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AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

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Published by Penguin Random House India

 * FIRESIDE CHAT WITH THE FAMILY
 * RAHUL BAJAJ - A LIFE IN PICTURES
 * THE AUTHOR - DR. GITA PIRAMAL
   
 * REMEMBERING RAHUL BAJAJ

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RAHUL BAJAJ


POWERHOUSE. VISIONARY. INSPIRATION.


#BEBOLD

1938 - 2022


AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

Biography of the Chairman Emeritus of Bajaj Group


BY DR. GITA PIRAMAL

Aparna Piramal Raje in conversation with


RAJIV BAJAJ, SANJIV BAJAJ & SUNAINA KEJRIWAL


A FIRESIDE CHAT ABOUT SHRI. RAHUL BAJAJ

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember and recount their
favourite memories

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3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE HIM

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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RESOLVING CONFLICT

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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WORKING WITH DAD

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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LIFE BEYOND WORK

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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TEXTBOOK LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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HIS SECRET TO SUCCESS

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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A MAN OF COURAGE

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember

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A FIRESIDE CHAT ABOUT SHRI. RAHUL BAJAJ

A fireside chat with the legend’s family as the remember


INTEGRITY. CHARACTER. COURAGE.

Rahul Bajaj exemplified true leadership – taught in business schools across the
world and yet, rare in practice. His story encompasses the intricate
relationship between business, government, and society – the tale of how one
man, through hard work and the conviction of his ethos, transformed a nation.


WELCOME TO A LIFE WELL-LIVED

Previous

With his parents, Savitri and Kamalnayan

From infancy, Rahul Bajaj was raised to believe in commitment to one's
convictions and duty to one's country. His mother was a freedom fighter who
spent 2 years of his early life in prison for fighting against imperialism.

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Graduating from St. Stephen's College

Rahul Bajaj earned degrees in economics and law from premier institutions in
India, before earning a degree in business from Harvard. An irrepressible leader
even in his school days, the foundations for his future success were laid here.

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His father and uncle with Jawaharlal Nehru in Wardha

India's first election was also his initiation to politics. The elections of '57
and '62 left their mark. In 2006, he followed in his father's steps as a member
of Parliament.

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Bhoomi pujan at the Bajaj Auto plant in Akurdi, 1961

1959 to 1962 was an exciting time. Just 22 years old, Rahul Bajaj was promoted
to the board of directors of Bacchraj Trading, soon to go public on the BSE as
Bajaj Auto. On 9th March, 1962, he saw the first scooter roll off the plant in
Akurdi.

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Rahul, Rupa, Rajiv, Sanjiv, and Sunaina

Rahul Bajaj and his family moved to Akurdi in 1964, in order to be near the
factory and its workers. Here, they lived close to their employees, and raised
their children with Gandhian values. Rupa made their bungalow a beloved home for
the family, and a pillar of strength for the community.

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With his father

In April 1968, a 33-year-old Rahul Bajaj was voted in as the de facto chairman
of Bajaj Auto. His first major battle was representing the company's interests
at the MRTP hearings. The hearing finally wound down in 1975, in favour of
Bajaj.

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As the chairman of Bajaj Auto

Rahul Bajaj reflects on the 1970s as having been the toughest decade of his
life. Apart from the economy being on a downturn and access to capital being
challenging, he lost his father to a sudden heart attack in 1972.

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Scooters rolling off the line at the Bajaj Auto plant in Akurdi

"A leader without a team can't do much, but howsoever good a team, if it doesn't
have a good leader, it won't have direction." - Rahul Bajaj on how he built
Bajaj Auto into one of the world’s largest scooter manufacturers.

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Bajaj makes the cover of Time Magazine, Indonesia

With Rahul Bajaj at the helm, the autorickshaw became globally ubiquitous. In
the Philippines and South Africa, it's called a tuktuk; in Indonesia, a bajay; a
chand gari in Pakistan, a posy in Madagascar, a raksha in Sudan and a bajaji in
Tanzania.

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Mobility for the Middle Class – the Chetak

With Piaggio's exit from India, Rahul Bajaj realised it was time for the Bajaj
scooter to have a new brand name instead of the Vespa. He chose Bajaj Chetak,
after Maharana Pratap's famous battle horse.

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With the Chetak reborn

The Chetak was a household staple through the 80s and 90s. Every Indian had a
memory with it - it was ‘Hamara Bajaj.’ But by around 2000, Japanese motorcycles
had nearly phased out scooters in India. However, Chetak came back with a bang
in 2021, as an Urbanite EV.

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Bajaj in America

Bajaj Auto hit the shores of America in the 80s, but they were up against
Piaggio, their former business partners. Wary of competition, Piaggio accused
Bajaj Auto of violating their old agreement and copying designs. Rahul Bajaj won
the ensuing legal battle, and in the end, Piaggio quit marketing scooters in
America.

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With Sharad Pawar

In the late 1980s, Rajiv Gandhi sought to reform India's aviation industry.
Ratan Tata and Rahul Bajaj were handed the reins of Air India and Indian
Airlines, respectively. However, the industry continued to stagnate and
ultimately, Bajaj resigned from Indian Airlines in 1989.

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With his sons, Sanjiv and Rajiv

The early 1990s opened with a recession that hit the entire automobile industry,
including Bajaj Auto. The time for technological innovation was right, and
together, Rahul Bajaj and his sons began investing in R&D. The result was the
Pulsar, which would go on to become an icon in the Indian two-wheeler market.

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With Sonia Gandhi

Rahul Bajaj was one of the early subscribers to the hire-purchase business model
that evolved in the 80s. Bajaj Auto Finance came into being in March 1987 and by
1993, had a portfolio of 89,000 customers with a total loan disbursal of Rs. 100
crore. Today, the company has morphed into the fintech giant Bajaj Finance.

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En famille

"It is his intense love for his family that no one talks about...just as devoted
to us as he was to his career." - Aryaman, his grandson, remembers him fondly as
a revered elder under whose aegis, the Bajaj family has flourished, without
deviating from the values that made them great.

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DR. GITA PIRAMAL


AUTHOR

Gita Piramal is one of India’s foremost business historians, researchers and
best-selling authors. Her previous books include Business Maharajas, Business
Legends, Managing Radical Change with Sumantra Ghoshal and Christopher Bartlett,
Kamalnayan Bajaj - Architect of the Bajaj Group, and The Quotable Tycoon with
David Olive.

Read More


REMEMBERING RAHUL BAJAJ

Previous

President of India

@rashtrapatibhvn · Feb 12

Saddened to learn of Shri Rahul Bajaj’s demise. A doyen of Indian industry, he
was passionate about its priorities. His career reflected the rise and innate
strength of the nation’s corporate sector. His death leaves a void in the world
of industry. My condolences to his family.

861

8K

Narendra Modi

@narendramodi · Feb 12

Shri Rahul Bajaj Ji will be remembered for his noteworthy contributions to the
world of ecommerce and industry. Beyond business, he was passionate about
community service and was a great conversationalist. Pained by his demise.
Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti.

6,317

48K

Vice President of India

VPSecretariat · Feb 12

Saddened by the demise of renowned industrialist and former Rajya Sabha MP, Shri
Rahul Bajaj. He will always be remembered for spearheading a revolution in the
automotive industry, rooted in the spirit of ‘Make in India'. My deepest
condolences to his family members. Om Shanti!

37

251

Uday Kotak

udaykotak · Feb 12

Rahul Bajaj: bold and fearless. A rare businessman who spoke truth to power. A
proud Indian. Built world class enterprise. I am truly honoured to know him.
Will miss him.

362

4,737

anand mahindra

anandmahindra · Feb 12

“I stand on the shoulders of giants.” Thank you, Rahulbhai, for letting me
clamber up onto your broad shoulders, advising me, cheering me on, encouraging
me to be bold. Your footprints on the sands of Indian Business will never be
extinguished.. Om Shanti

884

17.67K

Sharad Pawar

@PawarSpeaks · Feb 12

I am deeply shocked to learn about the sad demise of Padma Bhushan Shri Rahul
Bajaj! The grandson of eminent freedom fighter Jamnalal Bajaj brought
transformation in society especially in poor and middle-class people with his
two-wheel technology - a Bajaj Bike!

88

781

Rahul Gandhi

RahulGandhi · Feb 12

Rahul Bajaj’s passing is a big loss to India. We have lost a visionary whose
courage made us proud. My love and condolences to his family and loved ones.

7,295

35.2K

Ashok Gehlot

@ashokgehlot51 · Feb 12

My heartfelt condolences on demise of noted industrialist, former chairman of
Bajaj Group Padma Bhushan Sh. Rahul Bajaj. He made a rich contribution towards
the industrial growth of the country. May his family members find strength to
bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace.

466

1,962

SachinPilot

@SachinPilot · Feb 12

Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of automobile doyen Sh Rahul Bajaj Ji. He
will be remembered as a fearless & dynamic corporate leader who brought the
iconic two-wheeler to India. My condolences to the family & his loved ones.

677

4,351

Piyush Goyal

PiyushGoyal · Feb 12

उद्योगपति राहुल बजाज जी के निधन से अत्यंत दुख हुआ है, भारतीय उद्योग जगत में
उन्होंने एक अहम भूमिका निभायी। ईश्वर उनके परिजनों को यह अपार दुख सहन करने की
शक्ति दें, तथा दिवंगत आत्मा को मोक्ष प्रदान करें। ॐ शांतिः

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DR. GITA PIRAMAL


AUTHOR

A former journalist, Piramal has contributed over 1500 articles, for several
decades, to international and Indian publications such as the UK’s Financial
Times and the Economic Times. She has also conceptualized and created content
for three programs for CNBC-TV18, and scripted, edited, and featured in or
anchored over 100 television documentaries.

Piramal founded The Smart Manager, a pioneering management magazine, and has
served as a board member of some of India’s best-known companies, including the
Bajaj Group companies.

A senior associate fellow at Somerville College, University of Oxford, Piramal
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, a Master’s in history, and a Ph.D.
in business history, all from the University of Mumbai. In her spare time, she
enjoys reading, music, travel, Lego, and spending time with family, especially
her grandchildren.