Lala Kamlapat Singhania was born on November 7, 1884. His father, Juggilal Singhania, hailed from Singhana in Rajasthan, and his family had a background in banking and business.
Lala Kamlapat Singhania started his business at the age of 31 during British rule, a time when doing business was not easy. In 1915, he began buying and selling cotton, and within a short span, he acquired a cotton mill.
The business empire of the Singhania Group is on par with that of the Tata and Birla. Lala Kamlapat Singhania was born into a Marwari family in Kanpur. He founded the JK Group, which now has an annual turnover of Rs 33,000-35,000 crore. The Singhania Group is currently celebrating 140 years since its founding.
Lala Kamlapat Singhania was born on November 7, 1884. His father, Juggilal Singhania, hailed from Singhana in Rajasthan, and his family had a background in banking and business. Kamlapat Singhania ventured into new domains, expanding beyond the traditional family business of pulses, sugarcane, and cotton, and took significant risks in the process.
In 1921, several mills were established after the founding of Juggilal Kamlapat Cotton Mills, JK Jute Mill, and JK Cotton Mill, which became prominent brands in Kanpur. At that time, Kanpur was often referred to as the ‘Manchester of India.
In 1934, Kamla Ice Factory, JK Oil Mills, JK Cotton Mill, and JK Iron and Steel were established. Kamla Tower, modeled after London’s Big Ben, was also built during this time. Additionally, JK Cement’s headquarters is located in Kanpur.
Kamlapat Singhania’s family built a luxurious bungalow on 20 acres of land along the banks of the Ganga River, naming it ‘Ganga Kutir.’ He had three sons—Kailashpat, Padampat, and Lakshmipat. Additionally, he also constructed the family’s JK Temple in Kanpur.