New Delhi, April 2 -- On 1 April, investors in Vadilal experienced a moment of sweet vindication as shares of the company surged more than 14% intraday, hitting a record high of Rs.5,250. This was more than a mere spike in the small-cap stock-it was a resounding vote of confidence. After years of boardroom battles and courtroom duels the Gandhi family, custodians of India's beloved ice-cream brand, had finally buried the hatchet. The decades-old family-run business announced a sweeping settlement and restructuring plan designed to end internal conflict and usher in a new era of governance and professionalism.

The market responded enthusiastically. For a brand frozen by its own infighting, the thaw came with promises of stability, transpa...