AlvaJustice117 at 09:21, 8 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian industrialist (1884–1937)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lala Kamlapat Singhania
| image = Kamlapat Singhania 2010 stamp of India.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1884|11|7}}
| birth_place = [[Kanpur]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1937|5|31|1884|11|7}}
| death_place = [[Kanpur]], [[United Provinces (1937–50)|United Provinces]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_cause =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = 
| citizenship =
| other_names =
| known_for = [[J. K. Organisation]]
| education =
| alma_mater =
| employer =
| occupation = Industrialist
| spouse = Rampyari Singhania
| children = [[Padampat Singhania]] [[Kailashpat Singhania]] [[Lala Lakshmipat Singhania|Lakshmipat Singhania]]
| parents = Juggilal Singhania Chandribai Singhania
| relatives = [[Madan Behari Singhania]] [[Gautam Singhania]] [[Vijaypat Singhania]] [[Gopal Krishna Singhania]] [[Hari Shankar Singhania]] [[Shashvat Singhania]]
| family = [[Singhania family]]
| networth =
| years_active =
| awards =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

'''Lala Kamlapat Singhania'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/supreme-court-singhania-group-juhu-property-dispute|title=When SC Held a Rare Sunday Session for Singhania Property Dispute|work=The Quint|access-date=26 February 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/muHXGyt0UPkb7QRGiKx85N/Put-a-framework-in-place-for-transfer-of-wealth.html|title=Put a framework in place for transfer of wealth|last=Vishwanathan|first=Vivina|date=15 September 2017|access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/business/jk-organisations-rs-20000-crore-investment-plans-on-track-192179/|title=JK Organisation's Rs.20,000 crore investment plans on track|last=Service|first=Indo-Asian News|date=12 November 2014|work=India.com|access-date=26 February 2018|language=en}}</ref> (7 November 1884 – 31 May 1937) was an Indian [[industrialist]], who founded the [[J. K. Organisation]], one of India's largest conglomerate companies. He was born to a [[Marwari people|Marwari]] [[Bania (caste)|Bania]] family in [[Kanpur]], then part of the [[North-Western Provinces]] in British Raj.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jkbschool.org/about-jk-legacy/|title=JKBS is a Management Educational Institute Founded by Well-Known JK Organization|work=JK Business School|access-date=26 February 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
He was the founder of several companies which came under the umbrella of JK Organization. The first major business set up by him was a [[cotton mill]] with the name of Juggilal Kamlapat Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills in 1921 which laid the foundation for JK Organisation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jkcotton.com/about-company-profile.html|title=J.K. COTTON SPINNING & WEAVING MILLS CO.LTD.|website=www.jkcotton.com|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

==Early life==
Kamlapat Singhania was born to Juggilal and Chandribai Singhania on 7 November 1884 in [[Kanpur]]. He was born into an occupational community of [[merchant]]s, [[banker]]s, [[money-lender]]s, [[Trader (finance)|traders]] and [[Broker-dealer|dealers]]. His father was a successful businessman and belonged to the [[Singhania family]] of Singhana.<ref name="Marwar">{{Cite news|url=http://www.marwar.com/people/tribute/juggilal-kamlapat-venerable-architects-of-the-jk-group.html|title=Juggilal & Kamlapat: Venerable architects of the JK Group – Marwar|date=10 June 2016|work=Marwar|access-date=25 February 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

He joined the family business and assisted his father in expanding the business from traditional money-lending operations to trading in areas such as cotton, pulses and sugar cane.<ref name="Marwar" />

==Business career==
Kamlapat decided to start a cotton mill as opposed to being selling agents for established mills, as the Singhanias had been until then.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} Kamlapat secured a loan with the aim of setting up a cotton mill. Along with his father's contribution he established Juggilal Kamlapat Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills in 1921. JK Cotton Spinning & Weaving Mills produced cotton cloth and yarn and was a successful venture.<ref name="Marwar" />

He went on to set up several mills – Kamla Ice Factory in 1921, JK Oil Mills in 1924, JK Hosiery Factory in 1929, JK Jute Mills in 1931, MP Sugar Mills in 1932, JK Cotton Manufacturers Ltd in 1933 and JK Iron & Steel Co Ltd in 1934.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lmfb38bD-wgC&q=J.K.Group|title=Planning & Development of an Industrial Town: A Study of Kanpur|last=Singh|first=Surendra Nath|date=1990|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=9788170992417|language=en}}</ref> Kamlapat constructed a new building - Kamla Tower - across street from the family's Kanpur residence in 1934. Kamla Tower became the headquarters of Kamlapat's expanding organization and housed the offices for various companies he founded. The building was inspired by the design features of [[Big Ben]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.touristlocation.com/kamla-tower/|title=Kamla Tower – Tourist Location|date=15 December 2017|work=Tourist Location|access-date=27 February 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> It is still operational and serves as the headquarters of JK Cement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/from-the-mag/yadupati-singhania-ceo-jk-cement-best-ceo-business-today-survey-legacy-growth/story/267692.html|title=King of Cawnpore- Business News|website=www.businesstoday.in|date=10 January 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

==Later life and death==
In 1935, Kamlapat and his family moved from Kanpur residence to a newly constructed 20-acre bungalow near the [[Ganges]] called Ganga Kutir (Ganga Cottage). He also purchased a second property from an [[Englishman]], which was named Kamla Retreat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/travel/feature/top-enchanting-places-to-visit-in-kanpur_1869682.htm|title=Top enchanting places to visit in Kanpur!|date=27 March 2016|work=Zee News|access-date=27 February 2018|language=en}}</ref> Kamlapat died in 1937 and was survived by his sons – Padampat, Kailashpat and Lakshmipat.<ref name="Marwar" />

==Family history==
As per records of [[JK Temple]] Kanpur, Vinodi Das Singhania left his home in [[Singhana, Rajasthan|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]].<ref name="Marwar" />

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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rc0tAAAAMAAJ&q=lala+kamlapat+singhania|title=The Aggarwals: a socio-economic study|last=Gupta|first=Badlu Ram|date=1975|publisher=S. Chand|isbn=9780883867150|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PMEtAAAAMAAJ&q=baldevdas+munna+lal+singhania|title=Lakshmipat Singhania: his concepts and creations|last=Rao|first=P. Chentsal|date=July 1986|publisher=Vikas|isbn=9780706930474|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQdDDwAAQBAJ&q=Baldeo+Das-Kedarnath+and+Baijnath-Juggilal&pg=PA58|title=Kanpur Unveiled|last=Trivedi|first=Preeti|date=1 December 2017|publisher=Bhartiya Sahitya Inc.|isbn=9781613016282|language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kamlapat married Rampyari Devi and they had three daughters and three sons: Padampat, Kailashpat and Lakshmipat Singhania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.istampgallery.com/lakshmipat-singhania/|title=Lala Lakshmipat Singhania|website=www.istampgallery.com|date=15 November 2010 |language=en-US|access-date=27 February 2018 |author1=Admin }}</ref>

==Legacy==
JK Organisation founded by Kamlapat is one of the largest [[Conglomerate (company)|conglomerates]] in India today, with multiple million and billion dollar companies under its belt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/strategy-and-management/how-jk-cement-optimized-its-supply-chain-through-rfid-technology/53444272|title=How JK Cement optimized its supply chain through RFID technology – ET CIO|last=www.ETCIO.com|website=ETCIO.com|language=en|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref> Several of these companies are listed publicly and have market capitalization in upwards of billion dollars. Some of the publicly listed companies are JK Tyre, JK Cement, JK Lakshmi Cement, JK Paper, Jaykay Enterprises, JK Sugar, JK Agri Genetics (JK Seeds) and JK Dairy (Umang Dairies).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forum.valuepickr.com/t/umang-dairies-turn-around-company-by-jk-group/1524|title=Umang Dairies: Turn around company by JK Group|website=ValuePickr Forum|date=31 May 2015 |language=en|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jkcement.com/the_company|title=JK Cement – Company Profile|website=www.jkcement.com|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref> Privately held companies of the group are [[Raymond Group]], J.K. Ansell, JK Technosoft, JK Fenner, Global Strategic Technologies and Dwarkesh Energy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/corporate/now-gautam-singhania-wants-to-make-raymond-soar/story/229416.html|title=The 'Complete Man' undergoing changes- Business News|website=www.businesstoday.in|date=27 February 2016 |access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jkorg.in/index.php/businesses/dwarkesh-energy|title=Dwarkesh Energy|website=www.jkorg.in|access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref>

Kamlapat founded the Merchants' Chamber of Uttar Pradesh in 1932.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merchantschamberup.com/activities.php|title=Activities by Merchants' Chamber of Uttar Pradesh|website=www.merchantschamberup.com|access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref> Kamla Nagar in Kanpur — a township for JK employees – is named after Kamlapat Singhania. A number of institutions founded by members of Singhania family bears his name. Some of them are [http://lksec.org/ LK Singhania Education Centre at Gotan], [[JK Lakshmipat University]], JK Institute of Radiology and Cancer Research at Kanpur, Lala Kamlapat Memorial Hospital at Kanpur, [[J.K. Institute of Applied Physics and Technology]] (University of Allahabad) and JK Institute of Sociology and Human Relations (University of Lucknow).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lksec.org/|title=History & Overview {{!}} LK SINGHANIA EDUCATION CENTRE, GOTAN|website=lksec.org|language=en-US|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Rallies-nukkad-natak-to-end-tobacco-menace/articleshow/13696909.cms|title=Rallies, nukkad natak to end tobacco menace – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jkinstitute.ac.in/|title=Department of Electronics & Communication – J.K. Institute, University of Allahabad, Allahabad|website=www.jkinstitute.ac.in|language=en-gb|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref> A commemorative stamp was issued in 2010 by the Indian government honoring Lala Kamlapat Singhania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stampsofindia.com/lists/stamps/2010stamps.html|title=2010 Stamps of India|website=stampsofindia.com|access-date=26 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://postagestamps.gov.in/Stamps2010.aspx|title=Postage Stamps 2010|website=postagestamps.gov.in|language=en|access-date=26 February 2018|archive-date=8 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608233453/http://postagestamps.gov.in/Stamps2010.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.jkorg.in/index.php/founders-promoters Founders of JK Organisation]
*[http://www.jkcotton.com/about-our-founder.html JK Cotton limited – Our Founders]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singhania, Kamlapat}}
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the textile industry]]
[[Category:Indian industrialists]]
[[Category:1884 births]]
[[Category:1937 deaths]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Kanpur]]
[[Category:Marwari people]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian company founders]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Industrial history of India]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the cement industry]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the oil industry]]

Lala Kamlapat Singhania - Revision history

AlvaJustice117 at 09:21, 8 February 2026