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Padma Bhushan Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi

Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi (9 August 1902 - 22 January 1976) was a renowned industrialist and philanthropist, who co-established the Modi Group of companies and the industrial city of Modinagar in 1933.

Seth Guljar Mal Modi

1933
Birth of Modinagar

He discoverd a sleepy village called Begumabad, 50km from Delhi and set up a sugar mill on 100 bighas (62 acres) of land with machinery from England. This was the birth of Modinagar

1933
Birth of Modinagar

1939
An Indian Industrialist emerges

He established cooperative societies that set up basic infrastructure, roads, water supply & medical facilities to meet the needs of society. Shri Modi also set up Modi Industries in different spheres such as washing soaps, toilet soaps, biscuits, confectionary oil, textiles and other essentials.

1939
An Indian Industrialist emerges

1942
The nation-builder


The title of 'Rai Bahadur' was conferred. The citation recognized his valuable contribution to society, commerce and industry. He also constructed several schools, colleges for women across UP, a women's hospital, a Sanskrit school at Haridwar, workers quarters and a dispensary.

1942
The nation-builder

1947
Independence and beyond


India became independent and a republic. In the following years, Shri Modi's industrial zeal and vigour was doubled. Shri Modi's first endeavor to commemorate freedom was to set up a textile mill. The mill till date is considered to be the largest running mill in the country.

1947
Independence and beyond

1949
Rehabilitation

Shri Modi established a new colony called Govindpur, for the refugees from Pakistan in Modinagar in an effort to help them in rehabilitation and set up cottage industries for their benefit. He established a lantern factory to bring light to the villages of India and help children study.

1949
Rehabilitation

1951
Doyen of industry


Shri Modi along with the Tatas and the Birlas, lobbied against the socialist leanings and unfair taxes that were levied. He also set up an oxygen gas plant, a tubewell company, an arc electrodes factory, a cotton delinating factory at Modinagar and a flour mill in Delhi.

1951
Doyen of industry

1960
A Guiding Light

Shri Modi held many important posts during his period. Apart from being the President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), he was also the President of National Productivity Council

1960
A Guiding Light

1967
The first joint venture


Modipon was set up in collaboration with an American company, Rohm & Hass, long before alliances became a corporate buzzword. It thus established a wave of global collaborations in the years to come and became the hallmark of alliances for the corporate fraternity in India

1967
The first joint venture

1968
Honoured by the Government of India


The prestigious Padma Bhushan was conferred on Shri Modi on 16th April, 1968 by the President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain. The citation recognized his moving spirit in the fields of industry, social service, education & his singular contribution to the development of an integrated industrial township.

1968
Honoured by the Government of India

1975
Birth of Modipuram


In Modipuram, another model township founded by Shri Modi near Meerut, was set up. It was an automobile tyre and tube factory (inaugurated by Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then President of India), in technical collaboration with Continental Gummi Werke A.G. Hannover, West Germany

1975
Birth of Modipuram

1976


On 22nd January 1976, Shri Modi left us. As per his wishes, the Laxmi Narayan temple in Modinagar became his final resting place. His funeral was attended by over 1 lakh people. It was a remarkable show of the love he commanded among common people. Shri Modi was survived by his wife, Smt. Dayawati Modi and 11 children (five sons and 6 daughters). Later, in 1994 the temple also became the final resting place of his beloved wife.


Shri Modi was not just a visionary, but also a pioneer in reforms that brought imperative social change. He played a vital role in the abolishment of sati, the encouragemt of widow remarriage and the reformation of dowry system.

1976

A Lasting legacy


Shri Modi offered round-the-year employment to the harijan workers at his factories and released them from bondage. A pious man, he believed all religions were one and supported holy men from all religions in renovating ruined places of worship.


His dying wish was to build a world class hospital which offered the best medical care in India. It was out of that vision, that on his death anniversary 22 January 2013, the Saket City Hospital was established.

A Lasting legacy

Nation building with India's leadership

Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi was deeply committed to industry, social service and education which lead him to play a pivotal role in nation building along with India's leadership starting from Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Moraji Desai to Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain In recognition of his contributions towards India's industrial growth and public welfare.

Establishing Modi Enterprises

Withstanding the changing economic scenario over the last 150 years, this industrial group has the unique distinction of having the thriving township of Modinagar for the welfare of its employees as a part of the industrial conglomerate, lending it a distinct identity and significance on India's industrial landscape. By the late 1970s, Modinagar had earned a prominent place on India's industrial map and Modi Enterprises was the country's seventh largest conglomerate.

Krishan Kumar Modi is credited with expanding the family business to new arenas and under the aegis of the parent company thereby creating inroads into the warp and weft of the industrial fabric of India.

Modi Enterprises Milestones

modienterprise

A sugar mill in Modinagar marked the beginning of the Modi Group conglomerate, which later diversified into varied fields. Rai Bahadur Gujarma Modi's long innings was marked with many achievements, awards and honours. He also held key positions and memberships in a number of prestigious organizations.

His spirit, vision, foresight and drive transformed Begumabad into an industrial township that boasted scores of factories, schools, colleges, medical facilities, residential quarters and places of worship.

Businesses founded by Gujarmal Modi

1933: Sugar mill
1939: Vanaspati manufacturing unit
1940: Washing soap factory
1941: Toilet soap factory
1941: Modi tin factory
1941: Modi food products
1944: Modi Oil Mills
1945: Biscuit manufacturing factory and confectionery plant
1947: Paints and varnish factory
1948: Textile mill
1957: Spinning mill
1959: Flour mill
1960: Distillery
1961: Torch factory
1964: Steel factory
1965: Thread mill
1965: Modipon
1971: Modi Rubber Ltd

Philanthropic Educational Activities

Educational Institutes under the Modi Group

Multani Mal Modi Post-Graduate College, Modinagar
Multani Mal Modi Degree College, Patiala
Modi Science & Commerce College, Modinagar
Rukmani Modi Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Modinagar
Dayawati Modi Public School, Modinagar
Dayawati Modi High School, G.M. Modigram, Kathwara, Rai Barelli
Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Sikrikalan
Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Devendrapuri, Modinagar
Gayatri Devi Modi Junior High School, Kedarpura, Modinagar
Chandidevi Modi Junior High School, Modipuram
Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Saidpur
Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Abupur
Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Bhojpur
Pramila Devi Modi Junior High School, Harmukhpuri, Modinagar
Dayawati Modi Junior High School, Shahjahanpur
Condensed Course of Education for Adult Women, Modinagar
Chheda Lal Shishu Niketan, Kasganj, Etah
Chandidevi Modi Primary School, Modipuram
Chandidevi Modi Nursery School, Modipuram
Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Modinagar
Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Modipuram
Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Kedarpura, Modinagar
Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Sikrikalan
Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, Abupur
Dayawati Modi Mahila Shilpa Kala Kendra, G.M. Modigram, Kathwara, Rai Barelli

He undertook significant strategic social and philanthropic initiatives. Pursuing his commitment to social welfare he 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.

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