Singhania family


The Singhania family is a prominent Indian business family, that started out in the Indian city of Kanpur. The family expanded into three major branches and is currently based out of Kanpur, Mumbai and Delhi. JK Organisation founded by Lala Kamlapat Singhania is one of the largest conglomerates in India today, with multiple million and billion dollar companies under its belt. The family owns majority stakes in several publicly listed companies such as JK Tyre, JK Cement, JK Lakshmi Cement, JK Paper, Jaykay Enterprises, JK Agri Genetics and JK Dairy. Some privately held companies in the family are Raymond Group, J.K. Ansell, JK Technosoft, JK Fenner and Global Strategic Technologies.

Family history

As per records of JK Temple Kanpur, Vinodi Das Singhania left his home in Singhana - a little town in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan - in 1775. He resettled in Farrukhabad, a small business town near Kanpur. He started off as a Banker and diversified into trading. This was the time when East India Company was entering India. His sons - Ramsukhdas and Sarbsukhdas - later joined the family business and opened branch offices in Kanpur, Kolkata, Varanasi and Mirzapur.
After Ramsukhdas and Sarbsukhdas, the business was passed on to Ramsukhdas' son, Sewaram. Baldeodas took over the reins of the business along with his brother Munnalal from his father Sewaram. During this time the family also earned the royal title of 'Rajah Sahib'. Baldeodas had six sons and among them was Juggilal who took over the family business and played an important role in expanding and diversifying the business from bankers and traders to industrialists. In 1905, Juggilal and his family shifted to their Kanpur house after a division in the family business which then owned two flour mills — the Ganges Flour Mill and Cawnpore Flour Mill — apart from being the sole selling agents for Elgin Mills, Cawnpore Cotton Mills and Victoria Mills. The division created two new business units - Baldeodas-Kedarnath and Baijnath-Juggilal.
After Kamlapat the business was passed on to his three sons - Padampat, Kailashpat and Lakshmipat. Padampat established Straw Products Ltd in 1940 with support from Nawab of Bhopal - Hamidullah Khan. The brothers set up a gas plant - JK Rampur Gas Plant - with support from princely state of Rampur. They also acquired a plant of the Aluminium Corporation of India in Asansol. Lakshmipat took the lead in order to make the plant operational. He also established a small steel plant - JK Steels - near Rishra in West Bengal, and a paper mill in Odisha. The brothers also acquired National Insurance Company during the period of World War II. The family supported the British Government during the war years and stepped up the production to meet the needs of British Army. Due to the support given to British Government during the war years, Padampat Singhania was conferred with knighthood at The Viceroy's House, New Delhi, on 23 February 1943.
In 1944, the family bought a woolen textile mill - Raymond Woollen Mills - in Thane from E.D. Sassoon & Co.. Kailashpat took charge of the company and was instrumental in its growth. Today Raymond Group is a leading producer of fabrics in India. The business subsequently got divided between the brothers. Padampat took over the north Zone with Kanpur as headquarters. Lakshmipat resettled in Kolkata and took control of eastern zone while Kailashpat moved to Mumbai to head the western zone. Later on Lakshmipat moved to Delhi and established it as headquarters for businesses under his control.

Family branches

Kanpur branch

Padampat Singhania continued to manage the businesses from Kanpur while his younger brothers moved to Mumbai and Kolkata. Being eldest in the family he was the President of the group but the companies operated independently with some cross holdings among them. After Padampat, his eldest son Gaur Hari Singhania became head of the businesses which were under Kanpur branch of the family. Padampat's younger son Govind Hari Singhania was also involved in the business. After Gaur Hari Singhania's death the business is now headed by his son Yadupat Singhania. Some companies under control of Kanpur branch of the family are:
The family purchased a textile mill - Raymond Woolen Mills - from ED Sassoon & Co in 1944. Kailashpat Singhania took over the control of the business and moved to Mumbai. After Kailashpat,Gopal Krishna his son, took over the business and on his death Vijaypat managed the company. Currently it is being controlled and managed by Vijaypat's eldest son - Gautam Singhania. Companies and brands under control of Mumbai branch of the family are:
In 1942, Kamlapat's youngest son Lakshmipat led the effort for acquisition of Aluminium Corporation of India plant in Asansol. He also established a small steel plant - JK Steels in West Bengal - and a paper mill in Odisha. In 1960s, due to labor union problems in West Bengal and nationalisation of several companies under family's control, the family moved from Kolkata to Delhi. After Lakshmipat, his eldest son Hari Shankar Singhania took over the control of the companies and managed it along with his brothers and other family members. Major companies under control of Delhi branch of the family are:
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