Hemendra Mohan Bose - Career

Career

In 1894, Bose started his own business in perfume manufacturing, the H-Bose Perfumers at 62 Bowbazar Street in Kolkata, where he distilled the perfumes. After the initial success, he added hair oil and other toiletries like lavender water, Eau de Cologne, milk of rose etc. to his range of products. He also set up a new manufacturing unit at 6 Shib Narayan Das Lane in Kolkata. His products included the famous Kuntalin hair oil and Delkhosh perfume.

By 1900, he had created a printing press and publishing house titled Kuntaline Press at 5 Shib Narayan Das Lane in Kolkata which incidentally was next door to his perfume business. In 1903, he instituted the Kuntalin Puraskar and encouraged young writers to showcase their talent. A short story written by Jagadish Chandra Bose was the first recipient of the Kuntalin Puraskar. Later Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's first printed publication Mandira won the Kuntalin Puraskar.

Bose was a bicycle enthusiast. He himself could ride the bicycle and taught his friends how to ride it. In 1903, he along with his brother Jatindra Mohon Bose established the first Indian-owned cycle works the H. Bose and Co, - Cycles at 63-1, Harrison Road. The company was also the distributors of the Rover bicycles. It was one of the first among his Swadeshi ventures. He also learnt how to drive a motor car. In 1900, he bought a two sitter motor car and used to drive it himself. He established the Great Eastern Motor Company and set up a repairing unit, the Great Eastern Motor Works in Park Street.