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it sparked off a desire in him to establish a college at Modinagar. The following
year the college began to function in right earnest. It was named Multanimal
Modi Degree College after his father. It is now a full-fledged post-graduate insti-
tution imparting education in 13 subjects of Science, Arts and Commerce and
is regarded as one of the best colleges affiliated to Meerut University. It also has
an extensive- students’ hostel constructed at a cost of Rs. 5,00,000 and was in-
augurated on 16 January 1961. A Women’s Training College and Nurses’ Training
Centre at Modinagar in 1965 was also set up by him. All these instituions provide
education to more than 16,000 students. Dependants of the workers of different
Modinagar industries get free education or training in these institutions. Mone-
tary help and stipends are also available for students going in for higher educa-
tion in India and abroad.
He also established a High School and a Sanskrit Pathshala at Mahinder Garh, his
birth place and a degree college at Patiala, also named after his father.
He was interested in scientific research and development. He contributed Rs. 2.5
million for the establishment of the Modi Science Foundation at Modinagar in
1975. It has a cotton development scheme to train cotton growers, and use the
latest methods of producing high yielding varieties of natural fibre.
Mr. Modi also in spired his younger brother Mr. Kedar Nath Modi to found a pub-
lic school named after Mr. Gujarmal Modi’s wife, Mrs. Dayawati Modi. Herself a
great patron of education, she is President of the Public School. It is affiliated to
the Central Board of Higher Secondary Education. It is housed in a two-storey
building with 30 spacious class rooms and well-equipped laboratories. A grand
auditorium is a special feature of the school. The Principal’ s lodge and the staff
quarters are complete. A self-contained hostel, a swimming pool, a gymnasium,
a Gita Bhawan and a horse-riding track are also under construction to complete
the school complex.
Mr. Modi had a multi-faceted personality. He was a born administrator. An ardent
believer in God, he was never after power. He led very simple life and believed in
sharing all that he had with everyone around him. Throughout his life, he helped
a number of people. He also helped his relatives, friends and refugees by setting
up industries for them. He was particularly sympathetic towards the poor and
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