Neelima Dalmia Adhar, in her book “Father Dearest: The Life and Times of R.K. Dalmia,” has written about his marriages and numerous romances.
New Delhi: Ramkrishna Dalmia was one of India’s leading industrialists at the time of independence. A self-made man, Dalmia came to Kolkata from Rajasthan with almost no money. In his early days in Kolkata, Dalmia worked as a broker. However, fate had bigger plans for him, and he steadily rose to become one of India’s most prominent figures. However, he eventually clashed with then-Prime Minister Nehru, and things took such a turn that everything slipped from his hands. Yet, the name Dalmia remains a symbol of wealth in India even today.
Ramkrishna Dalmia’s daughter, Neelima Dalmia Adhar, has written extensively about him in her book Father Dearest – The Life and Times of R.K. Dalmia.
All you need to know about Ramkrishna Dalmia:
- Ramkrishna Dalmia was born on April 7, 1893, in the town of Chirawa, Rajasthan.
- His father moved the family to Kolkata in search of better fortunes.
- His father led a simple and struggling life, working as a bookkeeper or accountant for wealthy businessmen.
- Ramkrishna was different and had a very sharp mind, a remarkable memory, and exceptional mathematical ability.
- From a young age, he started taking up small jobs.
- In the early days, they used to invest money in the betting market.
- This not only brought them disgrace but also led to a loss of people’s trust.
- The situation became so bad that no one wanted to engage in financial transactions with them. People stopped giving them loans.
- Once, they stole ₹500 from their father, which actually belonged to the firm where he worked. However, later, they returned double the amount to the firm’s owner.
- Dalmia did not just marry once or twice but got married six times.
Neelima Dalmia Adhar, in her book “Father Dearest: The Life and Times of R.K. Dalmia,” has written about his marriages and numerous romances. She says in an interview, “My father never considered himself any less than a king, so he firmly believed in living life that way—whether it was about power or women.”
The Pandit Looked at His Palm and Said – “Your Fortune is About to Change”
He was burdened with debts amounting to thousands of rupees from various people. Then, a Pandit looked at his palm and said, “Within the next week, you will become rich. You will have Rs 1.5 lakh in your hands.” It was a shocking statement. How could a man who didn’t even have ₹5 in his pocket at that moment believe such a prediction?
Suddenly, silver prices began to rise. Utilizing his connections in four silver firms in London, he started booking thousands of rupees worth of silver, despite not having any money at the time. But this is what fate is all about.
Not only did silver prices rise, but they skyrocketed. Within a week, he actually made Rs 1.5 lakh. With so much money in hand, he repaid all his debts. Even after that, he was left with a substantial amount. The way he returned everyone’s money earned him a reputation in Kolkata’s business world. He was now seen as a trustworthy businessman whose intelligence and business acumen were widely recognized.
Dalmia became a household name:
Dalmia Industries expanded rapidly across the country between the 1920s and 1940s. The Dalmia factories and offices started opening in every corner of the nation. Dalmia Industries had established its presence in various sectors, including insurance, banking, media, chemicals, aviation, iron, cement, textiles, and food products.
Dalmia’s fortune started changing after the independence. His family went through a partition. He also had to bear the consequences of strained relations with Prime Minister Nehru. He was imprisoned for three years. When he returned, circumstances had changed for him. He could never regain his former stature and financial stability. He passed away in 1978 at the age of 85.
