Biography

Henning Holck-Larsen was born on 4 July 1907 in Frederiksberg, Denmark, and died on 27 July 2003 in Mumbai, aged 96. A chemical engineer who studied at the University of Copenhagen and what is now the Technical University of Denmark, he came to India in 1937 to work for the Danish firm F. L. Smidth & Co. In 1938 he set up Larsen & Toubro with Soren Kristian Toubro, a former schoolmate and colleague; the idea arose on a holiday in Matheran. In 1944 they established Engineering Construction & Contracts, and on 7 February 1946 Larsen & Toubro Private Limited was incorporated. He took Indian citizenship in 1950, giving up his Danish citizenship, and called India his adopted homeland. Wikipedia describes him as the risk-taker of the pair, with Toubro the more conservative partner.

Career

  • 1937 · Chemical engineer in India · F. L. Smidth & Co.
  • 1938 · Co-founded Larsen & Toubro · Larsen & Toubro
  • 1944 · Established Engineering Construction & Contracts with Toubro · Larsen & Toubro
  • 1945 · Agreement with Caterpillar Tractor Company for earthmoving equipment · Larsen & Toubro
  • 1946 · Larsen & Toubro Private Limited incorporated (7 February) · Larsen & Toubro

Education

  • University of Copenhagen
  • Technical University of Denmark

Achievements

  • Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding (1976)
  • Knighthood from Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (1977)
  • Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial Peace (1980)
  • Padma Bhushan (2002)
  • India Post issued a commemorative stamp for him (12 June 2008)

Companies Founded

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