Sir Lallubhai Samaldas Mehta (14 October 1863 – 14 October 1936) was a wealthy aristocrat and revenue commissioner since the age of 18 in the court of the Maharaja of Bhavnagar in Gujarat. He was involved in the establishment of numerous industries in western India, particularly in the shipping industry. He also took an interest in the cooperative movement and presided over the Swadeshi League and is known as the Father of Co-operative Movement in India. The

Samaldas College Samaldas Arts College or Samaldas College is a college in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. It was founded in 1885 by Takhtsinhji, the Maharaja of Bhavnagar State in memory of his Diwan (minister) Samaldas Paramananddas Mehta. It is one of the oldest ...

in Bhavnagar was established by Maharaja of Bhavnagar in his father's memory. He also took an interest in national politics and was associated with the leaders of the time.

Life and work

Lallubhai was born in Bhavnagar, Saurashtra. His father Samaldas was a Chief Justice and Dewan in the kingdom of Bhavnagar, a position that was also held by his grandfather Parmananddas from 1828 to 1877. Born in aristocracy he went to study in Bhavnagar and then at

Elphinstone College Elphinstone College is one of the constituent colleges of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University, a state cluster university. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges in Mumbai. It played a major role in shaping and developing the edu ...

before working for the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. He married Satyavati, grand-daughter of

Bholanath Sarabhai Bholanath Sarabhai Divetia (1822 – 11 May 1886) was Gujarati language, Gujarati poet and religious reformer from India. Biography He was born in a Nagar Brahmin family from Ahmedabad. He studied law and served as a government servant during ...

in 1884. He became a revenue commissioner in 1884. In 1926 he visited England to organize ships for the Scindia Steam Navigation Company which he developed along with

Walchand Hirachand Walchand Hirachand Doshi (23 November 1882 – 8 April 1953) was an Indian industrialist and the founder of the Walchand group. He established India's first modern shipyard, first aircraft factory and first car factory; he also established con ...

and Narottam Morarjee. He also travelled to Japan in 1933 about which he wrote a book, "My Impressions of Japan". He established a mill, served as a director of the Tata Iron and Steel Company, Tata Hydro and Advance Mills. He is regarding as the Father of the Indian cooperative movement, which was carried forward by his eldest son, Vaikunth Mehta. Lallubhai was also the pioneer of life insurance, cement and sugar industries. He was made CIE in 1914 and knighted in 1926 by

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. George was born during the reign of his pa ...

at the

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...

in London. His sons - Vaikunth, Jyotendra and Gaganvihari - went to lay foundations of co-operative banking, insurance and the economy as well.

References

External links

My Impressions Of Japan
(1933) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Samaldas, Lallubhai 1863 births 1936 deaths Indian businesspeople Administrators in the princely states of India Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire Indian businesspeople in shipping Businesspeople from British India