Roys Of Light: The Brothers Who Pioneered India’s Swadeshi Lightbulb Industry
Founders of Bengal Lamps, India’s first indigenous lightbulb manufacturing company, the Roy brothers sparked a Swadeshi Industrial Revolution that democratised domestic lighting
At the dawn of the 20th century, as colonial India inched toward modernity, the flickering glow of electric lighting began replacing oil lamps and gaslights in select urban pockets. Electric light—once a symbol of colonial authority and luxury—was now slowly making its presence felt in public spaces, government buildings, and the homes of the elite. But beneath this technological glow lay an uncomfortable reality: almost every bulb lighting Indian homes and streets came from Europe.
It was in this context that three brothers from Bengal—Suren, Kiran, and Hemen Roy—set out to rewrite the rules. Founders of Bengal Lamps, India’s first indigenous lightbulb manufacturing company, the Roy brothers didn’t just manufacture electric bulbs. They sparked a Swadeshi industrial revolution—one that democratised electric lighting, challenged foreign monopolies, and laid the foundation for a self-reliant Indian electrical industry.
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Global Light, Colonial Shadows
Electric lighting was the culmination of nearly a century of experimentation. In 1802, English chemist Humphry Davy created the first electric arc lamp, but it was too bright and impractical for everyday use. In 1879, Thomas Edison, working in the United States, succeeded in creating a carbon filament bulb that could glow for over 1,000 hours, using carbonised bamboo filaments. Around the same time, Joseph Swan in the UK developed similar technology, and the two would eventually collaborate under Edison-Swan Electric Light Company.
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But real innovation arrived in the early 20th century. In 1894, British scientists Lord Rayleigh and Sir William Ramsay discovered argon, an inert gas that, when sealed inside bulbs, significantly slowed filament evaporation and extended bulb life. Then, in 1906, General Electric patented the use of tungsten filaments—far more durable and efficient than carbon. William Coolidge refined the tungsten production process in 1910, standardising the long-lasting filament design that would dominate incandescent technology for decades.
At the same time, Nikola Tesla’s promotion of alternating current (AC) made it feasible to transmit electricity over long distances, paving the way for broad electrification in cities and rural regions alike.
Imported Light: India’s Electric Dependency
In colonial India, electric light arrived with grandeur but remained confined to a few. Demonstrations in Calcutta (now Kolkata) began as early as 1879, led by P.W. Fleury & Co., followed by installations at the Garden Reach Cotton Mills in 1881. By 1889, Harrison Road became the first street in the city to be lit with electric lamps. Bombay (now Mumbai) soon followed, with Crawford Market illuminated in 1882.
Yet the glow of electric lighting didn’t reach most Indian homes. The Calcutta Electric Lighting Act of 1895 formalised licensing and supply, but public lighting was limited to just over five square miles. What little infrastructure existed was powered almost entirely by imported bulbs.
Indian markets were saturated with foreign goods, while local industrial growth was systematically stifled. It was against this backdrop of inequity and rising nationalist sentiment that the Roy brothers envisioned a truly Indian-made lightbulb.
During the early 1900s, companies like Tungsram of Hungary—an early leader in tungsten filament lamps—were prominent suppliers to India. From 1930 onwards, Philips Electric Company (India), headquartered on Chowringhee Road in Kolkata, quickly established a near-monopoly over the Indian electric bulb market, leveraging its global supply chain to flood the subcontinent with Dutch-made lighting products. India also imported bulbs from Germany and Italy, further deepening its dependence on foreign manufacturers.
These bulbs, however, were largely confined to European quarters, elite clubs, colonial offices, and affluent households. The majority of Indians relied on kerosene lanterns or gas lamps, which were dim, polluting, and unsafe. Electric lighting—symbolic of progress—was economically and socially out of reach for most.
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This imbalance mirrored broader colonial trade patterns. Indian markets were saturated with foreign goods, while local industrial growth was systematically stifled. It was against this backdrop of inequity and rising nationalist sentiment that the Roy brothers envisioned a truly Indian-made lightbulb.
Swadeshi Spark: Roys Of Light
The Swadeshi movement, which gained force after the 1905 partition of Bengal, promoted the rejection of foreign goods and the encouragement of Indian-made alternatives. For the Roy brothers—Suren and Kiran, both trained in electrical engineering in Germany and professors at Jadavpur University, and Hemen, an able administrator—this was not just a political cause, but a call to industrial action.
In 1932, they established Bengal Lamp and Electrical Works in Kasba, Kolkata, launching India’s first indigenous electric bulb manufacturing company. Their goal was audacious: to replace imported incandescent bulbs with locally made, affordable alternatives that could serve the needs of Indian households.
Lighting the Nation, One Bulb at a Time
Bengal Lamps began modestly, but with a clear vision. While imported bulbs often used harsh sodium mercury vapour lamps ill-suited to domestic use, the Roy brothers designed bulbs using tungsten filaments optimised for softer, warmer illumination—ideal for Indian homes. They sourced materials domestically whenever possible and assembled every component—from glass enclosures to metal caps—in-house.
Bengal Lamps’ bulbs were sold at half the cost of Philips’ imports, making them affordable to India’s emerging middle class and even to working-class families. Demand surged rapidly. By the 1940s, Bengal Lamps had captured a majority share of the eastern Indian market, prompting Philips to lower its prices.
Just as importantly, their pricing strategy was revolutionary. Bengal Lamps’ bulbs were sold at half the cost of Philips’ imports, making them affordable to India’s emerging middle class and even to working-class families. Demand surged so rapidly that a second facility was opened in Jadavpur, closer to their academic base.
By the 1940s, Bengal Lamps had captured a majority share of the eastern Indian market, prompting Philips to lower its prices in response. The Roys didn’t just create a product—they had created a movement.
Beyond Bengal
Bengal Lamps became more than a manufacturer. It emerged as a training ground for Indian industry, employing thousands of skilled and semi-skilled workers in glassblowing, metallurgy, and electrical assembly. Many of these workers would later go on to start their own ventures or join adjacent industries like telecommunications and electronics.
The company’s growth continued after independence. In the 1970s, Bengal Lamps expanded operations to Bengaluru, becoming a national brand. Distribution networks reached both urban and rural markets, and the brand became synonymous with Swadeshi resilience. Meanwhile, Kiran Roy launched a parallel venture—Kiran Lamps—extending the family’s influence even further in the electrical goods sector.
A Lightbulb For The People
Before Bengal Lamps, electric light was a status symbol. After Bengal Lamps, it became a basic utility. The company’s commitment to affordable pricing and local production helped extend electric lighting to schools, rural homes, markets, and small workshops. The ability to work or study after sunset was no longer the privilege of the elite—it became an everyday possibility.
Fading Glow
Despite its early success, Bengal Lamps faced major challenges by the 1980s. The lighting industry had moved toward fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)—technologies the company was slow to adopt. Competitors like Havells and Asian Electronics gained ground with newer, more energy-efficient products.
Adding to this were labour disputes, internal mismanagement, and financial difficulties. The company, once a Swadeshi trailblazer, found itself unable to compete in a rapidly modernising market. By 1989, Bengal Lamps ceased operations, and its factories were either sold or shuttered.
Yet, the story didn’t end there. In 2016, descendants of the Roy family launched Roy Electric in Asansol, a small-scale LED manufacturer that honours the original vision: quality, affordability, and Indian innovation.
Lighting the Way
The Roy brothers’ contribution to India’s electrification was far more than technological. It was visionary. They understood that the electric bulb was not just a product—it was a symbol of sovereignty, equality, and industrial capability.
At a time when India was denied ownership over its own modernity, they reclaimed it. They brought the glow of electric light to homes that had never known it—and in doing so, they lit the way for a more self-reliant nation.
Today, as India shifts toward smart grids, renewable energy, and energy-efficient LED lighting, the values the Roy brothers championed—accessibility, affordability, and local empowerment—are more relevant than ever.