Rai Bahadur Sir Sunder Lal CIE was born in Jaspur, near Nainital, on 21 May 1857.

In 1876, he joined Muir Central College at Allahabad then led by Augustus Harrison.

Exhibition, 1910–11; acting Judicial Commissioner for 5 months; Judge, High Court, N.W.P.. 1914; owner of the largest private library in the Province; prominently connected with the establishment of the University School of Law and the Hindu University, Benares; nominated as an Additional Member, Imperial Legislative Council, 1915: resigned his seat in the U.P.

In 1916, he was named the founding Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

The Sir Sunderlal Hospital of the Institute of Medical Sciences on the BHU campus is named in his honor.