Shanti Lal Khanna

Shanti Lal Khanna (d. c. 1980s) was an Indian businessman and doctor. Khanna was born in the Punjab Province, British India. He initially established a dental practice before founding a business in Lahore with interests in the travel and agriculture industries. In 1939, Khanna founded a manufacturing company that became the sole authorized manufacturer of weights and measures in the Punjab Province.
Background and early career
Shanti Lal Khanna was born in the Punjab Province, British India, in a Punjabi Hindu family. Khanna had one younger brother. Initially in his career, Khanna worked as a dentist and operated his own dental practice in Gujranwala, Punjab Province, from at least 1925 to 1936. By 1936, Khanna had left his successful dental practice and founded the Holiday Careers & General Assurance Co., a company based in Lahore. Khanna's company became the only weights and measures manufacturing company in the Punjab Province to be authorized by the provincial government. The company's factory was located in an industrial estate in Okhla. The company produced a diverse range of products, including buttons, nylon, rayon, silk cords, fabricated steel, webbing equipment, blankets, pile fabrics and soap. In the 1960s, Delhi Small Scale Industries received an import licence for various products, including roller bearings, bronze wires and reduction gear motors. In 1962, the company received regulatory approval to become distributors of carbon steel and spring steel. In 1963, Delhi Small Scale Industries received approval to distribute wool yarns and cotton yarns. From 1963 onwards, the company was also a supplier to the Ministry of Defence. In 1969, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted an inquiry into the products that Delhi Small Scale Industries had supplied to the Ministry of Defence; however, Khanna's company was cleared of any wrongdoing.
In the 1960s, Khanna served as President of the Textile Manufactures Association and in the 1970s, he served as the General Secretary of the Amritsar Textile Mills Association. In 1969, he was part of an Indian government delegation that also included other businesspeople. In 1975, Khanna gave a reminiscential talk about Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, on the All India Radio. He was also a member of Freemasonry and, at some point after in 1947, served as the Worshipful Master (Eastern Chair) of a Masonic lodge in India.
Personal life
Khanna was married to Vidya Khanna. Ravi was also among the first graduates of the Joint Services Wing, which later became the National Defence Academy but was initially part of the Indian Military Academy.<ref name":7" /><ref name":8" /> Vipin was initially an army officer, and later became a businessman and financier.<ref name":12" /> Vinod also became a businessman.<ref name":02" /> Khanna died at an unspecified date in the 1980s.<ref name":02" /><ref name":8" /> His descendants, who are members of the Khanna family, also achieved success and notability in various fields.
 
< Prev   Next >