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{{short description|Indian businessman, politician and philanthropist}}
{{Short description|Indian businessman and politician (1938-2022)}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name               = Rahul Bajaj
| name       = Rahul Bajaj
| image             = Rahulbajaj.jpg
| image       = Rahul Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Auto, India, co-chair of the Global India Business Meeting (14513204904) (cropped).jpg
| caption           =  
| caption     = Bajaj in 2014
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1938|06|10|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1938|06|10|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]<br>(now [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], India)
| birth_place = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| alma_mater         = {{Unbulleted_list|[[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]]<br>{{small|(BA)}}|[[Government Law College, Mumbai]]<br>{{small|(LLB)}}|[[Harvard Business School]]<br>{{small|(MBA)}}}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2022|2|12|1938|6|10|df=y}}
| occupation         = Chairman emeritus, [[Bajaj Group]]
| death_place = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| net_worth         = [[US$]]7 billion (July 2021)<ref name="Forbes profile">{{cite web |title=Forbes profile: Rahul Bajaj |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rahul-bajaj/ |website=Forbes |access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref>
| alma_mater = {{Unbulleted_list|[[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]]<br/>{{small|(BA)}}<br/>[[Government Law College, Mumbai]]<br/>{{small|(LLB)}}|[[Harvard Business School]]<br/>{{small|(MBA)}}}}
| party             = [[Indian National Congress]]
| occupation = CEO emeritus, [[Bajaj Group]]
| spouse             = Rupa Bajaj (1961–2013)
| net_worth   = [[US$]]25 billion (July 2021)<ref name="Forbes profile">{{cite web |title=Forbes profile: Rahul Bajaj |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rahul-bajaj/ |website=Forbes |access-date=1 July 2021}}</ref>
| children           = 3, including [[Rajiv Bajaj]]
| party       = [[Indian National Congress]]
| father             = [[Kamalnayan Bajaj]]
| spouse     = {{marriage|Rupa Bajaj|1961|2013|end={{abbr|died}}}}
| relatives         = [[Jamnalal Bajaj]] (grandfather)<br/> [[Tarang Jain]] (nephew) <br/> [[Anurang Jain]] (nephew)
| children   = 3; including [[Rajiv Bajaj|Rajiv]] and [[Sanjiv Bajaj|Sanjiv]]
| awards             = [[Padma Bhushan]]  
| father     = [[Kamalnayan Bajaj]]
| website           =  
| relatives   = {{ubl|[[Jamnalal Bajaj]] (grandfather)|[[Tarang Jain]] <br/>(nephew)}}
| awards     = [[Padma Bhushan]]
| website     =  
}}
}}


'''Rahul Bajaj''' (born 10 June 1938) is an Indian [[billionaire]] businessman.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Who Is Rahul Bajaj|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/about/who-is-rahul-bajaj|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> He is the chairman emeritus<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rahul Bajaj|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rahul-bajaj/|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> of the Indian conglomerate [[Bajaj Group]] and a member of parliament. Bajaj comes from the business house started by [[Jamnalal Bajaj]]. He was awarded the third-highest civilian award [[Padma Bhushan]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/03/22/stories/14221861.htm# |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706235349/http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/03/22/stories/14221861.htm# |archive-date=6 July 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
'''Rahul Bajaj''' (10 June 1938 – 12 February 2022) was an Indian [[billionaire]] businessman.<ref>{{cite news|title=Who Is Rahul Bajaj|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/about/who-is-rahul-bajaj|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> He was the chairman emeritus of the Indian conglomerate [[Bajaj Group]].<ref name="Forbes profile" /> He was awarded the third-highest civilian award in [[India]], the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 2001.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=22 March 2001|title=Rahul Bajaj conferred Padma Bhushan|url=http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/03/22/stories/14221861.htm#|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706235349/http://www.hindu.com/businessline/2001/03/22/stories/14221861.htm#|archive-date=6 July 2013|access-date=25 December 2012|publisher=[[The Hindu Business Line]]}}</ref>
In a recent interview for the Creating Emerging Markets project at the [[Harvard Business School]], Bajaj provides a devastating critique of Indian industrial policies before the liberalisation in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hbs.edu/businesshistory/emerging-markets/pages/profile-detail.aspx?profile=rbajaj |title=Interview with Rahul Bajaj |website=Creating Emerging Markets |publisher=Harvard Business School}}</ref> In 2008, he split Bajaj Auto into three units - [[Bajaj Auto]], finance company [[Bajaj Finserv]] and a holding company. His sons [[Rajiv Bajaj]] and [[Sanjiv Bajaj]] are now managing the day to day affairs of the company.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Master |first1=Ammar |last2=Staney |first2=Nesil |title=Restructuring over, two Bajaj companies to be listed today |url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/TAw6n7iFiHEGTRRtxLQ3II/Restructuring-over-two-Bajaj-companies-to-be-listed-today.html |access-date=2 April 2020 |work=Livemint |date=26 May 2008 |language=en}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
He was born on 10 June 1938 in a Agrawal family and is the grandson of Indian independence fighter, [[Jamnalal Bajaj]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://successstory.com/people/rahul-bajaj|title=Rahul Bajaj Story - Bio, Facts, Home, Family, Net Worth - Famous Chairmans- SuccessStory|website=successstory.com|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="MarwariHeritage">{{cite book |last1=Taknet |first1=D. K. |title=The Marwari Heritage |date=2016 |publisher=IntegralDMS |isbn=9781942322061 |page=254 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXS2DAAAQBAJ&q=singhvi%2C+birla%2C+bajaj&pg=PA254 |access-date=12 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Bajaj is an alumnus of [[Harvard Business School]] in the US, [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]], [[Government Law College, Mumbai]] and [[Cathedral and John Connon School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alumni Achievement Awards – Rahul Bajaj, MBA 1964|url=http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/awards/2005/bajaj.html |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113113612/http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/awards/2005/bajaj.html |archive-date=13 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Iram |title=Birthday Special : The motivational businessman, Rahul Bajaj |url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/birthday-special--the-motivational-businessman-rahul-bajaj-sc18-nu-47495-1.html |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=News Track |date=10 June 2018 |language=English}}</ref>
Bajaj was born on 10 June 1938, to [[Kamalnayan Bajaj]] and Savitri Bajaj.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Upadhye|first=Swati|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldtnCgAAQBAJ&q=rahul+bajaj|title=Rahul Bajaj: Great Personalities Of India|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd|year=2017|isbn=978-81-288-2247-6|language=en}}</ref> He was the grandson of Indian independence fighter, [[Jamnalal Bajaj]], who was a close associate of [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://successstory.com/people/rahul-bajaj|title=Rahul Bajaj Story - Chairman Of Bajaj Group|website=successstory.com|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="MarwariHeritage">{{cite book |last1=Taknet |first1=D. K. |title=The Marwari Heritage |date=2016 |publisher=IntegralDMS |isbn=978-1-942322-06-1 |page=254 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXS2DAAAQBAJ&q=singhvi%2C+birla%2C+bajaj&pg=PA254 |access-date=12 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Bajaj was an alumnus of [[Harvard Business School]] in the US, [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]], [[Government Law College, Mumbai]] and [[Cathedral and John Connon School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Alumni Achievement Awards – Rahul Bajaj, MBA 1964|url=http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/awards/2005/bajaj.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113113612/http://www.alumni.hbs.edu/awards/2005/bajaj.html|archive-date=13 November 2012|access-date=25 December 2012|website=Harvard Business School}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Iram |title=Birthday Special : The motivational businessman, Rahul Bajaj |url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/birthday-special--the-motivational-businessman-rahul-bajaj-sc18-nu-47495-1.html |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=News Track |date=10 June 2018 |language=English}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
[[File:Rahul Bajaj Horasis (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Bajaj speaking at the 2016 [[Horasis Global Meeting]].]]
[[File:Rahul Bajaj Horasis (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Bajaj speaking at the 2016 [[Horasis Global Meeting]].]]
He took over the Bajaj Group in 1965.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/rahul-bajaj-bajaj-group/298653|title=Rahul Bajaj, Bajaj Group|date=24 March 2017|work=Outlook India|last=Natay|first=Lola|access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref> In 2005, Rahul Bajaj stepped down from his role and his son [[Rajiv Bajaj|Rajiv]] became the Group's managing director.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/learning-from-emerging-markets-an-interview-with-bajaj-autos-rajiv-bajaj|title=Learning from emerging markets: An interview with Bajaj Auto's Rajiv Bajaj|website=McKinsey & Company|language=en|access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref> Bajaj got elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]], India's Upper House of Parliament in the 2006-2010 period.<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Rahul Bajaj resigns as Bajaj Finserv Chairman |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/rahul-bajaj-resigns-as-bajaj-finserv-chairman/articleshow/68395530.cms |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=The Economic Times |date=13 March 2019}}</ref> On the ''[[Forbes]]'' 2016 list of the world's billionaires, he was ranked No. 722 with a net worth of [[United States dollar|US$]]2.4 billion.<ref name="Forbes 2016 The World's Billionaires">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rahul-bajaj/?list=billionaires |title=The World's Billionaires (2016 ranking): #722 Rahul Bajaj |date=1 March 2016 |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=3 January 2017}}</ref>


Rahul Bajaj was elected as the president of the [[Confederation of Indian Industry]] (CII) twice in 1979-80 and 1999-2000. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cii.in/CII_Past_presidents.aspx |title=CII Past Presidents |access-date=23 October 2020}}</ref> For his outstanding work to the Indian industry, the then President of India, [[Pranab Mukherjee]] presented him CII President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017. <ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uniindia.com/news/india/rahul-bajaj-bagged-cii-president-s-award-for-lifetime-achievement/853808.html|title=Rahul Bajaj bagged CII President's Award for Lifetime Achievement|work=United News of India|access-date=23 October 2020}}</ref>
Bajaj took over the [[Bajaj Group]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/rahul-bajaj-bajaj-group/298653|title=Rahul Bajaj, Bajaj Group|date=24 March 2017|work=Outlook India|last=Natay|first=Lola|access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref> In a career spanning over five decades, he led the turnover of the group's flagship company, [[Bajaj Auto]], from {{Indian Rupee|7.5 crore}} to {{Indian Rupee|12,000 crore}}, with the company's scooter [[Bajaj Chetak]] being the main growth driver.<ref name=":1" />


In April 2021, Bajaj stepped down as non-executive chairman of Bajaj Auto, ceding the position to his cousin, Niraj Bajaj. He remains with the company as chairman emeritus.<ref name="Forbes profile" />
Bajaj stepped down from his role in 2005 and his son [[Rajiv Bajaj|Rajiv]] became the Group's managing director.<ref>{{cite web|last=Narasimhan|first=Laxman|date=1 September 2010|title=Learning from emerging markets: An interview with Bajaj Auto's Rajiv Bajaj|url=https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/learning-from-emerging-markets-an-interview-with-bajaj-autos-rajiv-bajaj|access-date=6 July 2018|website=McKinsey & Company|language=en}}</ref> Bajaj led the split Bajaj Auto into three units in 2008: [[Bajaj Auto]], [[Bajaj Finserv]] and a holding company.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Master|first1=Ammar|last2=Staney|first2=Nesil|date=26 May 2008|title=Restructuring over, two Bajaj companies to be listed today|language=en|work=Livemint|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/TAw6n7iFiHEGTRRtxLQ3II/Restructuring-over-two-Bajaj-companies-to-be-listed-today.html|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> He resigned as chairman and non-executive director of Bajaj Finserv to become chairman emeritus in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Rahul Bajaj resigns as Bajaj Finserv Chairman |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/rahul-bajaj-resigns-as-bajaj-finserv-chairman/articleshow/68395530.cms |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=The Economic Times |date=13 March 2019}}</ref> In April 2021, Bajaj stepped down as non-executive chairman of Bajaj Auto, ceding the position to his cousin, Niraj Bajaj, and remained with the company as chairman emeritus.<ref name="Forbes profile" />


==Personal life==
Bajaj was elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]], India's Upper House of Parliament, filling the seat vacated by the death of [[Pramod Mahajan]] for the 2006–2010 period.<ref>{{cite news|date=15 June 2006|title=Rahul Bajaj elected to Rajya Sabha|language=en|work=The Times of India|agency=PTI|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rahul-bajaj-elected-to-rajya-sabha/articleshow/1651638.cms|access-date=12 February 2022}}</ref>
His sons [[Rajiv Bajaj]] and [[Sanjiv Bajaj]] are involved in the management of his companies. His daughter Sunaina is married to Manish Kejriwal, the former head of Temasek India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.india-today.com/btoday/20060326/cover2.html |title=Billion Dollar Dealer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013132725/http://www.india-today.com/btoday/20060326/cover2.html|archive-date=13 October 2008|work=Business Today|access-date=7 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lunchbs-manish-kejriwal/02/26/339751/|title=LUNCH WITH BS: Manish Kejriwal|date=11 November 2008|publisher=Business-standard.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010192226/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lunchbs-manish-kejriwal/02/26/339751/|archive-date=10 October 2012|access-date=28 January 2011}}</ref>
 
Bajaj was elected as the president of the [[Confederation of Indian Industry]] (CII) twice, in 1979–1980 and 1999–2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cii.in/CII_Past_presidents.aspx |title=CII Past Presidents |access-date=23 October 2020}}</ref> For his outstanding work to the Indian industry, the then President of India, [[Pranab Mukherjee]], presented him with CII President's Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 April 2017|title=Rahul Bajaj bagged CII President's Award for Lifetime Achievement|work=United News of India|url=http://www.uniindia.com/news/india/rahul-bajaj-bagged-cii-president-s-award-for-lifetime-achievement/853808.html|access-date=23 October 2020}}</ref>
 
Some of the other positions that Bajaj held included chairman of [[Indian Airlines]], chairman of the International Business Council at the [[World Economic Forum]], chairman of the board at [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]], member of the International Advisory Council at the [[Brookings Institution]], and a member of the South Asia advisory board at [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Bose|first=Mrityunjay|date=12 February 2022|title=Former Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj passes away at 83|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/former-bajaj-auto-chairman-rahul-bajaj-passes-away-at-83-1080772.html|access-date=12 February 2022|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>
 
Bajaj received the [[Padma Bhushan]], India's third highest civilian honor, in 2001.<ref name=":0" />
 
On the ''[[Forbes]],'' 2016 list of the world's billionaires, he was ranked No. 722, with a net worth of [[United States dollar|US$]]2.4 billion.<ref name="Forbes profile" />
 
==Personal life and death==
His sons [[Rajiv Bajaj]] and [[Sanjiv Bajaj]] are involved in the management of his companies. His daughter Sunaina is married to Manish Kejriwal, the former head of Temasek India.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adhikari|first=Anand|date=26 March 2006|title=Billion Dollar Dealer|work=Business Today|url=http://www.india-today.com/btoday/20060326/cover2.html|access-date=7 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013132725/http://www.india-today.com/btoday/20060326/cover2.html|archive-date=13 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Subramanian|first=Shobhana|date=11 November 2008|title=Lunch with BS: Manish Kejriwal|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lunchbs-manish-kejriwal/02/26/339751/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010192226/http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/lunchbs-manish-kejriwal/02/26/339751/|archive-date=10 October 2012|access-date=28 January 2011|publisher=Business Standard}}</ref>
 
Bajaj died from [[pneumonia]] on 12 February 2022, at the age of 83. He was earlier admitted to the Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. He also suffered from cancer and heart problem prior to his death.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 February 2022|title=Rahul Bajaj, former chairman of Bajaj Auto, passes away at 83|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/rahul-bajaj-former-chairman-bajaj-auto-dies-7769211/|access-date=12 February 2022|work=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Industrialist Rahul Bajaj, Former Chairman Of Bajaj Group, Dies At 83|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rahul-bajaj-former-chairman-of-bajaj-group-dies-at-83-2764664|access-date=12 February 2022|work=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bajaj Group Chairman Emeritus Rahul Bajaj Passes Away At 83 After Prolonged Illness |url=https://news.abplive.com/business/rahul-bajaj-passes-away-one-of-india-tallest-business-leaders-chairperson-bajaj-group-1512529 |access-date=22 February 2022 |work=ABP |date=12 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
== Further reading ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Cite book|last=Piramal|first=Gita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJv0AwAAQBAJ|title=Business Maharajas|date=14 October 2000|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5118-739-4|language=en}}
* [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/does-sonia-pay-my-salary-bajaj/13294-3-single.html Interview] with [[Karan Thapar]] for [[CNN IBN]]
* {{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uf2dCAAAQBAJ|title=The Portfolio Book of Great Indian Business Stories: Riveting Tales of Famous Business Leaders and Their Times|date=15 May 2015|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-93-5214-021-3|language=en}}
* [http://aftom.blogspot.com/2009/02/lufthansa-cnbc-tv18-all-for-this-one.html Lufthansa CNBC TV18 All for this one moment] – Interview Rahul Bajaj
 
== External links ==
* {{commons category inline}}


{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09|state=collapsed}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09|state=collapsed}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajaj, Rahul}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajaj, Rahul}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Bajaj Auto executives]]
[[Category:Bajaj family|Rahul]]
[[Category:Bajaj Group]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Cathedral and John Connon School alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in India]]
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Marwari people]]
[[Category:Marwari people]]
[[Category:Harvard Business School alumni]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Bajaj Auto executives]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Bajaj Group]]
[[Category:Cathedral and John Connon School alumni]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Bajaj family|Rahul]]
{{India-business-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:02, 15 June 2022


Rahul Bajaj
Bajaj in 2014
Born(1938-06-10)10 June 1938
Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died12 February 2022(2022-02-12) (aged 83)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Alma mater
OccupationCEO emeritus, Bajaj Group
Net worthUS$25 billion (July 2021)[1]
Political partyIndian National Congress
Spouse(s)
Rupa Bajaj
​
(
m. 1961;
died 
2013)
Children3; including Rajiv and Sanjiv
Parent(s)
Relatives
AwardsPadma Bhushan

Rahul Bajaj (10 June 1938 – 12 February 2022) was an Indian billionaire businessman.[2] He was the chairman emeritus of the Indian conglomerate Bajaj Group.[1] He was awarded the third-highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan, in 2001.[3]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Bajaj was born on 10 June 1938, to Kamalnayan Bajaj and Savitri Bajaj.[4] He was the grandson of Indian independence fighter, Jamnalal Bajaj, who was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.[5][6] Bajaj was an alumnus of Harvard Business School in the US, St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Government Law College, Mumbai and Cathedral and John Connon School.[7][8]

Career[edit | edit source]

Bajaj speaking at the 2016 Horasis Global Meeting.

Bajaj took over the Bajaj Group in 1965.[9] In a career spanning over five decades, he led the turnover of the group's flagship company, Bajaj Auto, from ₹7.5 crore to ₹12,000 crore, with the company's scooter Bajaj Chetak being the main growth driver.[10]

Bajaj stepped down from his role in 2005 and his son Rajiv became the Group's managing director.[11] Bajaj led the split Bajaj Auto into three units in 2008: Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Finserv and a holding company.[12] He resigned as chairman and non-executive director of Bajaj Finserv to become chairman emeritus in March 2019.[13] In April 2021, Bajaj stepped down as non-executive chairman of Bajaj Auto, ceding the position to his cousin, Niraj Bajaj, and remained with the company as chairman emeritus.[1]

Bajaj was elected to the Rajya Sabha, India's Upper House of Parliament, filling the seat vacated by the death of Pramod Mahajan for the 2006–2010 period.[14]

Bajaj was elected as the president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) twice, in 1979–1980 and 1999–2000.[15] For his outstanding work to the Indian industry, the then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, presented him with CII President's Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017.[16]

Some of the other positions that Bajaj held included chairman of Indian Airlines, chairman of the International Business Council at the World Economic Forum, chairman of the board at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, member of the International Advisory Council at the Brookings Institution, and a member of the South Asia advisory board at Harvard Business School.[10]

Bajaj received the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honor, in 2001.[3]

On the Forbes, 2016 list of the world's billionaires, he was ranked No. 722, with a net worth of US$2.4 billion.[1]

Personal life and death[edit | edit source]

His sons Rajiv Bajaj and Sanjiv Bajaj are involved in the management of his companies. His daughter Sunaina is married to Manish Kejriwal, the former head of Temasek India.[17][18]

Bajaj died from pneumonia on 12 February 2022, at the age of 83. He was earlier admitted to the Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune, and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. He also suffered from cancer and heart problem prior to his death.[19][20][21]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Forbes profile: Rahul Bajaj". Forbes. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Who Is Rahul Bajaj". Business Standard. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Rahul Bajaj conferred Padma Bhushan". The Hindu Business Line. 22 March 2001. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  4. ↑ Upadhye, Swati (2017). Rahul Bajaj: Great Personalities Of India. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-81-288-2247-6.
  5. ↑ "Rahul Bajaj Story - Chairman Of Bajaj Group". successstory.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Taknet, D. K. (2016). The Marwari Heritage. IntegralDMS. p. 254. ISBN 978-1-942322-06-1. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Alumni Achievement Awards – Rahul Bajaj, MBA 1964". Harvard Business School. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Khan, Iram (10 June 2018). "Birthday Special : The motivational businessman, Rahul Bajaj". News Track. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  9. ↑ Natay, Lola (24 March 2017). "Rahul Bajaj, Bajaj Group". Outlook India. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Bose, Mrityunjay (12 February 2022). "Former Bajaj Auto chairman Rahul Bajaj passes away at 83". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ↑ Narasimhan, Laxman (1 September 2010). "Learning from emerging markets: An interview with Bajaj Auto's Rajiv Bajaj". McKinsey & Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  12. ↑ Master, Ammar; Staney, Nesil (26 May 2008). "Restructuring over, two Bajaj companies to be listed today". Livemint. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  13. ↑ PTI (13 March 2019). "Rahul Bajaj resigns as Bajaj Finserv Chairman". The Economic Times. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Rahul Bajaj elected to Rajya Sabha". The Times of India. PTI. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "CII Past Presidents". Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ↑ "Rahul Bajaj bagged CII President's Award for Lifetime Achievement". United News of India. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Adhikari, Anand (26 March 2006). "Billion Dollar Dealer". Business Today. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  18. ↑ Subramanian, Shobhana (11 November 2008). "Lunch with BS: Manish Kejriwal". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  19. ↑ "Rahul Bajaj, former chairman of Bajaj Auto, passes away at 83". The Indian Express. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  20. ↑ "Industrialist Rahul Bajaj, Former Chairman Of Bajaj Group, Dies At 83". NDTV. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "Bajaj Group Chairman Emeritus Rahul Bajaj Passes Away At 83 After Prolonged Illness". ABP. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.

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