Page 72 - Gujar Mal Modi

CHAPTER

EIGHT ON THE HEIGHTS

The year 1963 marks the beginning of a period of pre-emi nence in the life of
Mr. Modi. By this time, he had established a chain of industries at Modinagar

after getting over all kinds of teething troubles and crises. He had also built up a
consider able reputation with the Government and the public by virtue of his re-

markable business acumen and entrepreneurial ability. He had established him-
self as a great industrialist with a large vision and a dynamic outlook. From now

onwards, Mr. Modi received honour after honour from both the Government
and the public in recognition of his services to the people and the industry in the

country. Besides, he continued to expand his industrial capital at Modinagar. It is
in the fitness of things that this period of glory began with the opening of Laxmi

Narayan Temple constructed in the heart of Modinagar. The consecration of the
idols installed in the temple was performed by his Guru Krishnashram ji Maharaj

on 3rd Feb.1963 who came down from his ashram in the Himalayas especially for
this purpose.

The steel factory at Modinagar was inaugurated on 25 January 1964. The factory
was set up at a cost of Rs. 10 million. In the same year a big pilgrim Guest Home

was constructed at Vrindaban in Uttar Pradesh. On loth January 1965, the foun-
dation-stone of a most modern thread mill was laid and the electric furnace of

the steel mill at Modinagar was inaugurated. ln the same year a public library was
set up at Mahendra Garh. It lise the negotiations. They were highly impressed by

‘the progress made by the town in 32 years. They were also surprised to find that
children of the Modi family were studying in the same common school in which

children of the workers were studying. One of them is reported to have remarked
that this was the best way to fight communism. The American firm wanted the

new factory to be established at Bombay. But Mr. Modi was un willing to shift
to Bombay. Therefore, it was finally agreed to set up the factory at Modinagar. A

large plot of 585, 288 sq. meters of land was acquired for the factory.

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