Lalchand Hirachand

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lalchand Hirachand Doshi (24 October 1904–1993) was a scion of Walchand group, noted industrialist, philanthropist and Jain social leader.[1][2]

He was the youngest son of Hirachand Doshi from his second marriage and was step-brother of Walchand Hirachand, who was born from first marriage of his father. He was born in Sholapur in Maharashtra in a Jain family of Gujarati origin.[3][4] Name of his other brothers were Gulabchand Hirachand and Ratanchand Hirachand.[3]

He completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Deccan College, Puna.[2]

He was married to Lalitabai in June 1931 from the marriage they had three sons and a daughter.[2]

When he grew up he joined his brother, Walchand and served its various group companies like The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd., Walchandnagar Industries, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Ravalgaon Sugar, Hindustand Construstion, Premier Automobiles, etc.[3] He later served also as President of the Indian Merchants' Chamber and various other merchant bodies.[1]

He also served as President of All India Digamber Jain Tirthakshetra Committee from 1972 to 1983, and was connected to a number of charitable institutions.[2] He is also the author an acclaimed book on Ramayana named as The Indian epic – Ramayana.[2]

He was elected as an independent candidate as Member of the Bombay Legislative Council, in 1939.[1][5] After independence, he also became a Member of the Rajya Sabha from 1952 to 1958.[6]

He was also a sports aficionado and was active member in the Cricket Club of India, the Willingdon Sports Club and various similar institutions. In addition, he was an avid golfer. He once won the Dunlop Trophy for Golf. He also loved to play tennis, badminton and bridge, as well. He could fly aeroplane and held commercial pilot’s license. [7]

He is survived by sons and one of the flagship company, Walchandnagar Industries is now run his sons Vinod Doshi, Chakor L. Doshi and others, where as other companies went to sons of Gulabchand Hirachand, after family division of businesses, as the founder of the group Walchand Hirachand died without any male heirs.[8]

He was trustee of various schools, collages and hospitals run by Walchand group.[9]

He was awarded with Padmashree award by Government of India in 1992 for his contributions to trade and industry.[1]

He died in October, 1993.[2]

References


<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>