Govindram Seksaria was an Indian industrialist of the Seksaria family. He is famously known as the Cotton King of India. He was among the most successful industrialist of pre-independence India. Birth and early life Govindram Seksaria was born on 19 October 1888 in Nawalgarh in present-day Rajasthan in a marwari family. He lost both his parents at an early age and took responsibility of his wife, brothers Bholaram, Ramnath, Makhanlal & two sisters. He moved from Nawalgarh to Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in the early 1900s and started operating under the name of Messrs. Govindram Seksaria. India was under the British Raj at that time, and every major industry was owned or managed by foreign firms that had the full support of the government. For Indian firms and businessmen, survival and growth was difficult and risky under a government that was both unsupportive and bleak. It was in such a hostile environment that Govindram Seksaria started his career as an operator on the Bombay Cotton Exchange. Within a few years, the Cotton Contract Board accepted his membership. Later, he became one of the original members of the East India Cotton Association. He went on to become a very famous name in the cotton market. Entry into other businesses After his success in the cotton market, Seksaria soon entered into bullion and other commodity markets. He also delved in various stock exchanges in India including the Bombay Stock Exchange. He also became a founding member of the Indian Stock Exchange. Seksaria was a member of the following boards and chambers: Marwari Chambers of Commerce The Bombay Bullion Exchange The Bombay Seeds Brokers' Association The Indian Merchants' Chamber Entry in International Market Though Seksaria was very successful in Indian markets, there was not much growth potential in the country at the time. So, in 1934, Seksaria became a member of the New York Cotton Exchange, a rare thing for an Indian in those days. Seksaria retained his membership till his death. He was also a member of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange and, later, the copper, sugar and wheat exchanges of various British and American cities. Establishment of Industries Seksaria ventured into industry in 1937 by establishing Govindram Brothers Pvt. Ltd. Under this company he started a vegetable oil business and soon diversified into sugar, textile, minerals, mining, banking, printing and motion pictures. He also entered into real estate by establishing Estate Investment Co.