Lala Harkishen Lal
Lala Harkishen Lal | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1864/66 Layyah, Punjab Province, British India (present-day Punjab, Pakistan) |
| Died | 1937-02-13 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, industrialist, politician |
| Known for | Founder of Punjab National Bank; Minister of Agriculture for Punjab Province (1920–1923) |
Lala Harkishen Lal (1864/66 – 13 February 1937) was a prominent Indian entrepreneur, industrialist, and political figure. He played a significant role in founding Punjab National Bank and launched several important companies such as Punjab Cotton Press Company Ltd., People's Bank of India Ltd., Amritsar Bank Ltd., and Kanpur Flour Mills Ltd. during the pre-independence era of India. Additionally, he was instrumental in the creation of the Indian Associated Chamber of Commerce, which later developed into the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. In the political arena, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture for Punjab Province from 1920 until 1923.
Early life
Harkishen Lal was born in Layyah, located in the Punjab Province (present-day Punjab, Pakistan), into a Punjabi Hindu family belonging to the Arora community. His education commenced at Government College, Lahore, after which he secured a scholarship to study at Trinity College, Cambridge. There, he distinguished himself by excelling in the Mathematical Tripos. Upon returning to India, he briefly served as a lecturer in mathematics.
Career
Encouraged by banker Dyal Singh Majithia to seek financial resources for his ambitions, Harkishen Lal embarked on his commercial journey as the Honorary Secretary of Punjab National Bank. He subsequently founded the Bharat Insurance Company in Lahore and acted as a trustee during the establishment of The Tribune. By 1899, he had abandoned his legal career at the bar to devote himself fully to industrial and business pursuits. With recognition from Lieutenant Governor Louis Dane, he founded the Lahore Electric Supply Company, which was responsible for developing Lahore’s first electrical power system in 1913.
Although his business ventures flourished, Lal encountered resistance from religious extremists and colonial authorities alike. His banking activities were disrupted by members of Arya Samaj, and in April 1919, he was detained on charges of conspiracy and "waging war against the King." After serving a short sentence, he returned to his enterprises but later confronted legal disputes concerning the People's Bank. He passed away before these matters were resolved. His son, lawyer and author K. L. Gauba, responded critically to the judiciary with his book Sir Douglas Young’s Magna Carta and was imprisoned for contempt of court.