J K Group Chairman Gaur Hari Singhania passed away on Wednesday, following a heart attack. Eighty-year-old Singhania was also the president of J K Organisation and a promoter director of J K Cement Ltd since its inception in 1994.
He, a sports enthusiast, was also the chief patron of Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). He is survived by a son, Yadupati Singhania.
He was cremated on Wednesday afternoon at Bhagwat Das Ghat in the city.
Expressing his condolence, Jagran Prakashan Chairman and Managing Director Mahendra Mohan Gupta said Singhania was a true well-wisher of Kanpur city, where he was born on June 12, 1935.
“Gaur Babu not only promoted sports-related activities in Kanpur and the state, but also participated in all industrial activities and made the city proud of that,” said Gupta, former president of the Merchant Chamber of Uttar Pradesh.
“Singhania not only managed his family business, but also promoted cricket and other sports. He had founded Dr Gaur Singhania Cricket Academy, which produced cricketing talents for the state and the country,” Gupta added.
The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, who is also the secretary of UPCA, condoled the loss. J K Group Vice President Lalit Khanna said under Singhania, The Sir Padampat Singhania Bridge Academy was opened to promote bridge as a sports.
In the field of education, he contributed to various universities and had opened a university at Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Singhania held chairmanship in other companies, including Jaykay Enterprises, and JK Cotton, J K Traders.
He also served as chairman of Merchants of Uttar Pradesh and the Employers Association of Northern India.
Apart from that, he was the founder chairman of Uttar Pradesh Stock Exchange and founder patron of Associated Chamber of Commerce. Besides, he served as director in various corporations, such as in Pradeshiya Industrial Investment Corporation of Uttar Pradesh, UP State Industrial Development Corporation and Uttar Pradesh State Sugar Corporation.
