASP, with an insightful keynote address delivered by Dr. Abhishek Sharma, Director, BEE, during the inaugural session.

A highlight of the evening was the Lifetime Contribution Award presented to Mr. Hardeep Singh, in recognition of his decades-long dedication to the fan industry.

In a compelling fireside chat, Mr. Promeet Ghosh (MD, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd) and Mr. Ravinder Singh Negi (Past Chairman, IFMA & MD, Orient Electricals) emphasized the critical importance of sustainability. Mr. Ghosh made a bold commitment: Crompton will reduce its overall carbon footprint by 50% within the next five years.

Mr. Manoj Meena, CEO & Founder of Atomberg, shared forward-looking insights on the future of ceiling fans and the inevitable transition to BLDC technology over the next 5–10 years. Mr. Lala, founder of FANZART, spoke about his brand’s journey in transforming fans into aspirational lifestyle product, with models priced upwards of ₹25,000.

Mr. Deepak Bansal, ECD SBU Head at Havells, reinforced the importance of innovation as the cornerstone of success for any fan brand.

Ms. Moumita Chanda, Senior Associate at CLASP, presented a detailed walkthrough of the registration process under BEE’s Standards & Labelling (S&L) Programme, along with upcoming norms for ceiling, table, pedestal, and wall-mounted fans—set to be implemented from 2026.

The energy in the banquet hall was electric, with high participation from Associate Members. The collective hunger for knowledge, insights, and a shared vision to elevate the Indian fan industry to new heights was palpable throughout the event.