Page 78 - Gujar Mal Modi

under the Chairmanship of Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed who was then the Union

Minister for Industry and Company Affairs. The Delhi reception was attended by
over 2,000 important personalities including Ministers, Members of Parliament.

representatives of the diplomatic corps, and the business community. Glowing
tributes were paid to Mr. Modi for the yeoman’s service rendered by him to the

cause of industry. On behalf of the citizens of Delhi, Mr. Balraj Khanna, then Dep-
uty Mayor of Delhi, presented an ivory Ashoka Pillar to him. The Punjab, Hary-

ana and Delhi Chambers of Commerce and the Hindustan Merchants Associa-
tion also arranged public receptions in his honour. The National Award of Padma

Bhushan was made to Mr. Modi on 7 April 1968. The citation accompanying the
award lauded his achievements and contributions in the fields of industry, social

service and education. It read:

“Shri Gujarmal Modi (65), the moving spirit behind the large industrial complex
of Modinagar is the founder of the in dustrial township of Modinagar. It is due to

his vision, foresight and drive that the township with more than a score of fac-
tories has emerged out of the wilderness of Begumabad. Shri Modi made sub-

stantial contribution in rehabilitating displaced persons by constructing Govind
Puri Colony consisting of 5,000 houses and 25 small scale industries. All those

persons who were rehabilitated in Modinagar were given employment either in
Modi Enterprises or in small scale industries built in the Colony.

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