VRM
Indian businessman and industrialist

Ved Rattan Mohan

· verify

Created Old Monk, the iconic Indian vatted dark rum.

Ved Rattan Mohan was an Indian entrepreneur and the creator of Old Monk, an iconic vatted Indian dark rum. Born to Narendra Nath Mohan, the founder of Mohan Meakin, he took over the company in 1969 after the death of his father. During his tenure as the managing director, the company expanded to add three distilleries and two breweries and added new lines of business such as breakfast food and juices, glass manufacturing, vinegars, and cold storage. He also introduced, Solan No.

A detail that
surprised us

Old Monk rum was inspired by Benedictine monks’ distilling methods in Europe and was launched in 1954 when Ved Rattan Mohan was just 26 years old.

The Story

1. 🥃 In 1954, Colonel Ved Rattan Mohan launched Old Monk, a vatted Indian dark rum aged 7 years in oak vats, inspired by European Benedictine monks and aimed to rival the Hercules rum favored by the armed forces. 2. After inheriting Mohan Meakin in 1969 following his father Narendra Nath Mohan's death, Ved Rattan Mohan expanded the company by adding three distilleries and two breweries, diversifying into breakfast foods, juices, glass manufacturing, vinegars, and cold storage. 3. 🌆 As mayor of Lucknow for two terms and a Rajya Sabha member, Ved Rattan Mohan bridged business with politics, drawing support from elder statesman Nirmal Chandra Chaturvedi to initiate civic projects. 4. Under his leadership, Mohan Meakin introduced two popular liquor brands—Solan No. 1 and Golden Eagle—alongside Old Monk, solidifying the company's footprint in India's liquor market during the post-independence era. 5. 🏅 Ved Rattan Mohan received the Padma Shri in 1967 and the Padma Bhushan in 1971, rare civilian honors acknowledging his industrial and civic contributions before his untimely death at age 45 in 1973. 6. 🎉 Known for lavish parties mixing Bollywood stars and politicians, Ved Rattan Mohan was a flamboyant figure yet had little time to shape Mohan Meakin’s future before his sudden death curtailed his plans. 7. ❓ How did Ved Rattan Mohan’s brief but bold tenure transform Mohan Meakin’s identity from a colonial legacy company into a diversified Indian conglomerate with lasting cultural icons like Old Monk?

🏅 Awards & Honours

🔍 One thing most people don't know

Ved Rattan Mohan was a colonel before taking charge of Mohan Meakin and modeled Old Monk rum after Benedictine monks’ European distilling traditions in the 1950s.

📸 Through the Years

📷

No photos yet

Help preserve history — add a photo of this icon

🗓️ A Life in Moments

Career
Launch of Old Monk Rum
Ved Rattan Mohan introduced Old Monk, a vatted Indian dark rum aged 7 years, inspired by European Benedictine monks.
1954
Career
Company renamed Mohan Meakin
Dyer Meakin was renamed Mohan Meakin Breweries to remove colonial associations after Nehru refused to visit the Shimla brewery.
1966
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Shri
Ved Rattan Mohan was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contributions to industry.
1967
Career
Took over Mohan Meakin
Following the death of his father Narendra Nath Mohan, Ved Rattan Mohan became managing director of Mohan Meakin.
1969
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan
Ved Rattan Mohan was awarded the Padma Bhushan, recognizing his expanded industrial and civic contributions.
1971
🕊️
Death
Death at age 45
Ved Rattan Mohan died unexpectedly, ending a transformative but brief leadership of Mohan Meakin.
1973
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Despite his business success, Ved Rattan Mohan was also an elected politician, serving two terms as mayor of Lucknow and as a Rajya Sabha member, which is uncommon for industrialists of his time.

02 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

The company name changed from Dyer Meakin to Mohan Meakin in 1966 after political sensitivities around the colonial General Reginald Dyer's name led to Prime Minister Nehru refusing to visit the brewery in Shimla.

03 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Ved Rattan Mohan died in 1973 at the young age of 45, just four years after taking over Mohan Meakin, leaving the company in the hands of his brother Kapil Mohan.

No quote recorded for Ved Rattan Mohan yet.

🌱 What changed because of them

Ved Rattan Mohan transformed Mohan Meakin from a colonial-era brewery into a diversified Indian industrial powerhouse by expanding production facilities and launching iconic liquor brands like Old Monk and Solan No. 1. His leadership also bridged industry and politics, as he served as Lucknow’s mayor and a Rajya Sabha member, influencing civic projects and industrial policies. The diversification into food, beverages, and glass manufacturing under his tenure set the foundation for the company's modern expansion.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Ved Rattan Mohan?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Ved Rattan Mohan...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?