Phulchand Sethi

Shree Phulchand Sethi
Phulchand Sethi
Born	Nov 1911 Kohima , Nagaland
Died	2nd October 1976 Dimapur
Nationality	Indian
Spouse	Smt Lada Devi Sethi
Children	5 Sons and 6 Daughters

Phulchand Sethi (1911-1976) was a prominent social worker, philanthropist, and businessman of Dimapur, Nagaland in Northeast India. He was amongst the first proponents of Jainism in Nagaland. He was awarded the Commendation Certificate by the Governor of Nagaland, His Excellency Sri Lallan Prasad Singh on 15 August 1975 for Social and Humanitarian activities. He established the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce in 1959. He could speak many local dialects such as Angami, Sema, Lotha, Kuki, Manipuri, Assamese. He died on 2 October 1976 in Dimapur.

Early life and education

He was born in November 1911, in Kohima, Nagaland to Shri Hardev Sethi. He got his education from Digambar Jain M.E. School (Kohima), Nagahills. He then went on to become the secretary of the school in 1928 and continued till 1940. He was married to Smt Lada Devi Sethi in 1935, a well known personality of the Jain Community. He along with his family had to evacuate Kohima in 1944 due to Japanese invasion during World War II. He along with his entire family moved to Dimapur, Nagaland. His father along with his brothers had come all the way from Chapra, Rajsathan to Kohima in the 1880s. They were the first non-naga settlers in Nagaland.

Personal life

Phulchand Sethi was married to Smt Lada Devi Sethi in 1935. He had 5 sons and 6 daughters. Amongst them, the most well known is Binod Sethi. He is currently the Vice President of Shree Digmabar Jain Samaj Dimapur. He is also the advisor of SD Jain Girls College Dimapur. His other sons Late Ramchandra Sethi, Pawan Kumar Sethi, Raj Kumar Sethi and late Sailesh Sethi have also held various important positions in the Digambar Jain Mahasabha. The tallest statue of Lord Vasupujya which stands 31 feet in height, inaugurated at Nathnagar Temple, Champapur, Bhagalpur, Bihar in 2014 was constructed and donated by Smt Sona Devi Sethi Charitable Trust in the memory of Phulchand Sethi's daughter-in-law Late Smt Sona Devi Sethi. His daughters Indira Devi Gangwal, Chanda Devi Patni, Usha Devi Rara, Kusumlata Patni, Premlata Jain, Santosh Devi Chabra have all folllowed their father's footsteps in the field of social service.

Career Highlights

He successfully promoted and managed diversified businesses. He was the Secretary of the Digambar Jain M.E. School Kohima 1928. He was also the President of the Kohima Marwari Sammelan. He Started the Shree Digambar Jain Temple in Dimapur in 1944. He was the first Secretary(Maha Mantri) of Shree Digambar Jain Samaj Dimapur and continued on this post till 1976. He set up the Shree Digambar Jain School Dimapur in 1947 which is one of the finest schools in Nagaland. He also set up Dimapur Chamber Of commerce in 1959. He founded the Jain Mahavir Charitable Hospital Dimapur in 1974, the first charitable hostiptal in Nagaland. He also established the SD Jain Kirthi Stumbh in 1974, a very famous landmark in Dimapur. He was the first President of Multi purpose Co-operative Society. He was also the founding Treasurer of Dimapur College of Arts & Commerce. He was the first Secretary of Durga Mandir Dimapur. He became the first non Naga nominated Member of Dimapur Town Committee in 1960. He was appointed Member of Railway Consultant Committee & Central Excise Advisory Committee by the government of India. He was also the Secretary of the first ever Jain Temple in Nagaland which was built in 1920 in Kohima . His contribution was monumental and can be seen in the temple.

Gallery

• Sri Phulchand Sethi receving Governor Sri LP Singh's certificate at Parade Ground Kohima on 15th August 1975, Nagaland
  Sri Phulchand Sethi receving Governor Sri LP Singh's certificate at Parade Ground Kohima on 15th August 1975, Nagaland

See Also

• Binod Sethi
• Bhagwan Vasupujya Pratima Champapur
• Jainism in Nagaland

References

• http://nagalandpost.com/ChannelNews/State/StateNews.aspx?news=TkVXUzEwMDAyMDE2Ng%3D%3D-plRjpbhlHpQ%3D
• http://www.npjainmahasabha.com/pdf/06Jan2014_jaingazetteweekly.pdf
• http://m.newshunt.com/india/english-newspapers/nagaland-post/state-news/jain-community-celebrates-mahavir-jayanti_38090912/c-in-l-english-n-nagalandpost-ncat-StateNews
• http://www.nagalandpost.com/ShowStory.aspx?npoststoryiden=UzEwNDEyNTE%3D-GTXG%2Br4cu3o%3D
• http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140107/jsp/bihar/story_17757074.jsp#.VjEZ3mQrI1I
• http://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/dimapur-jain-community-observes-paryushan/
• http://www.sdjaingirlscollege.com/UI/Aboutus.aspx?Page=managing