Rai Bahadur Ram Roop Gupta, owner of Nanneh Mal Sanwal Dass, Landlords and Bankers, was an affluent businessman who once upon a time owned the Sabzi Mandi Area, being gifted to him by the British government. In a bid to showcase his wealth, the title of ‘Rais’ he held and for greater good of the people of Sabzi Mandi, a predominantly mill workers neighbourhood, Lala Ram Roop donated for the construction of a clock tower in the middle of a roundabout on the GT Road which connected Delhi to Calcutta, in the vicinity of his residence. The roundabout would slow down traffic on the busy junction while the clock tower would be a landmark to not just Sabzi mandi but entire Delhi.
His philanthropist work was carried forward by his son Lala Jagan Nath who contributed towards the development of schools and education societies. He started the Lilawati Vidya Mandir, RB Ram Roop Vidya Mandir and a playway in memory of his parents. Lala Jagan Nath had also been an active member of the Hindu Education Trust, Ramjas Foundation and the Indraprastha College, placing the family’s roots into the education boards till day.
Apart from institutions, Lala Ram Roop’s family was actively associated with the Delhi Cloth Mills board, started by Lala Shri Ram, placing their cordial ties with them. The family is associated with other business families of Delhi, particularly Yogeshwar Dayal of Chandni Chowk, who had great respect and admiration for Lala Ram Roop and later Mayor Hans Raj Gupta’s family.
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References : Report of Clock Tower, Delhi Archives;
Lilawati Vidya Mandir School Website (Online)
Acknowledgements : Ram Roop Gupta's Family