Shri Suraj Ratan Fatehchand Damani

DAMANI, SHRI S.R., Congress, (Maharashtra—Sholapur—1977) :  s. of Shri Fatehchand Damani; b. at Bikaner, Rajasthan July 14, 1912; ed. at Harishchandra High School, Banaras; m. Smt. Ratanbai Damani, 1931; 1s. and 3d.; Industrialist; Chairman, (i) Simplex Mills Company Ltd., Bombay, (ii) Jamsri Ranjit Singhji Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd., Sholapur and (iii) Nav Bharat Refrigeration and Industries Ltd., New Delhi; Director in several other concerns; Member, Managing Committee Mill-owners’ Association, Bombay since 1964, its Deputy Chairman, 1969-70 and its Chairman, 1971—73; Director, Hindustan Teleprinters Ltd., 1964—66; Member, Committee of the Indian Cotton Mills Federation, 1969—74 at its Cotton Research Centre; Chairman, Sholapur Medical College Governing Council, 1969—74; Director, Maharashtra State Textile Corporation and Director-in-Charge of Narasingirij Mills, Sholapur, 1972-73; Member, (i) Railway Equipment Advisory Committee, 1959—62, (ii) Central Board of Film Censors 1964, (iii) Advisory Council of Trade, 1968-69 (iv) Maharashtra State Small-scale Industries Development Board, 1969—71, (v) Central Small-scale Industries Development Board, 1969, (vi) Maharashtra State Industrial Development Corporation, 1972, (vii) Central Consultative Board for Cotton Textile Industry since 1973, (viii) Central Advisory Council of Industries since 1975, (ix) Licensing Sub-Committee of Central Advisory Council of Industries, 1975—77, (x) Development Council for Man-made Textiles since 1975, (xi) Export Inspection Council, (xii) Regional Direct Taxes Advisory Committee, Bombay, (xiii) Committee of M.Ps of Maharashtra Circle P&T and (xiv) Western Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation; Member, (i) Second Lok Sabha, 1957—62, (ii) Fourth Lok Sabha, 1967—70 and (iii) Fifth Lok Sabha 1971—77, (iv) Executive Committee, Congress Party in Parliament and its Treasurer, 1969-70 & 1970-71, (v) Railway Convention Committee, 1971—73, (vi) Consultative Committee’s of M.Ps for Ministries of Commerce, Industry, Finance, etc.; Convener of Party Standing Committees of Ministries of Commerce & Energy; Life Member, Indian Parliamentary Group which functions in India as the National group of the Inter-Parliamentary Association; Attended Annual meetings of the World Bank 1970 as an alternate delegate of India; Attended Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meetings in London, 1972.

Social activities:  Founded a charitable Trust with an annual income of Rs. 3 lakhs which is utilized for the maintenance of some educational institutions, free maternity and child-welfare centres, for awarding scholarships for higher studies and other philanthropic purposes; Organised relief measures during the drought period of 1972—74 in Sholapur District by construction of tube-wells and opening of fodder depots for cattle in the affected areas.

Favourite pastime and recreation:  Reading, travelling and music.

Sports and clubs:  Member, Cricket Club of India find National Sports Club, Bombay.

Travels abroad:  U.S.A., Japan and all other European countries including U.K. and U.S.S.R.

Permanent address: “Damani House”, 11—Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Bombay.