Harakh Chand Nahata

Shri. Harakh Chand Nahata (July 18, 1936 - February 21, 1999) was a prominent Indian businessman and social leader.

He was born on 18 July, 1936 at Bikaner (Rajasthan) in an illustrious family. His uncle Late Agar Chand Nahata and elder brother 'Sahitya Vachaspati' Shri Bhanwar Lal Nahata were acknowledged authority on Prakrit literature, Jain canonical literature and scriptures. His family's priceless private collection of more than 85,000 books, manuscripts, works of arts etc. at Abhay Jain Granthagar, Bikaner (Rajasthan) is unique. His family has more than 125 years of business presence in the field of trading and distribution in Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Calcutta, Tripura and erstwhile East Bengal (now Bangladesh) Sh. Nahata after completing his schooling at Bikaner and during college years in Calcutta, started his career.

Living a full and contented life, he breathed his last on 21 February, 1999 at New Delhi after a brief illness.

Business and trade

Tripura Town Out-Agency

An entrepreneur, who wanted to tread uncharted path, he was the first person who started road transportation in the difficult and inhabitable terrain of
Tripura. Handling the largest Railway Out agency in Tripura (Tripura Town out Agency) and establishing a large network of road transport at heavy costs and risks, he was instrumental in starting economic development and two way traffic to bring economic gains for the tribal people and the state of Tripura.

Technicians' studio

He contributed a lot for the development of cinema in Eastern India through his Technicians Studio. Calcutta, with which many internationally acclaimed directors like Satyajit Ray, Hritwik Ghatak & Basu Bhattacharya etc. were associated. Later, he turned a film financier and Realtor and was known as an honest and upright person in trade circles. Shri 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 secretly helped many budding artists, poets and writers. He spotted talents of writers and published many books at his own cost to encourage them including a Hindi monthly magazine. He was a prolific reader with a razor sharp analytical mind and compassioned heart.

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.

ocial contributions

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, Shanti Mandir-Bithari, Prakrit Bharati, Rishabhdev Foundation, Veerayatan, Rajasthan Bharati, Shri Ambika Niketan Trust, Ahimsa International, Shri 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 Mahasangh, the apex national representative body of thousands of Jains of this sect. As President, he fought to safeguard against many injustices and attacks on the rights, dignity and conventions of the Samaj.

He wrote on many different subjects and was an orator par excellence, who kept the audience spell bounded with his thought provoking dissertations and mastery over the subjects. 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 that religion is and should be a binding force and not a divisive force. 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.

Harakh Chand Nahata Marg

On March 1st 2007, famous Indian wrestler, actor and Member of Parliament (India) (Rajya Sabha) Shri Dara Singh inaugurated "Harakh Chand Nahata Marg (Road) " which interconnects three villages of South-West Delhi, namely Nanakheri, Badusarai and Raghopur. Shri Nahata's family is in the process of developing a Farmhouse Scheme in that area by the name of Westyn Park.

Bust Unveiling

, accomplished actor, dancer and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Smt. Hema Malini unveiled a bust of Shri Harakh Chand Nahata at Mahabalipuram Teerth, Village Bhatti, New Delhi.