Page 52 - Gujar Mal Modi

of a teachers’ colony was also taken up the same year.

The year 1945 saw the end of World War II. The British Government heaved a sigh

of relief at the end of the war. As a natural corollary to the end of the war, indus-
tries like Modi Food Products and Modi Supplies Corporation were wound up. In

appreciation of the sevices rendered by him during the war period, Mr. Modi was
taken in an imposing procession through the main streets of Meerut. At the head

of the procession Mr.Modi was seated on a well decorated elephant and along
with him sat the District Magistrate. Another elephant carried the Additional Dis-

trict Magistrate and the Tehsildar of Meerut. The military parade which followed
these elephants passed through the main road of the city. Coins worth Rs. 5,000/

were showered by the Government on Mr. Modi.

It was at this time that the Government thought of conferring knighthood on him

as a mark of further appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him. When
Mr. Modi’s father was informed about the Government’s desire, he is reported

to have remarked that it would be better if some ‘Indian’ title was conferred on
the son. Mr. Modi conveyed the wish of his father to the Governor who suggest-

ed that instead of ‘kinighthood’ the title of Raja Bahadur might be conferred on
him. The Governor conveyed his suggestion to the Viceroy. The problem, howev-

er, was that this title was generally conferred on big landlords or on those who
owned village property or were owners of farm lands. Mr. Modi neither owned

any villages nor was he a big landlord. In order to remove this difficulty the Gov-
ernor suggested that the colony set up by Mr. Modi near Begumabad be named

Modinagar and in his capacity as the founder of the colony the title of Raja Baha-
dur be conferred on him.

In 1945, therefore, the industrial colony founded by Mr. Gujaral Modi was formal-

ly and officially named Modinagar. The names of the post office, Railway Station
and Police Station also were changed from Begumabad to Modinagar.

The year 1945-46 saw events of major political significance taking place in the
country. The ‘Quit India Movement’ of 1942 had more than convinced the British

Government that it would have to grant an ample measure of autonomy to the
country. They knew well that they were able to secure public cooperation during

the War only in exchange for the promise of granting autonomy to the Indian

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