FICCI celebrates 97th Foundation Day, felicitates 33 past presidents

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) celebrated its 97th Foundation Day on April 7 with a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. In a related event held in Mumbai, the industry body felicitated the descendants of 33 of its past presidents (who presided over the business chamber between the years 1927 and 1959.

Addressing the felicitation ceremony in Mumbai, Dr Anish Shah, President, FICCI acknowledged the past president's pivotal role in the country's economic rise.

Mr Harsh Pati Singhania, Past President, FICCI, said that FICCI’s history was closely linked with India's struggle for independence, followed by the path of industrialisation and subsequent liberalisation.


Speaking on the occasion, Mr KV Kamath, Chairperson, National Bank of Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) brought into focus the role of not just young people but also of older people "who will drive the demographic dividend because they are going to skill/upskill themselves."

The industry chamber also simultaneously held its second National Executive Committee Meeting (NECM) for 2023-24, attended by over 125 industry members.

List of FICCI Past Presidents (1927 – 1959) felicitated in Mumbai:

• Dinshaw M Petit -1927
• Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas - 1928
• GD Birla -1929
• Sir Shri Ram - 1930
• M Jamal Mohammed Sahib - 1931
• Walchand Hirachand – 1932
• Nalini Ranjan Sarker - 1933
• Kasturbhai Lalbhai - 1934
• Sir Padampat Singhania - 1935
• D P Khaitan - 1936
• Sir Rahimtoola M Chinoy – 1937
• Jamshed NR Mehta - 1938
• Dewan Bahadur C S Ratnasabapathi Mudaliar -1939
• Amrit Lal Ojha – 1940
• Sir Chunilal B Mehta - 1941
• Gaganvihari L Mehta - 1942
• Dr. Rajah Sir Muthiah Chettiar of Chettinad - 1943
• J C Setalvad - 1944
• Sir Badridas Goenka – 1945
• Gurusharan Lall - 1946
• MA Master - 1947
• Lalji Mehrotra - 1948
• K D Jalan – 1949
• Tulsidas Kilachand - 1950
• C M Kothari - 1951
• Shanti Prasad Jain - 1952
• Sir R G Saraiya - 1953
• B M Birla - 1954
• Shantilal Mangaldas - 1955
• Lakshmipat Singhania - 1956
• Babubhai M Chinai – 1957
• Sir BP Singh Roy - 1958
• Madanmohan R Ruia -1959