he succeeded in greatly extending the operations of the firm. Its transactions were on an immense scale. In almost all kinds of imports it had dealings, huge quantities of piece goods, yarns, prints, umbrellas, woollen goods, iron, copper, corrugated iron sheets, paints, asphalts and cements passing through its hands every year. Among its exports were, wheat, cotton, tea, indigo, hides, musk, sugar, molasses, linseed and poppy seed, with occasional shipments of opium to Hongkong. The firm had agents in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow while in Calcutta it acted as banian to no fewer than ten European firms. Such was the enormous, business over which Durga Charan Law exercised for nearly half a century personal and complete control. From the outset of his career Durga Charan had shown not only industry and business capacity but a high sense of commercial integrity and honour. It was this reputation which the firm early acquired that enabled it to win the respect and inspire the confidence of the Indian and European communities alike. As its head and as the moving spirit that directed its policy and its great undertakings, Durga Charan Law came rapidly into prominence in Calcutta life. He was consulted by all classes, not only on commercial matters, but, so great were his interests, on all the social and political questions of the day. Government was not slow to recognise his ability and his usefulness in the public service. He was the first Indian to be
