Legacy (1922-2016)

The only son of Bhuramal and Saraswati Devi Chaudhary, Lunkarandas Chaudhary was born in 1922 in Kathmandu.

Lunkarandas started assisting his father in the cloth business when he was hardly 10. Accompanying his father Bhuramal to palaces of the Rana rulers, he soon caught the eye of the then prime minister Juddha Shumsher.

Social service was always a passion with Lunkarandas. He played an active role in setting up temporary shelters for the quake-hit people in the Kathmandu valley after the 1933 trembler. Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher, who visited the shelters one day, was highly impressed by the selfless service by little boys like Lunkarandas.

The spirit of social service defined the later life of Lunkarandas. He played a pivotal role in establishing a strong and positive image of the Marwari society in Nepal. He was instrumental in launching several social and business organizations such as Marwari Seva Samiti, Nepal, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, etc.

Lunkarandas Chaudhary bid adieu to the world on February 4, 2016.

Major ventures of Lunkarandas Chaudhary

Inspired by the success of his Indian cloth and textile business, the visionary Lunkarandas diversified into multiple sectors and established the following business ventures in Nepal.

1957:

United Builders/Contract Builders: Successfully executed Kathmandu–Trishuli road construction.

Built Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu.

1963:
Established the country’s first flooring & furnishing business known as Flooring and Furnishing Centre with its first showroom at Juddha Sadak (now known as New Road). Added showroom at Khichapokhari with branches at Fasikeva and Birgunj.

1965:
Established Modern Hosiery Industry (Pvt.) Ltd. at Birgunj, Parsa to introduce Rhino, Sagarmatha and Buddha brands of socks.

Established Nepal Spinning and Weaving (Pvt.) Ltd. to produce synthetic yarn in the country for the first time.

1966:
Established Arun Impex: Importer and authorized super stockist of Wain Sheel/Dormuil (UK), Moulinex brand (France), National Panasonic (Japan), etc.

1968:
Set up Arun Emporium: The country’s first departmental store at Khichapokhari, Kathmandu.

1968:
Established Ratna Stainless Steel (Pvt.) Ltd. at Birgunj, Parsa. It was the country’s first such company using Japanese technology and raw material.

1973:
Established Eastern Nepal’s first and the country’s second biscuit manufacturing company Shree Pashupati Biscuit Industries at Duhabi, Sunsari with German technology.

1976:
Established modern flour factory Shri Mahalaxmi Maida Mills using German technology at Duhabi, Sonapur.

1983:
Established packaging factory named Flexible Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd. at Duhabi, Sunsari.