Henning Holck-Larsen, founding partner of L & T Ltd. was born on July 4, 1907 at Copenhagen in Denmark. He attended jesuit primary and secondary schools and in 1922 entered the Metropolitanskolen (high school ) of Copenhagen from which he graduated in 1925. From the University of Copenhagen, he took a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering in 1930 and joined F L Smidth and Company, Denmark- a leader in cement technology. ln 1935 he was deputed to India to assess the various cement manufacturing groups which later formed the Associated Cement Companies.

The year 1938 was an eventful year in the life of Henning Holck-Larsen. He and his former schoolmate, Soren Kristian Toubro, set up the partnership firm Larsen and Toubro, that was soon to establish itself as one of the country's front-ranking industrial organizations. In May the following year, he married Karen Speyer, also of Danish nationality at Mumbai. Under his vision, Larsen and Toubro became a private limited company in 1946 and a public limited company in 1950. The firm started as an importer of machinery and under the two founders progressed to an organization doing business in heavy machinery, construction, food processing etc., strengthened by a strong R&D base. Holck- Larsen's vision of aligning the company's activities to the needs of India's growth sector made the firm a partner to national endeavours in space research, nuclear power programme and defence as much as in the green and white revolutions.

The life of Henning Holck-Larsen was not limited to business alone. Widely read and a lover and promoter of art and music, his appreciation of beauty extended to an appreciation of the beauty of the environment. The factories at Powai are in a garden like setting. He was also active in the field of international relations. For his

exemplary achievements as businessman, he was felicitated by the National Association of Danish Enterprise in 1968. In recognition of his contribution in promoting relations between India and Denmark in 1972,the Danish Government appointed him Consul General for Denmark in Mumbai. ln1 976, his efforts on the world stage earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding. He was conferred a knighthood and Order of The Knight Commander of Danneburg by Queen Margerethe II of Denmark in 1977. In 1980 he was given Sir Jahangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial Peace. In 1999 Larsen was felicitated by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and by the Cll next year. He also won the Chemical Industry Stalwart Award instituted by the Chemtech Foundation in the same year, and in 2002, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Henning Holck-Larsen. His contribution to the field of art was recognized by the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Henning Holck-Larsen, one of the Pioneers of the engineering industry in India, passed away on 27th July, 2007.

The Department of Posts is proud to release a commemorative postage stamp on Henning Holck­ Larsen.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India