book review : business maharaja ( rahul bajaj )

Business Maharajas

The Inside Track on Some of India‘sMost Powerful Tycoons and the BusinessStrategies They Follow to Keep TheirCompanies at the Top.

-- Gita Piramal

About The Author

Gita Piramal : o A journalist specializing in business

history.o Wrote for leading Indian and

international publications - the Financial Times and the Economic Times.

o Consulting editor of the World Executive’s Digest.

o She coauthored India’s Industrialists and contributed to Business and politics in India: A Historical Perspective.

About The Book

Instead of concentrating on strategy and strategic decisions of those businessmen, Gita Piramal focused on :

the personal experiences, aims, and visions of these important industrialists.

how they think? how they conduct their businesses? how they arrive at complex

investment decisions involving billions of rupees?

In The Book

These seven of India’s most powerful men, are a study in contrasts.

Their businesses are distinct and varied. Some are highly educated; others are barely

educated at all. Some inherited their empires, others are

self-made. Yet what they do, what they think, and

how they react impacts the entire economy.

Rahul Kumar Bajaj

The Bajaj Family Tree

Childhood

Born on June 10, 1938 to kamalnayan and Savitri Bajaj.

His childhood was mostly in Mumbai, where the company was growing by leaps and bounds.

Completed his schooling at Cathedral and John Cannon School.

In 1956, Rahul finished his schooling and moved on to Delhi's St. Stephen College to graduate in Economics.

Further Studies

After his graduation, Rahul moved back to Mumbai to work in one of the companies owned by the family, Bajaj Electricals.

Worked there for two years while studying law at the same time at the Government Law.

He went away to Harvard in 1962 to study Business Management. He finished his MBA in 1964, and returned to India.

A Family of Patriots

He grew up in an environment when the Indian freedom struggle was at its fiery heights.

The Bajaj family was truly nationalistic. The Bajajs and Nehrus have been family friends for

over three generations. Rahul's father and uncle were involved in the

freedom struggle. Post independence, Rahul's father became a

Member of Parliament under the Congress government.

So the Bajajs' have always been close and supportive to political leaders of the country, to this date.

Tempo Tantrums

Deputy General Manager

Naval K. Firodia

Akurdi – The wall in the

middle

Piaggio – Agnellis of

Italy

The Foreign Collaboratio

ns

You Can`t Beat A Bajaj

The Government

Paranoia

Rahul Bajaj – The Managing

Director

The “License Raj”

Rajiv Gandhi steps in

The Competition

Political Vendetta

Politically Bajaj faced a lot of problems.

In 1976, Indra Gandhi ordered a three day raid on bajaj.

1100 income tax officers swooped on 114 Bajaj establishments across the country.

International Trade

As liberalization and Globalization came to India, all international auto companies came to India through Joint Ventures.

Almost every Indian company went into a JV with other companies but Bajaj was left out for years.

People thought he was against Foreigners.

But Later he proved them wrong.

Chetak

Competition

In 1986, Honda came to India by Joint Venture with the Firodias and the Munjals as Kinetic Honda and Hero Honda.

People preferred Kinetic scooters for design.

Bajaj had a market share of 76% that time, which gradually decreased.

Previous and New Logo of Bajaj

Humara Bajaj

Being Marwari, he has been 16 times in coverpage of Business magazines

October 1993 : Cover story business India “HAMARA BAJAJ”.

September 1994 : Death of Ramkrishna. Rahul becomes the head of Bajaj Auto.

1995 : 5 active members of Bajaj Auto with 20 companies and which employees 20000 people.

During that decade, sales grew from 519m to 18.5bn making 1852% growth rate.

HAMARA BAJAJ

Rahul bajaj is known for his virtues of hardwork.

Uday Kotak says difference between Bajaj and Ambani is that Bajaj is analytical whereas Ambani is risk taker.

Rahul has been able to take Bajaj Autos to 4th largest two wheeler manufacturer.

He believe in enjoying the work rather than taking vacations for relaxing.

Few Bajaj Companies

Bajaj Electricals

Life Insurance

Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto Rikshaw

Rahul and sons

And now.. He is a Member of parliament as well..

Thank You !!

Members of the Group▪ Ayush Parekh, 21▪ Juzer Rangwala, 9▪ Leanne Vas, 13▪ Chandan Singh, 19▪ Joyce George, 2