On Jan 22nd when the Prana Pratishtha ceremony was conducted in Ayodhya, the dreams and aspirations of thousands of people was finally realized
It took the efforts of people across the world, to bring this vision to reality, Including as far away as Denmark
Confused? Read on
It took the efforts of people across the world, to bring this vision to reality, Including as far away as Denmark
Confused? Read on
The year was 1937 and India was under the British rule and Europe was dark with the clouds of war. In those dangerous times, a Danish Engineering company called FL Smidth decided that they wanted to do business in India and sent one young Engineer as their representative.
His name was Henning Holck Larsen.
He arrived in Bombay and tried to sell Danish Dairy equipment to Indians who wanted to get rid of the white man.
3 years to prior, his schoolmate also working for the same Danish company arrived in Coimbatore to set up a Cement plant.
He arrived in Bombay and tried to sell Danish Dairy equipment to Indians who wanted to get rid of the white man.
3 years to prior, his schoolmate also working for the same Danish company arrived in Coimbatore to set up a Cement plant.
His name, Soren Kristian Toubro.
Now both of them didn't fancy India given that they were white guys trying to sell stuff to Indians who wanted them to Quit India, they still stuck to the job.
Maybe it was for the hardship allowance, we will never know, but, they did.
Now both of them didn't fancy India given that they were white guys trying to sell stuff to Indians who wanted them to Quit India, they still stuck to the job.
Maybe it was for the hardship allowance, we will never know, but, they did.
One day, both met up in Bombay to catch up over a drink and drown their sorrows.
Like how when we meet our long lost friend & we always plan to go to Goa with them but never do, these guys also decided to go on a holiday.
fortunately for us they executed the plan.
Like how when we meet our long lost friend & we always plan to go to Goa with them but never do, these guys also decided to go on a holiday.
fortunately for us they executed the plan.
Trying to escape the heat, they headed to a hill station called Matheran near Mumbai. And probably over a nice wine, they realized that India will invariably be free and then choose to Industrialize.
Resulting in tremendous opportunity for people with technical knowledge,
Resulting in tremendous opportunity for people with technical knowledge,
Which they had.
And they decided to do something about it. Going back they together started a company to represent some Danish Dairy manufacturers to sell their equipment in India.
I guess they didn't like the name Henning and Soren.
They called the company Larsen and Toubro
And they decided to do something about it. Going back they together started a company to represent some Danish Dairy manufacturers to sell their equipment in India.
I guess they didn't like the name Henning and Soren.
They called the company Larsen and Toubro
Going was tough initially, but then something happened in Europe which changed the world.
In 1939, Hitler decided that Germany wasn't sufficient enough for him and he wanted the whole of Europe.
So he started WW2.
And one of the first countries He invaded was Denmark.
In 1939, Hitler decided that Germany wasn't sufficient enough for him and he wanted the whole of Europe.
So he started WW2.
And one of the first countries He invaded was Denmark.
Suddenly all supplies from Denmark And Europe were blocked.
Anyways low on European priority, India was now completely cut off from European equipment.
Which gave tremendous opportunity for these Danish Engineers to do something. Which they gleefully accepted.
Anyways low on European priority, India was now completely cut off from European equipment.
Which gave tremendous opportunity for these Danish Engineers to do something. Which they gleefully accepted.
They first started with their expertise in dairy equipment.
Quickly indigenousing foreign dairy machinery, they started Making them in India , 80 years before the govt asked companies to Make in India.
And given their expertise they quickly acquired a reputation for quality.
Quickly indigenousing foreign dairy machinery, they started Making them in India , 80 years before the govt asked companies to Make in India.
And given their expertise they quickly acquired a reputation for quality.
By 1940, they were already well regarded for their engineering.
They then took started ship yards for repairing ships and degaussing them, because if you know actual engineering, it easy to transfer your skill.
Which they did. Successfully.
Then one more thing happened.
They then took started ship yards for repairing ships and degaussing them, because if you know actual engineering, it easy to transfer your skill.
Which they did. Successfully.
Then one more thing happened.
When war was declared in 1939, a group of German Engineers were in India, trying to establish a Soda Ash plant for the Tatas.
Now Germany being the enemy, they were detained.
But Tata wanted the Soda Ash plant.
So Larsen and Toubro stepped in and completed the installation.
Now Germany being the enemy, they were detained.
But Tata wanted the Soda Ash plant.
So Larsen and Toubro stepped in and completed the installation.
Which is when they realized that there is a huge opportunity in construction.
Because in a country which has faced 150 years of loot and depredation and is about to the free, the first thing it needs is a lot of new buildings, bridges, dams and everything else.
Because in a country which has faced 150 years of loot and depredation and is about to the free, the first thing it needs is a lot of new buildings, bridges, dams and everything else.
And Our guys knew how to build them.
So in 1946, they started a company called Engineering construction and contracts to do exactly that. And when the war ended and lot of construction was available at throwaway prices, ECC bought them all.
Which made them a formidable company
So in 1946, they started a company called Engineering construction and contracts to do exactly that. And when the war ended and lot of construction was available at throwaway prices, ECC bought them all.
Which made them a formidable company
And enabled them to execute the most complicated projects that India ever had
Today ECC and L&T have grown into construction behemoths & one of the most prestigious companies in India
They are the ones the govt & anyone else calls, if they want to execute an impossible project
Today ECC and L&T have grown into construction behemoths & one of the most prestigious companies in India
They are the ones the govt & anyone else calls, if they want to execute an impossible project
And they always deliver on time.
Starting from the India's first atomic reactor at BARC to the Kashmir railway, L&T has played a major role in India's infrastructure development.
So you might be wondering, what has all this got to do with the introductory post?
Starting from the India's first atomic reactor at BARC to the Kashmir railway, L&T has played a major role in India's infrastructure development.
So you might be wondering, what has all this got to do with the introductory post?
When after a lengthy legal battle fought over a 100 years, and millions of prayers later when the Ayodhya verdict finally came in favour of the temple, everyone looked for that one company which could deliver it in time.
And L&T was chosen for this noble endavour.
And L&T was chosen for this noble endavour.
The Ram Temple was the result of the dreams and aspirations of Lakhs of people.
And it was our Lord Ram's desire that it came true.
He bought together all the people who successfully executed this task, across the breadth of the world and the fabric of time.
And it was our Lord Ram's desire that it came true.
He bought together all the people who successfully executed this task, across the breadth of the world and the fabric of time.
Many seeds blossomed together for the temple to happen. Including two of them in faraway Denmark.
P:S: Larsen and Toubro could have sold their company and retired with a Yatch and A villa in Europe. But they didn't.
They became truly Indian spent their lives here.
P:S: Larsen and Toubro could have sold their company and retired with a Yatch and A villa in Europe. But they didn't.
They became truly Indian spent their lives here.
Some are Indians but not resident.
Some are residents but not Indian.
Larsen and Toubro are non Indians who became more Indians than a lot of Indians.
Some are residents but not Indian.
Larsen and Toubro are non Indians who became more Indians than a lot of Indians.
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