Chuni Lal Katial
Encyclopedia
Chuni Lal Katial was a South Asian doctor
and politician
, who became the first UK's
South Asian mayor
, after being elected mayor of Finsbury
in 1938. He was born in the Punjab Region
in 1898.
. During that time, Dr. Katial - an acquaintance of Mahatma Gandhi
- introduced Gandhi to Charlie Chaplin
, at his house in Canning Town on the 22nd September 1931.
In 1935, Dr. Katial came to prominence as Chairman of the Public Health Committee of Finsbury
Council, where he was responsible for pushing forward a programme for health and housing known as the Finsbury Plan - an ambitious plan to build a centralised facility that would incorporate a health centre, libraries, public baths and nurseries in the famously working class
council. In 1937, as part of this plan, Dr. Katial commissioned architect
Bertold Lubetkin to build the Finsbury Health Centre
. The Centre was renowned both for its architectural style and its new approach to centralised health - housing multiple free medical facilities under one roof, and predating the National Health Service
by over 10 years.
In 1938 to 1939, Dr. Katial was elected mayor of Finsbury Council. During the Second World War, he served as a First-Air Medical Officer. On 8 June 1948, he was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Finsbury.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who became the first UK's
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
South Asian mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, after being elected mayor of Finsbury
Finsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
in 1938. He was born in the Punjab Region
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
in 1898.
Career
Dr. Katial came to London in or around 1929, and started his career running a medical practice in Canning TownCanning Town
Canning Town is an area of east London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Newham and is situated in the area of the former London docks on the north side of the River Thames. It is the location of Rathbone Market...
. During that time, Dr. Katial - an acquaintance of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
- introduced Gandhi to Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, at his house in Canning Town on the 22nd September 1931.
In 1935, Dr. Katial came to prominence as Chairman of the Public Health Committee of Finsbury
Finsbury
Finsbury is a district of central London, England. It lies immediately north of the City of London and Clerkenwell, west of Shoreditch, and south of Islington and City Road. It is in the south of the London Borough of Islington. The Finsbury Estate is in the western part of the district...
Council, where he was responsible for pushing forward a programme for health and housing known as the Finsbury Plan - an ambitious plan to build a centralised facility that would incorporate a health centre, libraries, public baths and nurseries in the famously working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
council. In 1937, as part of this plan, Dr. Katial commissioned architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Bertold Lubetkin to build the Finsbury Health Centre
Finsbury Health Centre
The Finsbury Health Centre in the Finsbury area of London, England, built in 1935-38, was designed by Berthold Lubetkin and the Tecton architecture practice...
. The Centre was renowned both for its architectural style and its new approach to centralised health - housing multiple free medical facilities under one roof, and predating the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
by over 10 years.
In 1938 to 1939, Dr. Katial was elected mayor of Finsbury Council. During the Second World War, he served as a First-Air Medical Officer. On 8 June 1948, he was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Finsbury.