Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal was born into a farming family in Rajuri, a village located 88 kilometres from Pune. Rajuri is well known for its cultural and social values. He lost his father when he was only 11 years old, therefore his mother had a greater impact on his upbringing. He had three siblings, and his mother was the sole breadwinner. They faced difficult times.

In 1972-1973, their village experienced a drought. There was a time when they had nothing to eat and survived for three days on chilies and grass.

However, all of his experiences made him considerably more resilient and grounded. Their morale was always up. His mother used to motivate them with inspiring stories.

Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal was a keen observer by nature. He was an adept student. This helped him gain a solid understanding of the topics. Even though he did not put much effort in his academics, he stood second in the 10th standard results. This significantly boosted his confidence.

His mother urged him to pursue his education in Mumbai. He was admitted into KJ Somaiya College. His transition from rural life to life in Mumbai was not easy. Students made fun of his etiquette, vocabulary and overall mannerisms.. None of these prevented him from scoring well and completing his Bachelor of Science degree. He completed both a postgraduate diploma in Mechanical engineering and a diploma in management studies. Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal had a strong desire to join the NDA and the military. 

In 1985, following his graduation, a small fabrication company on the outskirts of Mumbai offered him an odd job. It was a peculiar beginning to a career for a bright student. Neither the function nor his compensation were clearly specified. Nonetheless, Mr. Gatkal maximised the experience and exposure that this job could give. He worked there for almost 2.5 years.

After that experience, Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal wanted to do something independently. Mr. Balasaheb had nurtured the desire to become an industrialist since he was a child.

In 1987, he began a new business in partnership with Mr. Sunil Bhagade, a family friend and mentor he had known since college. The business was launched with only Rs 100 in the bank account. Initially, they would acquire orders and have them fulfilled by multiple vendors. 

Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal worked exceedingly hard and went to whatever lengths to meet his clients' expectations. Within a few years, they had earned a good reputation among their customers.

Throughout the years, he continued to expand the firm and collaborated with multiple partners with diverse interests. Couple of partnerships did not work out as he had hoped, but still he persevered.

In 2001 he founded Promas Engineers Pvt. Ltd. Promas Engineers is currently one of the major producers of pharmaceutical machinery in India, supplying some of the top firms in the Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Cosmetic, Food Products, and Bulk Drug industries.

Currently, Promas Engineers exports to more than 25 countries. They employ 100 people and have one of the best R&D centers in the country.

Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal is naturally inquisitive and a seeker. He always said ‘YES’ to life and the opportunities that came by. His entire life is centered on involvement and action. Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal used to assist his mother with farm work and plough fields after school. During his undergraduate years, he performed all daily chores of his family acquaintance and mentor Mr. Sunil Bhagade. During college, he was an extremely active NCC cadet. In his first employment, he travelled across the country with truck drivers to deliver machines. This helped him get perspective on his life. In his early 40’s he got involved in Yoga and became a certified practitioner. He is leading an initiative where 18000 trees are being planted and maintained in Navi Mumbai.

Maintaining balance and harmony through his work and personal life is what motivates and drives him.

Mr. Balasaheb Gatkal's motivating force has been living a meaningful life. In the present day, our lives are centered around meeting our wants and desires, but this appears to be mostly irrelevant to living a meaningful life. Meaning is acquired through engaging in hard or difficult situations that are beyond oneself or one's pleasures.