Business undertakings:

The position and prestige in trade that the Bawris have achieved today is by Sheer hard work and perseverance. Shri Hardeodasji, the first Bawri, who came to Shillong carried with him only the bare necessities of life. Hardeodasji, a young lad in his early teens came to Shillong and rented a house in the heart of the town. This house is today rented by Kadarmull Keshardeo Bajaj. The house is situated 10 to 12 metres left of Motpharan on the Shillong-Guwahati Road. This land was owned by Jatin Haria and then it passed on to Hari Blah. Hardeodasji started a Grocery shop there. Within six months, he shifted with his family to a house in between Mahari and Sons and Mallick's house facing the Motphran. He later purchased it. In the interior portion of the house a general store was established. In this store every type of items was available viz. Rice, Flour, Ghee, Mustard Oil, Potatoes, Coffee, Gold, Pipal, Cloth, Silver, Phalia, Muga etc. Within a short span he became the most prominent trade merchant in Shillong. He was well known for his honesty and generous hand.

Hardeodasji have five sons and two daughters. The sons after their formal learning of the basic Mathematical calculations assisted their father in the business. With the co-operations and help received from the sons, the father widened his avenue of trade and commerce to support the family comfortably. In the Khasi and Jaintia Hills potatoes are grown abundantly. These potatoes were purchased from the local growers at Alugodown at Madan Rting and Umsyrpi. Later on, it was exported to other parts of the country. Pipal and rubber obtained from Cherra and a small quantity of Coffee was also exported from here.

In the 1930's the Bawris learned that huge quantity of coal lay unexploited in the Khasi Hills. So the sons of Hardeodasji gaining the knowhow and the utility of the high quality coal (which is rich in sulphur) stated trading it by 1935. Initially, it was supplied to army in Shillong. They brought rice and oil mill in Guwahati and then shifted to the tea gardens and also in the field of manufacturing bricks. Later, they knew that coal was mainly used for running the steam engines on the highway waters. So coal was unearthed from Laithynrew in 1939 and transported to Guwahati on trucks. But during the World War II between the Allied and Axis powers, the transporting vehicles i.e. trucks, were seized by the British India Government. This however, did not dampen the enthusiastic spirit of the Bawris. They carried their supply of coal by hand-carts from Laitgynrew to Cherra ropeway station. From Cherra, the coal was carried by ropeway to Bholagunj. To reach its destination, it still had to be sent by small boat from Bholagunj to Chatak where it was unloaded and again loaded in big borge to be carried to Shyllet river ghat. Then by ponycart to Shyllet railway station. The coal were unloaded in the rail wagons for Chittagong port to be used as fuel for streamers there. It was extensively used by the army in the World War II.

This elaborate and complicated procedure of exploiting and transporting coal brings up the question," " (What is the profit?). The reason being, it was a challenge for the Bawris to transport the coal right from Laitgynrew to Chittagong by overcoming all sorts of obstacles. However, the coal was of very high quality containing sulphur. Since its availability was scarce, it fetched handsome profit. for an enterprising business, items that brought better profit were naturally exploited and traded.

Supply of coal to I.N.s. (Indian Navigation Service), tea gardens and brick fields in Assam was done in big scale but shortly after India attained Independence on 15th August, 1947, the Bawris stopped the supply of coal. This decision was taken mainly due to the fact that Pakistan Government seized a number of steamers of I.N.S. enroute Goalpara-Calcutta and Calcutta-Goalpara. As a result, huge amount of money was blocked with the I.N.S. and eventually lost. They further carried the business by supplying to the tea gardens and later to brick-fields. The Bawris thereafter, diverted their attention and shifted their business to timber trade, which not exploited till then.

Mr. J.N. Bawri was the pioneer in marketing the pine timber from the neighbouring areas of Shillong. These logs were processed by Axe (Daw) and hand saws and transported to Guwahati to be sent to distant metropolitan cities and towns of states like Calcutta, Bombay, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The pine trees found in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills were of high commercial value and profit giving and Bawri worked in a big way, created the market and traded some time in this sphere but when they found that some unscrupulous traders started the illegal trading of timbers in different ways, they discontinued the supply of timber and shifted their attention to the manufacture of Plywoods. In 1972 he set up Meghalaya Plywoods Limited where though the pine timber was not used but a market was created outside the state and even in some foreign countries.

There were numerous other peripheral business trades in which the Bawris had engaged themselves. In 1947 there were two privately owned airways in the North Eastern Region for the speedy conveyance of goods. These two airways were-The Bharat Airways (of Birla) and the Indian Airways (of Vidhan Chandra Roy, Chief Minister of West Bengal). The Bawris were the agents of the Bharat Airways (of Birla) in Shillong. This agency was given up when the Bharat Airways of Birla along with other private Airlines such as Himalayan Aviation, Kalinga Airways, Jam Air, Indian Airways, etc. were nationalised in 1953. It was later on known Indian Airlines. The Bawri, for sometime were the agents for selling the Vishwa Mitra Newspaper. In 1953 they took the agency of Tata Oil Mills. In 1936 the Bawris of Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Shillong along with the Kanyalal Jetani family bought the Deoria Tea Estate from M/s Shaw Wallace & Co. Ltd. at a price of 26 lakhs by borrowing money from M/s Cemmille Banking Corporation (now United Bank of India). It was later on sold out. In 1980, they sold tyres like Continental tyres (a German Company), Dunlop, Goodyear and Fire-stone. At one time their sale was the highest in this region. This business carried on till 1980. They were also the major stockiest of rice in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. There was a great demand among the owners of the Tea Gardens for C.I. Sheets which was scarcely available. So the Bawris bought the C.I. Sheets and sold the same to the Tea Gardeners to over come their scarcity.

In 1953 they started an Automatic Rice and Atta Mill in Paltan Bazar, Shillong and one in Dimapur, Nagaland. This was first of its kind in the State of Nagaland (in 1956). Coal was brought from Koylagunj Koilahari in Mikir Hills to Dimapur for despatch to Tea gardens. A saw mill was also set up in the name of Bawri Timber Industries at Shillong and Ranga Pahar, Dimpur, Nagaland.

Soon after the death of Hardeodasji on 31st December, 1930, his eldest son Puranmullji separated himself from the joint family and established his own business under the firm "Hardeodas Puranmull". The remaining four brothers continued their business under the umbrella firm name "Hardeodas Badriprasad". However, by 1950 a decision was made by the four brothers that Badriprasadji and Laduramji would continue their business jointly under the umbrella firm. The two younger brothers- Nagurmullji and Jaganathji separated themselves from the family and started a new firm named "Hardeodas Jaganath".

In 1950, for the efficient control of these wide spread large-scale business, a mutual understanding was reached among the five sons of Hardeodasji. The eldest son Shri Puranmullji Bawri went to Kalahandi in Orissa in 1950 to set up a Rice Mill there. But within a short time he shifted his business to Birganj in Nepal. Since he was not keeping well there, he changed his place of business from Birganj to Dimapur in Nagaland. He took charge of the Bawri Timber Industries in Ranga Pahar. This mill was functioning well but ill luck struck him. The entire mill was gutted in fire recurring heavy losses. So P.M. Bawri returned back to Shillong.

Shri Badri Prasad Bawri and Shri Laduramji Bawri (the second and third son) decided to handle the business of "Assam Travel". This travel agency was first initiated independently by their nephew Late Shri Parasram Bawri in Calcutta/Dibrugarh. During World War II a similar office was also opened in Shillong at Mothpran for the quick transportation of goods either by road or by air from Shillong to other parts of West Bengal, Assam and vice versa. Since it was a maiden agency in Shillong, it proved to be profitable business. However, the partnership in the business among the brothers could not work well. So in a mutual understanding a decision was made in which Shri B.P. Bawri decided to look after the business of "Assam Travel" and the part of the profit was given to Shri L.R. Bawri. This business remained operative till 1980. Shri L.R. Bawri wanted some other means of livelihood to support the family. So he was given the charge to look after the `Bawri Rice and Flour Mill' in Paltan Bazar, Shillong which he efficiently managed.

Shri Nagurmull Bawri and Shri Jaganath Bawri (the fourth and fifth sons) shifted from their father's house to a house across the Motphran Road in 1950. Shri N.M. Bawri assisted his younger brother in the multifaceted business transaction throughout his life.

>From rice and flour mill to coal industry

Shri Jaganath Bawri started the new chapter of his life in 1950 by exploiting the coal mine near Cherrapunji. He was the first person in Marwari community to start a new industry when India was face to face with Chinese aggression in 1962 and normal life of north-east India was disturbed. Twenty one years of experience in business did not deter Shri Jaganath Bawri. He was the pioneer in establishing a new industry in Shillong in the year 1953 when he opened Rice and Flour Mills which was first of its kind since modern machines and techniques were used. Similarly he merchandised the wood Industry too. As it is already seen from above that his intention was always ready to venture into the new business. He applied his mind towards such business which not only brings profit but also generate some revenue to the State Government and open employment avenues to the local people and such a thinking on part of a businessman was a revolution in its own right. He started Bobin manufacturing. Bobin are used in textile mills and such mills are situated in Assam. He was pioneer in establishing industrial units to manufacture insulation boards in Shillong 1956 and gradually this business actively spread to other areas of North East India. It is important to note that in 1955, he took the charge of the Koylagunj Koylahari coal mine of Mikir Hills. It was a wise step since this part of North East has rice source of coal and people of the area were anxiously waiting for someone to start the operations so that local people may get employment. Due to some reasons, dealing in coal did not bear fruit. Consequently in 1959-60 he concentrated in timber industry. The forest of Dimapur had abundance of raw material and his timber industry flourished.

From Oil and Petrol to Tobacco agency:

Before the end of century, Oil was struck at Aakum and a small refinery (by today's standards) was established at Digboi in 1890. Saligram Chunilal firm entered in business since its inception. In 1932-33 the Assam automobile business was running successfully. The motorable roads accentuated the traffic of transport buses and taxis and for this reason the demand for petrol pump became all the more essential. So the Bawris paid attention in this sector and took interest in installing petrol pumps in Shillong, Dimapur and Kaziranga in the name of `Bawri Service Station' in 1959. In the same year a petrol pump `Bawri Service Station' was set up in Dhankheti, Shillong and in 1962 another petrol pump named as `Bawri Hills Service' became operative at Mawlai (Shillong). These petrol pumps were earlier commonly referred as Caltex. In 1967 a petrol pump was also set up in Kaziranga known as Kaziranga Bawri Service Station. Similarly, in Lichugard in Dimapur (Nagaland) petrol pump was set up. These petrol pumps functioned successfully but at a later stage the Kaziranga and Lichugard Petrol pumps were closed down.

The Bawris attention was then shifted to the transport business. For this purpose buses, trucks and other vehicles were purchased in 1930 to ply on routes between Cherra-Shillong/Shillong-Shyllet via Dawki Shillong-Guwahati, Guwahati-Nowgaon and around Shillong. The new routes connecting the remote areas of Khasi and Jaintia Hills were also explored and buses were inducted. This business of passengers/goods traffic continued till the 1970's.

Major breakthrough:

Resin, a liquid from the pine trees is collected to make Turpentine. There was a Resin Turpentine plant run by the Government in the Polo ground area of Shillong. Since the government could not run it economically, they wanted to sell it out to private parties for running the unit. Since Shri J.N. Bawri was in the pine business, he took keen interest and submitted his tender. But it was given to an `outsider' who had a collaboration with the indigenous people. This unit was so badly handled that it had to be wound up within a year. Thus Meghalaya forever lost the avenue which could have had generated employment for its people in this industry.

Manipur was producing surplus quantity of rice and was selling at a very cheap rate. The Government of India organised to procure the rice from Manipur and supply it to deficit areas like Kohima, Dimapur and parts of Assam in the late 50's. Shri J.N. Bawri offered his services in transportation and helping the Central Government for lifting the stock from Manipur and carrying the same to different places. Shri J.N. Bawri has also transported the materials from Dimapur for construction of Government Hospital at Kohima.

After the partition of India (1947), East Pakistan stopped the transportation of oranges passing through the border areas such as Dawki, Cherra, Shella on the side of Meghalaya-East Pakistan border. There was no alternative route to lift the oranges of Shella-Bholagunj. Being a perishable item, the oranges were rotting and the people of border area were incurring financial losses. Since the oranges are the only cash crop of these people, the money received by its sale, allows the villagers to stock the essential items in order to avoid the pangs of hunger. The people of the area then approached the then Chief Minister Medhi for a solution. Shri Medhi consulted Shri J.N. Bawri who is reputed businessman in transport operation. He was requested to find out ways and means to solve this acute problem. Since there were no motorable roads on other approachable points, it was not economical to carry the oranges on head or even bring the extracted juice for export to Calcutta. Shri Bawri contacted Shri R.T. Rymbai, the then S.D.O. in the Deputy Commissioner's Office, Shillong to know more about the geographical topography of the area. He came to know that a large tract of open and flat space was available along the river bank near the orange orchard bordering Pakistan. He met Chief Minister Medhi and suggested that the oranges may be air-lifted from Shella to Calcutta. Although the margin of profit was almost negligible but such an act would help the people of the border areas. Shri Medhi was relaxed and immediately ordered the D.C. Mr. U.C. Roy to collaborate and organise the lifting of oranges. The place identified by Shri Bawri was cleared for landing and take off of aircraft. The trial was successfully accomplished. The people danced with joy and happiness feeling sure that their produce would at last be lifted and not rot in the sun. This service was rendered for 2-3 years until an alternative solution was found out.

In India, cigarette manufacturing companies came in business circle in the nineteenth century. In Assam, it cannot be said for sure who was the first businessman to take up this business. In 1940's the BAWRIS initiated the trade of cigarettes in Shillong, Tezpur and Tinsukia. Being the whole sale agent of Imperial Tobacco Company, a British concern, the Bawris sold cigarettes with brand name like Scissor, Tatler, Kalonier, etc. After the Independence of India they acquired the agency of Imperial Tobacco Company and Vazir Sultan Tobacco Company which manufacture cigarettes with brand names like Charminar, Gold Flake, etc. This business till date flourish in the name of Hardeodas Jagan Nath. In Tezpur, this business was carried on in the name of Binod Store but later on it was given up. Tinsukia I.T.C. Agency business was also given up. The Bawris in the field of popular entertainment, built Paradise Cinema Hall and handed over to the owner of the land on whose premises the cinema hall was constructed.

Induction of Plywood:

Bawris name in the business circles in Assam evokes respect and awe. This family of businessmen has become all the more prominent in entire North-East India. In Meghalaya they were the first to deal with manufacturer of Plywood in 1973. The hill regions of Meghalaya were unexplored. So Shri J.N. Bawri took up the initiative and diverted his attention in this direction to develop the region. In order to establish a plywood processing unit, heavy machinery and equipments were needed and that too to be installed in hilly region. To achieve this Shri J.N. Bawri travelled abroad in search of appropriate machinery and equipment which can sustain the humid climate of Meghalaya.

The factory is situated at Burnihat on the Shillong-Guwahati highway about 20 Km. away from Guwahati on a piece of land measuring 12 acres. The then Union Minister for Industries, Shri T.A. Pai consented to inaugurate this factory on 28th September, 1973. Machinery and equipments were purchased from Germany, United States, Italy, Belgium, Sweden and Czekoslovakia. The outstanding feature of the factory was that it was for the first time in Asia that 10 feet along and five feet board panel could be manufactured. The raw material to manufacture plywood panels was within the perimeter of Burnihat. The finished product has a ready buyers not only in North-East India but also in other states of the country. One of the main aims to establish plywood factory was to develop Meghalaya State and to achieve foreign exchange which would be earned from the sale. Plywood was exported to the countries of Middle-East too. Bhutan started purchasing from this factory. Since 1981-82 this factory is regarded as one of the most productive factories in India. There are only 33 plywood factories in the country. Meghalaya Plywoods (P) Ltd. could compete with the rest and established itself as a factory working with full capacity every since its inception. It may be noted here that World Bank had given loan to this factory through Industrial Development Bank of India in order to initiate industrial development in Meghalaya which like other states of North-East India is lagging behind in economic development.

Introduction to Sugar Mill:

In the fifties Shri J.N. Bawri was keen to set up a sugar mill in Assam and for this a letter of Intent was procured from the Government of India. The then Industry Minister Shri Bidyanath Mukherjee insisted Shri J.N. Bawri to purchase Sugar-canes from the farm managed by the government near Dimapur which was not doing well. Inspite of the high assessment made by the Government, in consultation with Shri Dharmananda Das and Shri Ganesh Phukan, Shri Bawri purchased it and infused a new life to upgrade the farm. The land for factory too was developed. Bulldozer salvaged from Army was sent to Dimapur to prepare the flat land for construction for the mill. Shri B.N. Mukherjee informed Shri Bawri that the Government intended to start a Co-operative sugar mill at Golaghat. So Shri Bawri was asked to shift his intended factory to Cachar where the Government would give full support. Shri Bawri did not agree to this. The cheque given for the sugar came farm was not encashed. Inspite of all his efforts put therein, loss of time, money and energy he abandoned the project.

In Nagaland, he started the `Bawri Timber Industries' in the late 1950's, the `Bawri Rice and Flour Mills' in 1970's and the `Nagaland Plywoods' in 1975. A full fledged plywood factory was also set up in Dharmanagar, Tripura in 1987. This factory is known as Bawri Plywoods Limited.

In the third generation of Hardeodasji Shri Daluram Bawri is the eldest grandson. Dularam Bawri, the eldest son of Puranmull Bawri started a Hardware store on the left side of Motphran, Shillong along the Guwahati-Shillong Road. This shop was doing a brisk business when in 1958 it was consumed to flames in the fire broke out in the Bara Bazar area. Thereafter, another shop was opened on the mid-point of Motphran and Jeep Stand along the same road. In the meantime, he also started operating trucks for the transportation of goods to and from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills to other parts of Assam. tourist and local taxies were purchased for the convenience of the public. Since the transport business proved to be more profitable, the Hardware shop was gradually given up. Simultaneously, he also gained the dealership of the Mawmluh Cement Limited. His earnings besides from business were also from the rent of the three shops in the Iewduh area. Shri Daluram Bawri has four sons who after receiving the degree of graduation started exploring and adjusting themselves in the business world. the eldest son, Birendra Bawri purchased a taxi in 1977. Subsequently, trucks, deluxe buses, mini deluxe buses, tourist taxis were added to his transport business. The transport business operates under the name of Kiwi Travels. At present, he owns a petrol pump at Madan Ritting and a hardware shop in the Polo ground area of Shillong. He is the pioneer in introducing the luxury coaches operating in Meghalaya with an all India permit.

Mahendra Bawri, the second son of Shri D.R. Bawri has registered himself as a Government Contractor and Supplier in the Public Health Engineering Department of the Government of Meghalaya.

The third son Rajendra Bawri started a wholesale hosiery shop in one of the ancestral shop situated at Iewduh. In this shop he keeps all types of Woolen garments viz. Cardigans, pullovers, jackets blankets and items for infants too. In September 1993, he started another hosiery shop in the Thana Road of the Police Bazar, Shillong. Bimal Bawri, the youngest son has opened a book stall "Akashi Book Depot" at Don Bosco point at Laitumkhrah. He stocks all types of books required from preparatory schools and colleges to the University level. At present, he has edited a number of books and has also became a publisher of many titles to his credit.

Sulochana Bawri is the only daughter of Daluram Bawri. She has made a name for herself in the field of Education independently. her achievements as a Principal of Bissau College is both credible and noteworthy.

Girdharilal Bawri, the only son of Badri Prasad Bawri could never cling to one business. He managed to discharge his duties and responsibilities of the family on his own earnings. His only son Sunder Bawri after attaining educational excellence was trained under Shri J.N. Bawri in his diversified business activities. He supervised the management of petrol pumps, the Meghalaya Plywoods Ltd. and other business outlet. He started working under Binod Bawri as a Manager in the Nagaland Plywoods Limited. In his ancestral house at Motphran some portion was rented out to the shop keepers. Since 1989 a preparatory school has been established in the house. Besides these, he has also gone to Lanka in Assam to exploit the timber resources.

Jwala Prasad Bawri and Shyam Sunder Bawri are the two sons of Shri L.R. Bawri. Jwala Prasad initially started helping Shri J.N. Bawri in the business at Jorhat dealing with fertiliser. He then went to Dimapur to oversee the business of Bawri Timber Industries, in 1972. Thereafter, he returned to Shillong to establish an independent business and in 1984, he shifted to Guwahati and opened a medical store and started dealing with coal exports.

Shyam Sunder Bawri after obtaining working knowledge started repairing electrical equipments. This was his hobby for sometime. Later he opened a shop in the G.S. Road area dealing with electrical goods. After his father's death, he managed the Bawri Rice and Flour Mill at Luckier Road, Shillong. In 1986 he opened another shop dealing with medicines. Shri S.S. Bawri has to sons-Sharad and Anuj. Sharad had his working in training in the Vinay Cements Ltd. and presently dealing with Information Technology. Anuj the younger son assists his father in the medical store. Recently, he has opened a reprography unit in the Motphran area, Shillong.

Binod Bawri, the eldest son of Shri J.N. Bawri and the adopted son of Shri Nagurmull Bawri started a cement factory `Vinay Cement Ltd.' at Umgangso in the Mikir Hills of Assam in 1988. A Plywood Factory in Dimapur, Nagaland was given to him in 1985 to handle independently and is known as `Nagaland Plywoods Pvt. Ltd.' The other three sons of Shri J.N. Bawri have established themselves in the Industrial circles. At the initial stage Shri J.N. Bawri had established a multifarious business organisation and assigned each of his sons to administer a particular business. In 1985, however, these sons were given an independent charge over the business. The two sons-Ramesh and Vijay volunteered to handle the management of the Meghalaya Plywoods Ltd. at Burnihat.

Pawan Bawri, the youngest son opted to handle his business dealing under the umbrella organisation of his father. Today, under the able parental guidance, Pawan handles the business of petrol pump, tobacco, real estate like Bawri Mansions, Bawri Plywoods Ltd., landed property and other fissiparious business in Shillong.

In going back to time and space, it may be said that the Bawris came to Shillong carrying the bare necessities of life. With their sheer hard work, preserverence, sincerity and diligence, they expanded from a small grocery shop established in 1878 to a premier industrial institution in the North Eastern Region, today.