PEOPLE

Govindram Seksaria
a short biography of one of pre-independence Indias most successful businessmen

shilpum Vaid

his may seem like its right out of Ripleys India Cotton Association. Success was already well and truly Believe It Or Not. How else do you describe laid; Govindramji Seksaria was a name of consequence in the the tale of a sixteen year old boy who lost cotton market. both his parents, and saddled with the It was not to be expected that Govindramji would confine responsibility of looking after his wife and 6 himself to a single line of activity. He entered the bullion siblings in Nawalgarh, a part of the erstwhile state of Jaipur, market, the various commodity markets, as well as the stock Rajasthan, without any business worth mentioning, went on to exchanges in Bombay and elsewhere in the country. The becoming one of prefirm became a respected independence Indias member of the Marwari most successful Chambers of Commerce, the There was no stopping this man now, businessmen? Bombay Bullion Exchange, his appetite for growth and diversity was Seth Govindramji the Bombay Seeds Brokers Seksaria was born on Association, the Indian insatiable and the nation itself was too 19th October 1888. Merchants Chamber. Later, confining. He came to Bombay Govindramji became the in the early 1900s and founder of the Indian Stock started his business Exchange. under the name and style of Messrs. Govindram Seksaria. There was no stopping this man now, his appetite for growth India was then under British rule and the environment was and diversification was insatiable and the nation itself was too not conducive for Indians to conduct their businesses. There confining. He became a member of the New York Cotton was an obvious lack of support and encouragement from the Exchange in the year 1934, a rare privilege for an Indian at that government, planning for growth was risky, and to progress time, and remained a member of the exchange until his death. was both difficult and hazardous. Almost all key industries He also became active on the Liverpool Cotton Exchange. The were owned or managed by foreign firms who had the full Copper, Sugar and Wheat Exchanges of Britian and America support of the government. also came under his purview. It was in such an uncertain business and industrial climate that On these international markets, his influence was as he started his career as an operator on the Cotton Exchange, singularly felt as in the markets at home. The great business Bombay. Within a span of a few years, his firm was accepted houses of America learnt to watch his moves as a guide to to membership of the Cotton Contract Board formed by the their own operations. At important international events, he government, and later became an original member of the East would receive cabled requests from friendly business magnates

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April-May 2007

PEOPLE

for his views on possible market developments. His judgment in international commerce came to be respected and trusted. After creating a stir in various market operations, he then moved on to the industry. In 1937 he founded Govindram Brothers Private Limited, the fountainhead of his industrial vision. Making a sound start with vegetable oils, he kept pace with the national development, diversifying into sugar, textiles, minerals, banking, printing and motion pictures. Govindramji was a very strong believer in the prospects for real estate. He founded the Estate Investment Company as the platform for the vast real estate holdings he amassed. He was the founder chairman of the Bank of Rajasthan besides being closely associated with the Bombay Talkies. Unassuming to an extreme and never demanding recognition

An unassuming king
The story goes that the president of the New York Stock Exchange and head of New Yorks leading cotton firm, on a globe trotting tour, met with Govindramji while he was in Bombay. He found Govindramji squatting on a gadda with a group of people sitting around him. No one demanded the visitors card, there was no need for a secretary to conduct the visitor about. The whole atmosphere was so simple, so informal, that the distinguished visitor took some time to re-assure himself that he was really at the headquarters of the leading cotton magnate and an important member of the New York Cotton Exchange the Cotton King as Govindramji had come to be called. The modesty and simplicity of Govindramji was remarkable. A couple of American businessmen, who saw him in his dhoti and kurta dealing in millions, wrote in the American papers, likening him to Gandhiji.

In 1940, he hosted the members of the AICC Working Committee at the Poona session. He was the principal donor at the establishment of the Bombay Hospital. For a man who had received such international acclaim and recognition in his own country and founded numerous colleges, high schools and educational institutions, Govindram Seksaria had no formal education himself. He could not construct a simple sentence in English or in any other language, apart from his own mother tongue, which was Marwari! Public education had a special appeal for Govindramji and there are many institutions that bear his name. This trend was then continued by his son, the late Shri Kudilalji Seksaria, who established the Govindram Seksaria Educational Society, Indore which went on to set-up the Govindram Seksaria Technological Institute and a management college. Govindramji Seksaria was more than just modest, little is known about his countless charities and he gave without affectation of generosity or patronage even as he earned without boast of ability or achievement. In his unmistakable style which was apparent through out his life time, he gifted half a crore Rupees in his last days to charity. Govindramji Seksaria passed away in 1946 at a very early age of 58. Rich tributes were paid to him by press and other media. All the major markets in Bombay including the bullion exchange, cotton exchange, stock exchange remained closed as a mark of respect to the departed soul, a rare honor for an Indian at that time. It was an unfortunate turn of events that Govindramji died only a year before his countrys independence. The phenomenal growth seen today, of various Indian houses, is a post-independence phenomenon and there is little doubt that had he lived on for a few more years, he would be an industry leader to reckon with. Shilpam Vaid is the great grandson of Govindramji Seksaria <<<

for his numerous social contributions, Govindramji always stayed away from public life. But his patriotism was real and his support to various causes in pre-independence India have had long term effects which can be seen and felt even today.

April-May 2007

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