How Denmark’s forgotten empire in India led to the story of L&T
In 1845, Denmark transferred its mainland possessions in India, including Tranquebar and Serampore, to the British East India Company, effectively ending its territorial presence on the subcontinent. However, Denmark's colonial involvement with India continued to shape its corporate history decades later. Danish engineering firm F. L. Smidth & Co. supplied industrial technology to India since 1904, and Danish engineers Henning Holck-Larsen and Søren Kristian Toubro worked in British India through this industrial network. In 1938, they established Larsen & Toubro (L&T), one of India's major engineering institutions.
Despite the discontinuity, the connection between Denmark's past colonial presence and the establishment of L&T cannot be overlooked. Holck-Larsen eventually became an Indian citizen in 1950, relinquishing his Danish citizenship. This historical linkage prompts a broader inquiry into how Denmark's engagement with India evolved following the loss of its Indian territories.
Recognizing Denmark-Norway as a colonial power in its own right, with its Indian empire limited in size and resources, is crucial to understanding the significance of this relationship.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
