Seth Ramlal Golchha (1900-1983)
Successful Industrialist and Businessman of Nepal
The life of Seth Ramlal Golchha is a typical example of hard work and steady progress. He was not only a successful industrialist and businessman of high caliber but also a social worker and philanthropist of sincere dedication and devotion. Born in India, he chose Nepal as field for his business activities where he prominently demonstrated his abilities in various fields.
He was born in 1900 in Nawabganj in India in India (now Bangladesh) in an ordinary businessman's family. He did not have much schooling but learnt language and arithmetic's from his father Shri Tansukh Lal Golchha. He was married at an early age of 15 years. Due to unfortunate demises of his parents two years after his marriage, he had to assumes entire responsibility on himself. Soon afterwards he moved to Sundarganj, and started jute business there in a small way. Subsequently he shifted to Forbesganj and close to Biratnagar on Nepal's border with India in eastern Nepalese Terai plains. In 1926, at the age of 26 years, he entered Biratnagar, then a small village, and in 1931 laid foundation of the business house "Golchha Organisation", which opened his brilliant career of thriving success., He started purchasing jute from local farmers and supplying it to jute mills in India. This was the starting point of business activities in Biratnagar, which ultimately led to development of the area as an important market for trade and industrial centre of Nepal.
He succeeded in persuading Seth Radha Krishan Chamadia of Calcutta to establish Biratnagar Jute Mills in 1935, which was the first orgainised Industry in Nepal. He put in untiring efforts and played a very effective role in establishment of factory without any expectation for personal benefit and commercial return. This mill has still a very leading position in Nepal so far as employment and output are concerned. Seth Ramlal Golchha established jute factory of Nepal "Raghupati Jute Mills Ltd." in 1942. After his Majesty's Government of Nepal, Golchha Organisation is still the largest shareholder of the factory. When the factory ran into trouble management was entrusted to Seth Ramlal Golchha in 1955 after it had already incurred a loss of rupees two million. He restored the factory to a stable footing and raised daily production from 3.50 tons. to 12.00 tons. After the factory started making profits he again handed it over to the Government in 1959.
In 1959 he purchased Himalayan Jute Press Ltd. which was in liquidation. He transformed it into a profitable concern. It yielded rich dividends to the Government in terms of foreign exchange from production of exportable jute bales.
He was the first businessman in Nepal who started export of Nepalese Jute to overseas and earned substantial amount of convertible foreign currency for the Government,. In 1960, he started Hansraj Hulaschand & Co. Pvt. Ltd. to further promote Nepalese jute exports. For his unique position in Jute, Seth Ramlal Golchha was popularly known as the Jute King of Nepal.
In 1962, Shri Golchha established the first automatic rice mill in Biratnagar. In 1963, he established Hulas Metal Crafts Pvt. Ltd. to produce stainless steel utensils for consumption in Nepal and exports abroad.
Seth Ramlal Golchha made sustained donations for establishment of educational institutions, orphanages, religious foundations, etc. In 1983 he was decorated by his Majesty the King of Nepal with the high order of "Suprasidha Prabal Gorkha Dakchhin Babu", (1st class). He donated more than rupees two lakhs (Indian currency) for publication of Jain Sutras. He publication of Jain Sutras. He spent millions of rupees for propagation of Jainism and acts of charity.
His wife Smt. Dhapi Devi expired when he was 45 years of age. He has left two sons and one daughter. He has left two sons and one daughter. He did not marry again.
He was highly religious minded and had devotion and loyalty to Acharya Shri Tulsiji. Every morning he practiced 'Samayik' and did not fail to observe fast twice a month. The end came to the life of illustrious Shri Ramlal Golchha in 1983 at the age of 83 years. He was posthumously awarded the high distinction of "Sashan Bhakta" by Acharya Shri Tulsiji.
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Source : From 'Progressive Jains' Authored By Mr. Satish Kumar Jain
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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
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