Rahul Bajaj (10 June 1938 – 12 February 2022) was an Indian industrialist who led Bajaj Auto for about fifty years and turned it into one of the world’s largest makers of two- and three-wheelers. Under him the Bajaj scooter, sold with the slogan “Hamara Bajaj”, became a symbol of the Indian middle class. Outspoken throughout his life, he was a member of the Rajya Sabha and received the Padma Bhushan in 2001.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Rahul Kumar Bajaj |
| Born | 10 June 1938, Calcutta (now Kolkata), India |
| Died | 12 February 2022, Pune, Maharashtra (aged 83) |
| Occupation | Industrialist |
| Known for | Chairman, Bajaj Group and Bajaj Auto |
| Education | Cathedral and John Connon School, Bombay; St. Stephen’s College, Delhi; Government Law College, Bombay; Harvard Business School (MBA, 1964) |
| Spouse | Rupa Bajaj (d. 2013) |
| Children | 3 (Rajiv, Sanjiv and Sunaina) |
| Honour | Padma Bhushan (2001) |
Early Life
Bajaj was the grandson of Jamnalal Bajaj, the businessman whom Mahatma Gandhi called his fifth son, and the son of Kamalnayan Bajaj. He was named Rahul by Jawaharlal Nehru. He studied economics at St. Stephen’s and law in Bombay, and trained in the family’s companies before going to Harvard.
Career
He became chief executive of Bajaj Auto in 1968 and moved to live beside the factory at Akurdi, near Pune. In the years of industrial licensing the government limited how many scooters the company could make, and buyers waited up to ten years for a Bajaj Chetak; delivery slips were traded at a premium. He fought for permission to expand and raised output many times over. The company’s turnover grew from a few crore rupees to thousands of crores.
In 1993 he was the best-known voice of the “Bombay Club”, a group of industrialists who asked for time and a level field before Indian companies faced foreign competition. As buyers switched from scooters to motorcycles, his son Rajiv led a change of direction with the Pulsar in 2001. The group, which includes Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv under his son Sanjiv, was reorganised in 2008.
He was president of the Confederation of Indian Industry twice, chairman of Indian Airlines and a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2010. He was known for criticising governments of every party; in 2019 he told a gathering of ministers that businessmen were afraid to speak freely.
Death
He stepped down as chairman of Bajaj Auto in April 2021 and died in Pune on 12 February 2022. He was cremated with state honours.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Rahul Bajaj born?
Rahul Bajaj was born on 10 June 1938 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India.
When did Rahul Bajaj die?
Died: 12 February 2022, Pune, Maharashtra (aged 83).
What is Rahul Bajaj known for?
Known for: Chairman, Bajaj Group and Bajaj Auto.
Featured image: Rahul Bajaj, chairman of Bajaj Auto, at the Horasis India Meeting, Cascais, Portugal, July 2016. Photo by Horasis, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
