20 Facts About Gujarmal Modi

Gujarmal Modi was an Indian industrialist and philanthropist who co-established the Modi Group of companies and the industrial city of Modinagar in 1933, along with his brother Kedar Nath Modi.

Gujarmal Modi contributed in the field of higher education by giving grants to established institutions such as Banaras Hindu University, and different colleges in Meerut and other places.

Gujarmal Modi was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1968.

Gujarmal Modi is the grandfather of Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League.

Gujarmal Modi was born as Ram Prasad Modi on 9 August 1902, in Mahendragarh to a Marwari Family.

Gujarmal Modi was the second child of his father, Multani Mal Modi, and the only child of his mother, Chandi Devi, who was Multani Mal's second wife.

All his life, Gujarmal Modi was to share a relationship of great affection and attachment with his step-mother.

Gujarmal Modi gave up his real name in favour of the name "Gujarmal," which he selected in honour of his step-mother.

In 1932, after a decade during which he grappled with personal issues and depression, Gujarmal Modi revived both his spirit and his business.

Gujarmal Modi fulfilled his long-standing desire of expanding the family business to new sectors and territories.

Medical care in semi-rural Begumabad was abysmal, and the Gujarmal Modi family was not yet seriously wealthy.

Gujarmal Modi's wife began keeping ill constantly, but it is not known whether this was a cause or a consequence of the loss of children.

Gujarmal Modi's wife despaired of motherhood, and joined family elders in counseling him to bring another wife home, saying that she would rejoice in his children, for they would be in some sense her own children.

Gujarmal Modi was a staunch patriot and this was amply visible during his youth.

In 1926, he was insulted on the basis of his nationality by an Englishman working in India by the name of Mr Turner, after the young Gujarmal Modi outbid him during a public auction.

An incensed Gujarmal Modi subjected the Englishman to a beating, which later resulted in a telling off by the Maharaja of Patiala; but earned him the respect of the public.

Gujarmal Modi instead requested the British to confer on him an Indian title.

Gujarmal Modi had a telling impact on Indian commerce and industry and that is amply displayed by the awards and honours bestowed upon him.

Gujarmal Modi held positions in various committees and business-governance bodies during his career.

GM Gujarmal Modi established various institutions in the fields of education, science, medicine and women's welfare to uplift the country's downtrodden and encourage competence-development in the youth.