What is the Grand Lodge of India?
The Grand Lodge of India (GLI) was consecrated on 24th November 1961 at Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi. This event followed intense discussions between representatives of Indian Freemasons and the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland, which agreed to establish a sovereign Grand Lodge for India. A special ballot was conducted among the functioning Lodges in India, resulting in 145 Lodges voting to become Foundation Lodges of the GLI.
The first Grand Master of the GLI was MW Bro. Major-General His Highness Ali Jah, Nawab Sayyid Sir Muhammad Raza Ali Khan Bahadur, who oversaw the initial membership of 7466 members across these lodges. Since then, the GLI has expanded to include approximately 445 Lodges with a membership of around 20,000 today.
For further details, refer to the paper titled Origins of Masonry in India by RW Bro Bharat V. Epur.