SOEMBER KUMAR MALHOTRA– MOURNING THE DEMISE OF DOABA’S DOYEN OF INDIAN AUTO INDUSTRY AT PHILLAUR-PUNJAB (INDIA) – BY BRIJ BHUSHAN GOYAL
Distribution of more than 225 ration kits every month and each kit containing 10 KG Flour, Pulses, and other kitchen material to aged women (incl. widows) single handedly by Shri S K Malhotra till his day of demise is not a small philanthropy by a person who started his entrepreneurial journey working on a single turning machine (which many old people tell) and established a very successful manufacturing and a export house.
This above free kit distribution was started by Shri Malhotra ji in the year 2000 when initial 15 kits were distributed.
Taking responsibility of payment of school fees ranging from rupees 200 to 500 of at least 80 students every month remained core to his heart.
Setting up of S K Malhotra Charitable Trust in 2004 is another hallmark of his philanthropy. This trust with two doctors, X Ray Machine, Lab Test Facility runs regular free OPD for the people of this area.
Mr. Malhotra never refused anyone who so ever went to his factory for donations for any social function. He always contributed happily.
I cannot resist myself in recollecting the long entrepreneurial and philanthropic journey of an industry doyen of Phillaur – Doaba(Punjab) Shri Soember Kumar Malhotra who was a noble parent, was also a trustworthy friend of all .
A good friend of my father Shri Sham lal Aaggarwal Ji who always held him in high steem , Mr. Malhotra became my friend too when ‘Phillaur Walas’ started a Social Service Club in 1970s with a motive to serve the citizens/area in the field of health care and education. We used to meet at weekends in the meetings at different houses.
For many years, many companions of Shri Malhotra Ji arranged free Eye-Camps (affording an eye operation by commoners was a luxury then) for which good publicity was also given in the town and adjoining villages.
But, then there was also no college in this Phillaur area and we were all concerned about this. Citizens of the town under the patronage of Shri Malhotra Ji started meeting too frequently for fulfilling the idea. Pat came from Vadheras of Phillaur (Des Raj Vadhera Family) who committed handsome amounts to contribute along with Shri Malhotra who also went from door to door with us to solicit smallest of the donations thus involving all friends and citizens of Phillaur.
So, Shri Des Raj Vadhera DAV College, Phillaur which is basically the brain child of Malhotra Ji as he then made a very fruitful rapport with Yash Pal Vadhera in England as well DAV College Management in New Delhi. The college has added to the prestige of Phillaur and we cannot forget Mr. Malhotra’s untiring efforts in those times.
Known also as the ‘Friends Auto Wale Malhotra Ji’ he floated a manufacturing enterprise friends auto industries (regd.) Which has been has been an integral part of the Indian Automotive Industry since its inception in 1957, when to manufacture “Engine Valve Guides” in India was a distant dream.
Mr Malhotra took up the challenge and converted this dream into reality. Now the daily production of 50,000 components, featuring a range of over 300 applications has truly earned the firm as the nickname of “king of valve guides” also.
Auto components of the firm (which is OE supplier) are exported to West. Europe, North America, Central/East Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Poland, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Iran, Bangladesh, Singapore and Egypt
(In above Pic is Mrs. and Mr. Malhotra ) (In the other Pic Mr.Anish Dhingra, my frined )
MY TIES WITH SHRI S K MALHOTRA JI BECAME STRONGER WHEN MR ANISH DHINGRA ,MY B.COM BATCH MATE AT GOVT COLLEGE, LUDHIANA AND THEN OUR SENIOR BANK COLLEAGUE IN PNB BECAME SHRI MALHOTRA’S SON-IN-LAW. MR DHINGRA, A BRILLIANT AND A SCHOLARLY GUY ALL BELIEVE IS MORE THAN A SON FOR THE FAMILY NOW.
I am saddened at the demise our revered Shri Soember Kumar Malohtra Ji (Born on Ist Feb,1932) who was a parent, a friend and a finest human being to be remembered with the noblest persons of the world.Loss of a parent for a family is always irreparable
For Phillaur Walas in paarticular -where Pt. Shardha Ram Phillaurii of world famous Aarti ‘Harei Aum Jai Jagdish Harei’ was also born, now in death of Mr Malhotra we lost really a finest gem from our soil in his final departure from this mortal world .
I pray for rest to his pious soul Mr Malhotra in the Supreme Lap of Almighty. God give strength to whole family and friends to bear this loss.
Brij Bhushan Goyal +919417600666 brijbgoyal@gmail.com
6 comments
While reading your tribute to Mr. Malhotra , I feel that in his demise the World has lost not only a great bussinessman but a great human being. With his philanthropic activities, he has motivated alll of us to do our bit for the needy unfortunate souls.
Very correct,sir. This is certainly a great loss for all of us .
We pray for the departed soul and hope his legacy will continue.
The sad demise of Mr.S.K.Malhotra (Friends auto industry,Phillaur) is not the loss of a family but loss of the whole nation.
He was indeed a man of values.
Sad to know about the demise of Sh. Soember Kumar Malhotra, a gentle man to the core. The way whole of Phillaur turned up at his funeral shows how much he was held in esteem by all & sundry. My heart- felt condolences to his family & may his soul rest In Peace !
May Mr. Malhotra’s soul rest in peace.
In the write up, You have mentioned about the Vadhera family. I have been meeting Yash Vadhera and his family members at various functions of our guru Shri Gian Muni Ji Maharaj.