Our History
Leader, Visionary & Nation Builder
“He was not only a great industrialist but helped many good causes. His contributions to education are memorable”.
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
“He was not only a great industrialist but helped many good causes. His contributions to education are memorable”.
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
Sir Shri Ram was an eminent and public-spirited philanthropist, an outstanding industrialist and one of the trend-setting visionary leaders of the Indian business community. He possessed the rare business perceptions and uncommon entrepreneurial acumen for setting up industries.
Sir Shri Ram began as a humble worker and went on to set up one of India's largest business houses - the DCM Group. Born into a family of modest means, Shri Ram, in the 79 years of his life, built an industrial empire manufacturing a vast variety of goods like - textiles, sugar, chemicals, vanaspati, pottery, fans, sewing machines, electric motors and capacitors.
Management in business is essentially a matter of human relations.
— Sir Shri Ram (1884-1963)
In 1909 Sir Shri Ram joined DCM at the age of 25 years. Sir Shri Ram's earlier entrepreneurial initiatives had ended in debacles. It was in 1917 at DCM at the end of the First World War that he got the opportunity to choose entrepreneurial alternatives. It was Madan Mohan Lall and Sir Shri Ram's managerial initiatives in expanding the Company's government business during the First World War that brought about the recovery in DCM. He came in to prominence as he wanted DCM to expand. Along the years he diversified into many other businesses also.
His dealings with the workers throw into relief another aspect of his personality. Unlike other industrialists of his stature he would communicate with the working class. In a society as stratified as the Indian society he had the unusual gift of looking at the process of industrialization through the workers' eyes.
At a time when the country faced problems of multiple dimensions, the biggest challenge before the first Prime Minister Pt. J.L. Nehru was to lay the foundation of industrially self-reliant India.
Sir Shri Ram left no stone unturned in realizing the dreams of independent India by setting up of new lines of industrial units with the highest standards of quality. He was a key architect of India's industrial development, serving as a founding member of the Reserve Bank of India's first Board of Directors, one of the visionaries behind FICCI, and the founding Chairman of the Industrial Finance Corporation of India. His contributions extended to being the Vice President of the Indian Standards Institute (ISI), the first Chairman of the Northern Regional Committee of AICTE, and a member of the Governing Body of CSIR, among other esteemed institutions that continue to shape modern India's growth. His election in 1930 at the age of 46 as the President of FICCI showed his national status.
Even the British Raj recognized the contributions made by Sir Shri Ram towards the development of society and hence conferred him with a knighthood. Sir Shri Ram was among the earliest industrialists who could foresee the usefulness of organized approach by the country's business community. Moreover, in seeking growth for his enterprises, Sir Shri Ram scrupulously pursued a policy which had its foundation based on intellectual integrity, devotion to duty, and a liberal humanism directed towards the common weal of all sections of Indian society.
Sir Shri Ram Was Elected As The Vice President Of The Delhi Municipal Committee On 21st May 1920. The President Then Being A Nominated Official, The Office Of The Vice President Was The Senior-Most Elected Office In Delhi. He Also Served As A Member Of The Delhi Improvement Trust (Now Delhi Development Authority).
Sir Shri Ram founded the coveted Shri Ram College Of Commerce, Delhi University, the first commercial educational institute.
Sir Shri Ram Was One Of The Founding Fathers Of Federation Of Indian Chambers Of Commerce And Industry (Ficci).
Sir Shri Ram was one of the first members of the Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India.
Sir Shri Ram Was Associated With The Indraprastha College For Women, University Of Delhi In Its Pioneering Years. He Was President, Board Of Trustees From 1939 To 1962. Furthermore, He Was The Chairman Of The Governing Body Of Ramjas College & Hindu College From Delhi University And Delhi Polytechnic.
British Government Conferred The Honour of Knighthood To Sir Shri Ram in the year 1941.
Sir Shri Ram Was One Of The Seven Architects Who Made The Bombay Plan For Post-War Reconstruction Of India (Economic Plan).
Sir Shri Ram Was The First Chairman Of The Nothern Regional Committee Of All-India Council For Technical Education (AICTE).
Sir Shri Ram Founded The Shriram Institute For Industrial Research.
Sir Shri Ram Was The Menber of The Board And Governing Body Of The Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research (CSIR), Delhi
Sir Shri Ram Was The First Chairman of The Board Of The Industrial Finance Corporation Of India.
Sir Shri Ram Was The Member Of Indian Standard Institute, Government Of India, And Further Re-Nominated For Three More Years Post Which He Was Appointed As The Vice President Till 1962.
Sir Shri Ram Was The Director Of The Board of Management And Chairman of The Board of Sindri Fertilizers And Chemicals Limited, Government Of India, Located at Sindri, Jharkhand.
Sir Shri Ram Founded The Lady Shri Ram College For Women, University Of Delhi To Commemorate His Wife Mrs. Phoolan Devi.