Born in Biratnagar in 1930, Dugar started his business career by starting trading of food commodities. He pioneered jute export from Nepal in 1959 and assumed control of his family business following the death of his father.[break]
Besides dealing with food commodities and agriculture inputs, he also got involved in trading of automobiles. He received authorized dealership of leading automobile brands like Nissan and Mahindra and went to establish Nepal Automobile Dealers´ Association (NADA) as its founding chairman. He was also the founder of Gurans Life Insurance and chairman of Sunrise Bank Limited.
TM Dugar Group operates more than a dozen business ventures including Dugar Food and Beverage, Puja Rice Mills, Puja Pulse Mills, Shradha Food Products, Kohinoor Agro Industries, Kohinoor Rice Mill, Dugar Fertilizer and Kamadhenu Vegetable Oil Industries.
Shekhar Golcha, director of Golchha Organization and a well-wisher of late Dugar, hailed Dugar as an inspiration figure for the entire Marwari community. “The Marwari community is in the business mainstream today because of his relentless encouragement,” he added.
Dugar is remembered by the business community as a bold and outspoken business leader.
Dugar, a former executive member of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and a member of its Advisory Committee, was also briefly involved in politics. He served as the treasurer of Morang District Committee of Nepali Congress when late Girija Prasad Koirala was at the party helm.
He also played a vital role in convincing Koirala to nominate two persons from the Marwari community in the Constituent Assembly under proportional representation system.
Despite his busy business life, Dugar was associated with a number of social organizations in Kathmandu, Birgunj and Biratnagar.
Bikash Dugar, managing director of K L Dugar Group, said it was because of late Dugar´s contribution that K L Dugar Group has come to this stage. “It was his continuous hard work and dedication towards his profession that inspired us to achieve business success,” he added.
Dugar´s last rites will be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat on Monday. He is survived by a son and three daughters.
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