New Delhi: Lala Shri Ram — the name synonymous with Delhi Cloth Mills (DCM) — was among India’s early entrepreneurs who transformed the country’s business landscape after Independence.
Lala joined the moderately successful DCM, the brainchild of his uncle Lala Gopal Roy, in 1909 and scaled it to be one of the most eminent cloth mills in North India.
An imaginative entrepreneur, Shri Ram further diversified the conglomerate into textiles, sugar, chemicals, rayon, tyre cord, fertilisers, information and technology and engineering products.
His biography, “Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow”, authored by Sonu Bhasin, reveals the man behind the shrewd industrialist, whose business acumen has been lauded by generations.
Lala Shri Ram was born on 27 April, 1884. The first son of Madan Mohan Lal and Chando Devi, he completed his early education at Municipal Primary School in Bazar Sita Ram, Chandni Chowk. He matriculated in March, 1900 and further enrolled for the Intermediate Arts course at Hindu College. When he turned 25, he joined DCM which was then at a fledgling stage.
Very soon, DCM became synonymous with innovation, dynamism and quality.
Lala Shri Ram was also a philanthropist with a keen interest in causes like education. In 1965, it was mentioned to him that there were only two colleges for women in Delhi, and that there was a need for a third due to high demand.
Shri Ram wanted to start a college in memory of his wife Phoolan Devi, and thus was born the eponymous Lady Shri Ram College for Women. It remains one of the top institutes in India.
This book is the second in the series “Entrepreneurs Who Built India”, which aims to shine the spotlight on entrepreneurs who helped lay the foundation of India’s economic grit in the pre-liberalisation era.
As Bhasin puts it, many such entrepreneurs are on the verge of being forgotten since their businesses either don’t exist today or are operating in a much diluted form.
Sachin Sharma, Executive Editor, HarperCollins India, says, “In the history of Indian business, Lala Shri Ram stands out for his ability to see the future. Not only did he build his business empire with great foresight but was a rare entrepreneur who believed in the potential of education for the Indian youth. The institutions he built have proved that when one has the will and the vision, magic happens. Through this book, Sonu Bhasin has given the perfect tribute to the man who was an institution in himself.”
As for the author, Bhasin is one of the early women professionals in the corporate industry. She has led several businesses at senior-most leadership positions, and is a board member of several domestic and multinational companies. She is also a family business historian and the editor-in-chief of “Families & Business” magazine.
Also read: New book shares story of HCL founder Ajai Chowdhry & his contributions to India’s IT industry