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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Rai Bahadur]]
| name = Mohan Singh Oberoi
| image = Rai_Bahadur_Mohan_Singh_Oberoi,_founder_of_Oberoi_hotels.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1898|08|15}}
| birth_place = [[Jhelum District]] , [[Punjab]], British India (now in Pakistan)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2002|05|03|1898|08|15}}
| death_place = [[Delhi]]
| nationality = Indian
| education = Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) School, Rawalpindi
| alma_mater =
| occupation = businessman
| known_for = Founder of [[Oberoi Hotels & Resorts]]
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]]
| spouse = Ishran Devi
| children = [[Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi]],
Raj Tilak Singh Oberoi
| module = {{ Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office = [[Member of parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]], [[Lok Sabha]]
| term = 1968–1971
| constituency = [[Hazaribagh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Hazaribagh]]
| predecessor = [[Basant Narain Singh]]
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
}}
}}
[[Rai Bahadur]] '''Mohan Singh Oberoi''' (15 August 1898 – 3 May 2002)<ref name=br>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/860981/Mohan-Singh-Oberoi Mohan Singh Oberoi] ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''.</ref> was an Indian hotelier, the founder and chairman of [[The Oberoi Group|Oberoi Hotels & Resorts]], India's second-largest hotel company, with 31 hotels in [[India]], [[Egypt]], [[Indonesia]], [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], [[Mauritius]] and [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref name=ny>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900E4D61131F937A35756C0A9649C8B63 Mohan Singh Oberoi, 109, A Pioneer in Luxury Hotels] ''[[New York Times]], 4 May 2002''.</ref><ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1979608132.cms The centennial Man] ''[[The Times of India]]'', 1 September 2001.</ref><ref>[http://www.oberoihotels.com/FounderChairmain.aspx Mohan Singh Oberoi – Founder Chairman – ''Official Biography''] ''Oberoi Hotels & Resorts''</ref>

In his [[obituary]] the ''[[Times of India]]'' said that he was acknowledged for putting the Indian hotel industry on the global map by successfully establishing hotel brands like [[The Oberoi Group|Oberoi]] and [[Trident Hotels|Trident]] worldwide.<ref name=toi>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/8763571.cms Noted hotelier M S Oberoi passes away] ''[[The Times of India]]'', 3 May 2002.</ref>

==Early years==

Oberoi was born in a [[Punjabi Khatri]] family in [[Bhaun]], a minor village of [[Jhelum District]] (now [[Chakwal District]]), [[Punjab region|Punjab]], British India. When he was six months old, his father, a contractor in [[Peshawar]], died, leaving his mother with few resources. After attending schools in his village and nearby [[Rawalpindi]], he passed the Intermediate College Examination in [[Lahore]], but was unable to continue attending classes because of lack of finances. Instead, he learned typing and shorthand.

== Career ==

=== 1918-1934: Early works and struggle ===
In 1922, Oberoi got a job at [[The Cecil]] Hotel in [[Shimla]]. to escape from the epidemic of plague and as front desk clerk, at a salary of Rs 50 per month. He was a quick learner and took many additional responsibilities. The manager of Cecil, Mr. Ernest Clarke and his wife Gertrude took a great liking to the honesty of a hardworking young Mohan Singh Oberoi.

Mr. Clarke and his wife decided to hand over the responsibility of managing Hotel Carlton now renamed as Clarkes to this impressive young man. It was here, at Clarkes Hotel, that Mohan Singh gained firsthand experience in all aspects of operating a hotel. During their six months absence, Mr. Mohan Singh Oberoi doubled up the occupancy to eighty percent which gave them enough reason to offer the hotel – on a decided amount to Mr. Mohan Singh Oberoi as they wanted to return to England.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=How Mohan Singh Oberoi Built Hotel Chain Worth Crores From Rs 25 That His Mother Gave Him|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/human-interest/success-story-of-mohan-singh-oberoi-544510.html|access-date=2021-12-20|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ganesh|date=2015-04-17|title=M. S. Oberoi|url=https://www.yosuccess.com/success-stories/mohan-singh-oberoi/|access-date=2021-12-20|website=Yo! Success|language=en}}</ref>

=== 1934-1962: Business ===
As India became independent, Oberoi built additional hotels, while expanding his base holdings. In 1948, he established East India Hotels, now known as EIH Ltd., whose first acquisition was the Oberoi [[Grand Hotel (Calcutta)|Grand Hotel]] in [[Calcutta]].<ref name="toi" /> In April 1955 he was elected President of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, and in 1960 was named President of Honour of the Federation for life.

In 1965, in partnership with international hotel chains, he opened the Oberoi Intercontinental in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Oberoi Group|url=https://www.oberoigroup.com/aboutus/founder|access-date=2021-12-20|website=www.oberoigroup.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-08|title=How Mohan Singh Oberoi Built Hotel Chain Worth Crores From Rs 25 That His Mother Gave Him|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/human-interest/success-story-of-mohan-singh-oberoi-544510.html|access-date=2021-12-20|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref>

===1962-Politics===

He participated in legislative politics by winning elections to the [[Rajya Sabha]] for two terms, from April 1962 to March 1968 and from April 1972 to April 1978. He was elected to the fourth [[Lok Sabha]] in April 1968 as candidate of [[Indian National Congress]] from [[Hazaribagh]] Parliamentary Constituency, and remained a Member of that House till December 1972.<ref>[http://164.100.47.5/rsdebate/synopsis/195/06052002.htm Obituary] ''[[Rajya Sabha]]'' debates.</ref>

== Oberoi Group ==
The [[Oberoi Group]], founded in 1934, employed about 12,000 people worldwide and owned and managed about thirty hotels and five luxury cruisers {{As of|2012|lc=on}}. Oberoi Amarvilas, [[Agra]], ranks amongst the top ten hotel spas Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East of the ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'' magazine,<ref>[http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2007/results.cfm?cat=spasafmeap Top 10 Hotel Spas Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East] ''[[Travel + Leisure]]''.</ref> and ranked third in Best Hotels in Asia in 2007.<ref>[http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2007/property.cfm?cat=spasafmeap&pid=2033 Oberoi Amarvilas] ''[[Travel + Leisure]]''.</ref> Other activities include [[airline catering]], management of restaurants and airport bars, travel and tour services, [[car rental]], project management and corporate air charters. The Group has a number of hotels worldwide, latest hotel additions being in [[Singapore]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Nepal]], [[Egypt]] and Africa.

Oberoi was the first to employ women in the hospitality sector.

==Honours and awards==
Throughout his later life Oberoi received numerous honours and awards from the [[Indian government]] and private organizations.

Oberoi was presented with the title Rai Bahadur (pater familiae) by [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|His Majesty]] [[George VI|The King of Great Britain]] in 1943.

He was awarded the [[Padma Bhushan]], one of India's highest civilian awards, in 2001.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |year=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>

===Centenarian===
Almost all publications indicated Oberoi's year of birth as 1898 and his age at death as 103. In his own autobiographical sketch – ''How M S Oberoi became India's greatest hotelier'',<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/oct/21bspec.htm How M S Oberoi became India's greatest hotelier] by M S Oberoi, [[Rediff.com]], 21 October 2005.</ref>

However, he gave 1900 as his official birth year, a fact attesting to his having lived to 101. However, ''[[The New York Times]]'' obituary, the date is given as 1898 and the following was written: "He was 103, although for years he said he was born in 1900 because he did not want to be seen as dating from the 19th century."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lewis|first=Paul|date=2002-05-04|title=Mohan Singh Oberoi, 103, A Pioneer in Luxury Hotels (Published 2002)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/04/business/mohan-singh-oberoi-103-a-pioneer-in-luxury-hotels.html|access-date=2021-02-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Net|first=Hospitality|title=Mohan Singh Oberoi, a Pioneer in Luxury Hotels, Dies at 103 - New York Times|url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4011772.html|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Hospitality Net|language=en-us}}</ref>

==Personal life and family==
Oberoi married Ishran Devi in 1920, the daughter of Shri Ushnak Rai belonged to his village. They had two sons and two daughters. Eldest son Raj Tilak Singh Oberoi (1924) known as Tikki Oberoi and second son [[Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi]] (1929) better known to the world as Bikki Oberoi.

Tikki Oberoi married [[Leela Naidu]] on 16 July 1956; he was 33, she 17. Her father was a nuclear physicist, Science Director for UNESCO for South East Asia. They had twin daughters, Priya Oberoi and Maya Oberoi. Bikki Oberoi married Goodie in 1959, the daughter of a Punjabi landowner of Lyalpur. They had a son Vikram Oberoi and two daughters. Oberoi's daughter Swaraj married Gautam Khanna in 1950. Youngest daughter Prem married Captain KK Mehra in 1957. Tikki married in 1964 Jutta, the Teuton daughter of Ludwig Mittel Huber. They had a son Arjun Singh Oberoi.

Oberoi's nephew Brij Raj Oberoi also called as "Diamond Oberoi" (nickname given by Oberoi) consciously followed his uncle's footsteps and continued in the family business, by operating several Heritage hotels in the Himalayas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/elgin-hotels-on-expansion-mode/article6905734.ece|title = Elgin Hotels on expansion mode}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* ''Dare to Dream: a Life of Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi'', by Bachi J Karkaria. Viking, 1992. {{ISBN|0-670-84723-2}}.
* 216: M.S. Oberoi. ''333 Great Indians, who is who & who was Who, from the Remotest Past to the Nearest Present: Philosophers, Politicians, Diplomats. Edited by Om Parkash Varma. Published by Varma Bros., 1963. ''Page 189''
* ''Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi: Father of the Indian Hotel Industry''. by Chathoth, P. K. Chon, K. K. S. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 2006, Vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 7–10''. USA. ISSN 1096-3758.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/oct/21bspec.htm How M S Oberoi became India's greatest hotelier] by M.S. Oberoi, with note by Dr. Gita Piramal, Managing Editor, ''The Smart Manager''. ''[[Rediff.com]]''
* [http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2002/05/04/stories/2002050402150100.htm M.S. Oberoi dies at 103] (2002) ''The Hindu Business Line''.
* [http://www.expresshospitality.com/20020520/tribute.shtml Rai Bahadur M S Oberoi – A Tribute To The Founding Father] (2000) ''[[Indian Express]]''.
* [http://www.the-south-asian.com/Sept2000/MS%20Oberoi%201.htm MS Oberoi:A Century Of Hospitality] ''the-south-Asian'', September 2000.

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oberoi, Mohan Singh}}
[[Category:The Oberoi Group]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Men centenarians]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:2002 deaths]]
[[Category:4th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Indian hoteliers]]
[[Category:Rai Bahadurs]]

Mohan Singh Oberoi - Revision history

>Diannaa: remove copyright content copied from https://www.oberoigroup.com/aboutus/founder