Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia (1848–1898) was an Indian banker and activist in progressive and social reform measures in Punjab. He established The Tribune English language newspaper in Lahore in 1881, and later remained founder chairman of the Punjab National Bank, established in 1894. Dyal Singh trust also donated many acres of land to the school.

Biography

Born in Varanasi, Dyal Singh was the son of General Lehna Singh of the renowned Majithia family of Punjab. He got his early education in the Mission School at Amritsar and was later self-educated. He founded the English-language newspaper The Tribune and managed the affairs of the Harmandir Sahib ("Golden Temple") for nearly thirty years. He took up business in real estate and diamonds and earned huge wealth. He was the first president of the Indian Association of Lahore and continued in that capacity till his death. He was a founding Trustee of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. He was Chairman, Board of Directors of the country's first indigenous bank, the Punjab National Bank. The Bank was founded on 23 May 1894 (its first meeting was held at 6:30 PM at Dyal Singh's house). At the second meeting on 27 May 1894, Dyal Singh was appointed Chairman and Lala Harkishen Lal, the Secretary of the Board. He was also a pillar of the Brahmo Samaj and donated liberally to educational institutions and libraries, including numerous colleges all over Northern India, like Dayal Singh College, Lahore and Dyal Singh Memorial Library, Lahore. He was closely associated with Punjab University.

Legacy

The Tribune newspaper, founded by him, is still the leading English daily in Northern India. Since 1978, The Tribune Trust has published Punjabi Tribune and Dainik Tribune also. He willed his property for establishing college for secular education, initially resulting in creation of Dayal Singh College (Lahore), later also Dyal Singh College, Delhi and Dyal Singh College, Karnal.