Rahul Bajaj (Rajasthani: राहुल बजाज; born 10 June 1938) is an Indian businessman, politician and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Indian conglomerate Bajaj Group and member of parliament. Bajaj comes from the business house started by a Rajasthani Marwadi businessman Jamnalal Bajaj. The US$ 1.32 Billion Bajaj Auto is his flagship company. He was awarded the third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2001.
His net worth is estimated to be at US$1.6 billion. He is currently listed 18th on the Forbes list of richest people in India.
Early Life
Rahul Bajaj is an alumnus of Harvard Business School in USA, St. Stephen's College, Delhi, Government Law College, Mumbai and Cathedral and John Connon School.
He took over the reins of Bajaj Group in 1965. Under his stewardship, the turnover of the Bajaj Auto the flagship company has risen from Rs.72 million to Rs.46.16 billion. Rahul Bajaj created one of India's best companies in the difficult days of the licence-permit raj. He established factories at Akurdi and Waluj. In 1980s Bajaj Auto was top scooter producer in India and its Chetak brand had a 10-year waiting period.
Personal life
His sons Rajiv Bajaj and Sanjiv Bajaj are involved in the management of his companies. His daughter Sunaina Kejriwal is married to Manish Kejriwal who heads Temasek India.
Rahul Bajaj is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Bajaj group, which has been named amongst India's top ten business groups. He is one of India's renowned industrialists and is internationally respected for his business expertise and entrepreneurial character.
Rahul Bajaj comes from the family of Jamna Lal Bajaj. Rahul is the grandson of Jamna Lal Bajaj, who founded the Bajaj Group. Shishir Bajaj is the brother of Rahul Bajaj. Rahul Bajaj has two sons, Rajiv Bajaj and Sanjiv Bajaj, and daughter Sunaina Kejriwal. His sons Rajiv and Sanjiv Bajaj manage his companies. Rahul Bajaj completed his schooling from Cathedral, a school in Bombay. Then he further pursed his studies from St Stephen's College, Delhi and Harvard University, USA.
He took over control of the Bajaj Group in 1965 and successfully established one of India's best companies. He established factories at Akurdi and Waluj. In 1980s Bajaj Auto was India's topmost scooter making company. After ten years of Bajaj Auto's success Chetak was launched. Bajaj Auto had to face many challenges with the liberalization of the Indian economy.
The slump in the sale of scooters and the downfall of the stock market of 2001 hit the company hard. It was forecast by some business analysts that Bajaj industries would have to shut down soon. But without losing hope Rahul Bajaj with his business expertise re-established the battered company. He established another factory in Chakan, invested in R&D and came up with Bajaj Pulsar Motorcycle. Bajaj Pulsar is presently a leader in its sector.
In June 2006, Rahul Bajaj was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra.
From : www.wikipedia.org
