Gokuldas Malpani

Raja Gokuldas Malpani RB (1839–1909) was a Marwari millionaire from Jabalpur during colonial rule in India. He was the wealthiest banker in the Central Provinces of British India. Born into a prominent family of Marwari bankers in Jabalpur, his banking firm was one of the "great Marwari firms" as termed by T.A. Timberg.

Background and early life Gokuldas was born to the first wife of Khushalchand Malpani in 1839. His grandfather, Sewa Ram, was a Marwari of the Maheshwari caste who migrated from his hometown in Jaisalmer to Jabalpur around 1800. He earned a fortune and was succeeded by Khushalchand, his son and Gokuldas's father.

Gokuldas acquired his meagre education at Gulan Rai's school, Jabalpur. After learning basic Hindi, he left school to learn business methods and the Marwari alphabet. He started from the post of cashier and gradually advanced through the ranks in the family business. and the "Perfect Pottery Works" at such time when these industries were not popular in the country. In 1897, Gokuldas set up a chain of ginning and pressing factories at Gadarwara, Piparia, Harda, Khandwa, Wardha and more places in the Central Provinces and Berar, and at Banda and Etawah in Uttar Pradesh and Multan in Punjab.

He expanded his business to the large cities of Bombay, Calcutta and even Rangoon in Burma.

In the 1880s, he focused on consolidating his family's commercial and position of prestige in the Central Provinces. He initially became a member and then president of the Municipal council of Jabalpur in the 1880s. He was repeatedly elected unopposed and subsequently his nephew Vallabh Das succeeded him to the post uninterrupted for the next 18 years. He was elected as president of the first caste association, the Maheshwari Sabha.

Personal life Gokuldas had a half-brother named Gopaldas, who was two years younger than him and with whom Gokuldas was very close. Gopaldas died young in 1869, leaving his son Vallabh Das in the former's care.

Public works Raja Gokuldas is chiefly remembered in Jabalpur for his contribution to the city's infrastructure. In 1868-1869, the Hanumantal lake and temple were in a poor condition hence a donation was made by Raja Gokuldas for its restoration. The Khandari Water Works, built by Gokuldas were an essential part of Jabalpur infrastructure in colonial times.

In 1885, upon a request by Hariot Hamilton-Temple, the wife of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin, Raja Gokuldas built the "Lady Elgin hospital" which was one of the first women's hospitals in the region.

Criticism According to Mircea Raianu, British colonial leaders viewed Gokuldas with suspicion as a mere social climber angling for a title and seeking legitimacy through philanthropic largesse. Local officials in the Central Provinces did praise Gokuldas in public, but they were skeptical of his pretensions to princely status.