1. HARAKH CHAND NAHATA –
THE GREAT SOCIAL
ENTREPRENEUR
By : Dr. T.K. Jain
AFTERSCHO☺ OL
CENTRE FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SIVAKAMU VETERINARY HOSPITAL ROAD
BIKANER 334001
MOBILE : 9414430763
www.afterschoool.tk
tkjainbkn@yahoo.co.in
Bikaner is a city of desert. Its tough life and hardships produced
many social entrepreneurs. There were people, who were
determined to change the destiny. There were
people who inspite of hardships, strived for
excellence. People from Bikaner travelled
extensively to other places (as there were no
business opportunities in Bikaner) and went to
far off places like Japan, Rangoon, Chennai and Kolkatta (when we
didn’t have Railways). The persons who were able to set up
profitable businesses, were able to contribute to the well being of
the society in Bikaner. They set up wells, ponds, dharmashalas,
and other institutions.
Harakh Chand Nahata was born on 18th. July, 1936 at Bikaner
(Rajasthan) in an illustrious family. His father Shri Bhairudan
Nahata was a businessman and soft natured social worker and his
mother Durgadevi was a religious woman. Bhairudan Nahata was
a great social worker, who would always work silently. He along
with his friend Mr. Kochar collected one rupee each from each
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2. Jain family in Bikaner and set up Jain School in Bikaner (which is
open for all). His initiatives enabled establishment of the first
school by Jain community. Thus a series of initiatives were started
and later on a group of institutions were set up. Jain School was
the first, but later we had institutions like Jain College etc. were
set up by the Jain community in Bikaner. Other Jain communities
in other places also took similar iniatives after taking inspiration
from this initiative. Mr. Bhairudan Nahata was a silent worker,
you don’t even find anywhere on Jain School or associated
institutions.
His (Harakh Chand Nahata’s) uncle Mr. Agarchand Nahata and his
elder brother Mr. Bhanwar Lal Nahata were authorities in Jain
philosophy, Prakrit, Pali, Apbransh, Rajasthani and Indian
philosophy. They had written extensively and contributed to
Rajasthani literature and literature on Jain philosophy. They had
set up one of the most illustrious private library of Bikaner with
extensive coverage of manuscripts and books.
After completing his schooling at Bikaner and during college years
in Calcutta, Harakh Chand Nahata started his business career. A
visionary entrepreneur, who wanted to tread uncharted path, he
was the first person, who started road transportation in the
difficult and inhospitable terrain of Tripura. Handling the largest
Railway Out Agency in Tripura (Tripura Town Out Agency) and
establishing a large network of road transport at his own heavy
costs and risks, he was instrumental in starting economic
development and two - way traffic to bring economic gains for the
local tribal people and the state of Tripura.
He contributed a lot for the development of cinema in Eastern
India through his Technicians Studio, Calcutta, with which many
inter nationally acclaimed directors like Satyajit Ray, Hritwik
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3. Ghatak and Basu Bhattacharya etc. were associated. Later, he
turned film financier and Realtor and was known as an honest and
up right person in trade circles. For his multi- faceted
contributions to the trade and industry, he was honored with
awards by the Vice President of India and Lt. Governor of Delhi.
He was a leading social leader and philanthropist, who steadfastly
stood and fought for human dignity, equality and respect.
Associated with more than 60 socio-religious organizations and
Trusts like Heart Care Foundation of India, Prakrit Bharati
Academy, Rishabhdev Foundation, Mimjhar, Veerayatan,
Rajasthan Bharati, Ahimsa International, Jain Mahasabha, Bharat
Jain Mahamandal, Vishwa Jain Parishad and many others in
different capacities, he relentlessly endeavored to attain their
cherished goals. From 1990 onwards, he was the President of
‘Akhil Bhartiya Shree Jain Shwetamber Khartargachha body of
thousands of Jams of this sect. As President, he relentlessly fought
to safeguard against many injustices and attacks on the rights,
dignity and conventions of the Samaj.
Harakh Chand Nahata encouraged many upcoming artists of films
and performing arts with his sanguine advice, help and patronage.
He was a great connoisseur of art and literature and helped many
budding artists, poets and writers. He spotted talents of writers
and published many books including a Hindi monthly magazine at
his own cost to encourage them. He was a voracious reader with a
razor sharp analytical mind and compassioned heart. He wrote
many write ups on different subjects and was an orator par
excellence, who kept the audience spellbound with his thought-
provoking dissertations and mastery over the chosen subject.
Though a Jain by birth, he was an embodiment of ‘Sarv Dharma
Sambhav’. Regardless of caste, creed or religion, he respected
each and every faith and contributed to various temples and
places of worship without any distinction. He was a firm believer
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4. that religion is and should be a binding force and not a divisive
force.
He considered integrity and security of the Nation above religion
and culture and stressing this, he used to say that only if the
nation is secure, only then religion and culture would be secure.
Compassion, tolerance, equality, dignity and love should be the
guiding and contributing spirit in religious affairs and to this end
he steadfastly worked at various levels and at different forums.
Living a full and contented life, he breathed his last on 21st.
February, 1999 at New Delhi after a brief illness.
Mr. S.C. Jamir, Governor of Maharastra says about Mr. Nahata (on
the occasion of launch of a stamp by the Post Office on Mr.
Nahata): “his achievements clearly prove that he was truly a
human being and he was truly a philanthropist.” “he had a vision.,
he was fired not only for commercial or commerce, he was fired
by some vision of that and he wanted to bring people nearer and
nearer to the main stream and that was the most difficult thing
for us to bring the entire North-Eastern region to the mainstream
of our country, but Nahata did. I am very grateful to him.”
Mr. Nahata was a great philanthropist. As a human being he
always promoted institutions which were for the benefits of
human beings. As a great human being he always promoted
development of people.
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