B. G. Kher

Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher (24 August 1888 – 8 March 1957¹²) was an Indian politician who served as the prime minister of Bombay (1937–1939, 1946–1947) and the first chief minister (then called Premier³) of Bombay State (1947–1952). He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1954. A lawyer, solicitor and social worker by choice and politician by necessity, Kher was often described as "Sajjan", good and gentle. Kher was a scholar, an accomplished orator, and a man with no pretensions.

Early life

Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher was born on 24 August 1888 at Ratnagiri in a Maharashtrian Brahmin family.⁴ He spent some years of his boyhood at Kundgol in the then Jamkhandi State. Later, he migrated at the instance of Gopal Krishna Gokhale to Pune to study at the New English School. Later he received a B.A. degree with high distinction from Wilson College (Mumbai) in 1908, where he was also awarded the Bhau Daji Lad prize for standing first in Sanskrit.⁵

Kher along with Manilal Nanavati started a firm called Manilal Kher & Co. The firm commenced practice on 7 June 1918. The firm was the only firm in Mumbai to have its inauguration ceremony being presided over by the renowned judge Sir Frank Beaman. The firm's name was then changed to Manilal Kher Ambalal & Co.⁶

Political career