Pranlal Devkaran Nanjee

Pranlal Devkaran Nanjee (11 June 1894 – 27 July 1956) was a noted Indian banker, businessman and philanthropist from Bombay, India.

Birth & family life He was born on 11 June 1894 at Porbandar, the second son of Seth Devkaran Nanjee.

He was married to Jayavati in 1911.

Career Pranlal Devkarn Nanjee was a founder of Devkaran Nanjee Banking Company (later renamed Dena Bank), Devkaran Nanjee Insurance Company and Devkaran Nanjee Investment Company based at Bombay. He was inspired by his late father Shri Devkaran Nanjee's dream to start a bank. His elder brother, Choonilal Devkaran Nanjee and other family members, too, were partners in the firm. Dena Bank was founded on 26 May 1938 by the family of Devkaran Nanjee under the name Devkaran Nanjee Banking Company. It adopted its new name, Dena Bank (Devkaran Nanjee), when it incorporated as a public company in December 1939.

He served as the President of the Indian Merchants' Chamber for the years 1944-45 and 1952-53.

Other faculty He was an avid photographer and served as president of the Photographic Society of India for the years 1941 – 1942.

He was appointed a minister (Rajamantri) of Porbander State and was also honored with the Rajbhooshan title by the Porbandar State.

He was the co founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's educational institutions.

Death He died in Bombay on 25 July 1956, aged 66.

Memorials The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's The Bhavan's College of Communication and Management at Bombay was renamed as "Bhavan's Pranlal Devkaran Nanjee College of Mass Communication in year 1977 after the philanthropic trust founded by him donated a large amount of money for development of college. Also an award, Pranlal Devkaran Nanjee Award - For Excellence in Harmonious Behaviour was instituted in his memory."