Ramnath Goenka

Ramnath Goenka (22 April 1904 – 5 October 1991) was an Indian newspaper publisher. He bought the majority stake of The Indian Express in 1930s. He created the Indian Express Group with various English and regional language publications.^[1] In 2000, India Today magazine, named him amongst their list of "100 People Who Shaped India".^[2] The Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, named after Ramnath Goenka, are one of the awards in India in the field of journalism.^[3][4][5]

Ramnath Goenka
Goenka in 1942
Born	(1904-04-22)22 April 1904 Darbhanga, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	5 October 1991(1991-10-05) (aged 87) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Media businessman
Political party	Bharatiya Jana Sangh

Early life

Ramnath Goenka was born on 22 April 1904^[6] in Darbhanga Bihar, to Basantlal Goenka.^[7]

Career

Worked as a managing partner on a salary of 100 rs per month from 1926 to 1936 under partner Raja Mohan Prasad in the partnership firms Murli Prasad mohan Prasad from 1926 to 1931 and then Chunnilal murliprasad from 1931 onwards who were Consignee sales agent (Dubashish agents) for British trading company importing gold, silver and cotton in India. Simultaneously he took up job as chief salesman of the British trading company from 1931 to 1936 on a salary of Rs. 800 per month out of which 500 belonged to the partnership firm. This empire along with properties was acquired for the Trust of Raja Mohan Prasad and is held in trust by the current legal heirs.

During the Emergency Period of India, Ramnath Goenka was one of the few businessmen and journalists that opposed Indira Gandhi government.^[8]

Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

In 1971 Indian general election, Goenka was elected as the Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency as a candidate of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.^[9]

Death

Goenka died in Mumbai on 5 October 1991.^[1]

In 1997 the heirs of Ramnath Goenka made a division of the Indian Express Group into two separated operations. The northern segment was put under the control of Viveck Goenka, whereas the southern one went to the family branch of Manoj Sonthalia.^[10]