R. E. Grant Govan
Encyclopedia
R.E. Grant Govan, CBE
(also known as Raymond Grant Govan, unknown-1940) was a Delhi
based British
industrialist. He was the Managing Director of Govan Bros. Ltd., a leading business house of the time. The company was managing agents for a number of industrial enterprises. Grant Govan was a keen pilot and the founder of Indian National Airways Ltd
, an aviation company formed in 1933 under Govan Bros Ltd. Apart from the airline, Govan Bros operated Delhi Flour Mills, set up Sugar Mills-Raza Buland at Rampura
, and had a travel department, Govan Agencies (which was sold in 1947). Apart from the airline, Govan had other interests in aviation, like the Delhi Flying Club which he founded in 1928.
R.E. Grant Govan was an avid sports enthusiast. He founded the Roshanara Cricket Club in Delhi, named after the nearby tomb
of Roshanara Begum
, with a group of friends in 1922. The club was officially inaugurated by Marquess of Reading
in December 1922. Govan had the distinction of being both the founding President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
(BCCI) in 1928, a position he held till 1933 and the Cricket Club of India
(CCI) in 1933. He, along with then BCCI secretary Anthony De Mello
, was instrumental in getting the BCCI affiliated to the Imperial Cricket Conference (now International Cricket Council
) in 1928.
In 1931 BCCI with Govan at its helm invited the Marylebone Cricket Club
to tour India for the first time, with the support of Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. When he died in 1940, Dr. P. Subbaroyan
, then President of the (BCCI), issued a statement which read "In the death of Mr. Grant Govan, Indian Cricket has lost a friend ...". After his death, a few of his friends set up the Grant Govan Memorial Homes in Delhi. These are meant to be retirement homes for Anglo-Indian
s with limited means and were inaugurated by Marchioness of Linlithgow
, wife of the then Viceroy of India in October 1940.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(also known as Raymond Grant Govan, unknown-1940) was a Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
based British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
industrialist. He was the Managing Director of Govan Bros. Ltd., a leading business house of the time. The company was managing agents for a number of industrial enterprises. Grant Govan was a keen pilot and the founder of Indian National Airways Ltd
Indian National Airways Ltd
Indian National Airways Ltd was an airline based in Delhi, India. The founder of the airline was R. E. Grant Govan, a Delhi based British industrialist who also co-founded the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Cricket Club of India. The airline was formed on the basis of a government...
, an aviation company formed in 1933 under Govan Bros Ltd. Apart from the airline, Govan Bros operated Delhi Flour Mills, set up Sugar Mills-Raza Buland at Rampura
Rampura
Rampura can refer to the following locations in India:* Rampura, Neemuch - a town in Madhya Pradesh* Rampura, Jalaun - a town in Uttar Pradesh* Rampura Phul - a town in Bathinda district of Punjab...
, and had a travel department, Govan Agencies (which was sold in 1947). Apart from the airline, Govan had other interests in aviation, like the Delhi Flying Club which he founded in 1928.
R.E. Grant Govan was an avid sports enthusiast. He founded the Roshanara Cricket Club in Delhi, named after the nearby tomb
Roshanara Bagh
Roshanara Garden is a Mughal-style garden built by Roshanara Begum, the second daughter of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is situated near clock tower near Kamla Nagar and North Campus of University of Delhi, Delhi. It is well maintained huge garden having a great variety of plants some imported...
of Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum
Roshanara Begum was the second daughter of the Mughal ruler, Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal. Born on September 3, 1617, Roshanara was a brilliant woman, a talented poetess, the mastermind behind Aurangazeb's accession to the Mughal throne, and by the time of her death in 1671, one of the most...
, with a group of friends in 1922. The club was officially inaugurated by Marquess of Reading
Marquess of Reading
Marquess of Reading is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1926 for Rufus Isaacs, 1st Earl of Reading, the former Viceroy of India and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales...
in December 1922. Govan had the distinction of being both the founding President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
Board of Control for Cricket in India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered at Mumbai, is the national governing body for all cricket in India. It's not the apex governing body in India. The board was formed in December 1928 as BCCI replaced Calcutta Cricket Club. BCCI is a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu...
(BCCI) in 1928, a position he held till 1933 and the Cricket Club of India
Cricket Club of India
Cricket Club of India is located on Dinsha Wacha Road, near Churchgate in Mumbai, India. It is one of the oldest and most well known cricket clubs in India...
(CCI) in 1933. He, along with then BCCI secretary Anthony De Mello
Anthony de Mello (cricket administrator)
Anthony Stanislaus de Mello was an Indian cricket administrator and one of the founders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.-Background:...
, was instrumental in getting the BCCI affiliated to the Imperial Cricket Conference (now International Cricket Council
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
) in 1928.
In 1931 BCCI with Govan at its helm invited the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
to tour India for the first time, with the support of Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. When he died in 1940, Dr. P. Subbaroyan
P. Subbarayan
Paramasiva Subbarayan was an Indian politician, freedom fighter and diplomat and was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, India's ambassador to Indonesia and Union Minister of Transport and Communications in Jawaharlal Nehru's government. He is the father of General P. P...
, then President of the (BCCI), issued a statement which read "In the death of Mr. Grant Govan, Indian Cricket has lost a friend ...". After his death, a few of his friends set up the Grant Govan Memorial Homes in Delhi. These are meant to be retirement homes for Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
s with limited means and were inaugurated by Marchioness of Linlithgow
Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow
Victor Alexander John Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow KG, KT, GCSI, GCIE, OBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor-General and Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.-Early life and family:...
, wife of the then Viceroy of India in October 1940.