Government Leather Institute formerly known as Government Leather Working School was established at Kanpur Uttar Pradesh ( Erstwhile United Province) in October 1916 opposite to the famous "Lal Imli" Woolen mills on rented accommodation by the British Government due to the efforts of its first Head master Pandit Deena nath Razdan and started imparting training in December 1916 with a modest no of five students. During the tenure of Pandit Razdan itself the Gazetted post of Head master was upgraded to Principal, Late Pandit Razdan remained on the same till his retirement in 1932. Captain Laxmi Narayan Srivastava, who took over was a product of North hampton College of Technology (London) in Footwear and Leather Goods. He was also the States Official Leather Specialist. During world war II Shri. Laxminarayan Srivastava was deputed by the then Central Government to standardize the Leather and footwear goods procured for the Military. He was conferred with the Honorary rank of Captain for his services. In 1938 Shri. Kishan lal Muer joined the institute as Vice principal and was appointed the State's Technical Surveyor of Leather later in 1941 he took over the charge of Principal.