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Lallubhai Samaldas

Gen 4 - 1863-1936 CE (73 years)

The second son of Samaldas, Tribhuvandas, was born at Bhavnagar. This website is a tribute to his contributions towards making of India in several known, and unknown ways. 
He continued to be known with his home name "Lallubhai" (pronounced Lalubhai) all his life.

  • Following matriculation from Bhavnagar, attended Elphinstone College in Bombay 

  • At the age of 18, began as Revenue Commissioner in the State (elder brother Vithhaldas was Diwan)

  • Setup Samaldas Arts College at Bhavnagar (1885) in the memory of his late father, Diwan Samaldas Parmanandas Mehta, at the age of 19! This was the third educational institute in Western India

  • Helped start Bhavnagar Electricity Company, and introduced several administrative and revenue reforms in the State of Bhavnagar

  • At the age of 36, he moved with bag and baggage to Bombay (1900 CE)

  • One of the first owners of a car and a telephone in Bombay

  • Member of the Imperial Legislative Council in British India (1909-20)

  • At Shri Gopalkrishna Gokhale’s request, introduced Shri Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to the Government and business circles in Bombay

  • Co-founded India's first co-operative bank (in 1911) to help farmers - Bombay  Provincial Co-operative Bank

  • Founded India’s first Indian-owned cement plant (in 1913 at Porbandar),  co-founded the second Indian shipping company (Scindia Steam in 1919 at Bombay), and founded the first Indian sugar factory (Nuva Valley Sugar Company in 1921 at Baramati)
    The National Maritime Day is celebrated in India on 5 April, the anniversary of the Scindia Steam's ship - SS Loyalty's maiden journey to the United Kingdom in 1919.

  • Co-founded Bank of India (1906) and then Bank of Baroda (1908) (Chairman BoB 1921-35)

  • Director for life in Tata Steel, Tata Hydro, Advance Mills

  • Co-founder of Indian Merchants' Chamber, Bombay (1907)

  • Co-founder of Sydenham College, Bombay (1913) - the first college to offer Commerce education in Asia

  • Vice-Chairman of the first Indian Commercial Congress (1915)

  • Co-founded The New India Assurance Company - India’s first general insurance company (1919)

  • Named several times in Gandhiji's autobiography (1925)

  • Installed a scholarship for female sports persons at Grant Medical College, Bombay

  • ​President, Indian Economic Association at Benaras (1925)

  • Knighted by King George V at the Buckingham Palace, London (1926)

  • Founder President of NCUI (National Cooperative Union of India), Delhi (1929)

  • Honorary Secretary of Seva Sadan (Bombay) for life

  • Remembered as the “Father of Co-operative Movement in India“

  • The Lallubhai Park area in Andheri West, Bombay has been named in his honour

NCUI plaque to its first President and Pioneer of the Co-operative Movement in India

NCUI plaque for Lallubhai Samaldas
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