Everything about Bajaj Group: Company Profile of 95+ Years Legacy

India’s Conglomerate Bajaj Group of Companies: Full Business Profile

Jamnalal Bajaj founded the Bajaj Group in Mumbai in 1926. It is an Indian multinational conglomerate that consists of over 34 companies. Besides that, their flagship company Bajaj Auto Limited is the world’s fourth-largest two- and three-wheeler manufacturer. 95 years ago, this sprawling industrial giant started as a sugar-producing mill, and today Bajaj Group employs over 60,000 individuals and is worth roughly ₹ 3.8 trillion. Let’s take a glimpse at this empire and its journey.

Bajaj Group: Founder’s Biography: Jamnalal Bajaj

Founder Jamnalal Bajaj was a freedom fighter, philanthropist, industrialist, and political figure. He had immense faith in the Gandhian way of life and was a follower of ahimsa. At one point, he was the president of Gandhi Seva Sangha. Gandhi appreciated his dedication, and he considered Jamnalal Bajaj as his fifth son.

• In 1915, he adopted grandfather Bachhraj’s business empire and registered Bachhraj Factories Private Ltd. in the same year.
• In 1931 he founded a sugar factory in Lakhimpur Kher, Uttar Pradesh, and named it Hindusthan Sugar Mills Ltd. It was the first flagship company of the group and was renamed in 1988 as Bajaj Hindustan Limited.

Bajaj Group: Notable Successors from the Bajaj Family

• Kamalnayan Bajaj (1915-1972) He was the eldest son of Jamnalal Bajaj and took over the business after his father. He finished his higher education at the University of Cambridge, England.
• Ramakrishna Bajaj (1924-1994) He was the younger brother of Kamalnayan Bajaj & took over the group after the death of his elder brother. He was highly inclined towards social service and social development initiatives. In 1961, he was elected as the Chairman of the World Assembly for Youth.
• Rahul Bajaj (1938 – Present) Rahul Bajaj is the grandson of Jamnalal Bajaj & took over the C.E.O. position of Bajaj Auto in 1968 when he was just 30. As of 2021, he is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Bajaj Group.
• Rajiv Bajaj (1966 - Present) He is the son of Rahul Bajaj and the current Managing Director of Bajaj Auto.
• Shekhar Bajaj (1948-Present) He is the current Chairman of Bajaj Electricals. He, too, is Jamnalal Bajaj’s grandson.
• Anant Bajaj (1977-2018) He is the late son of Shekhar Bajaj & was the Managing Director of Bajaj Electricals at the time of his death. He passed away due to a sudden cardiac arrest.

Bajaj Group: Timeline

• 1931 – Hindustan Sugar Mills Limited is established.
• 1934 – The Hindustan Housing Co. Ltd. is established.
• 1939 – Jamnalal Bajaj acquires Mukund Iron & Steel Works, which was renamed as Mukund Ltd. in 1989.
• 1945 – Bajaj Trading Pvt. Ltd. is established.
• 1960 – Bajaj Trading Pvt. Ltd. is later renamed Bajaj Auto and becomes a limited public company
• 1960 – Bajaj Electricals is created and merged with Radio Lamp Works Ltd. (1938).
• 1977 – Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation is established.
• 2001 – Bajaj Allianz General Insurance is started.
• 2018 – Bajaj Group became the fourth largest group in India.

Bajaj Group: List of their Major Companies

• Bajaj Allianz Financial Distributors Ltd. – Deals in the distribution of financial products.
• Bajaj Auto Ltd. – Manufacturers of scooters, motorcycles and three-wheeler vehicles and spare parts
• Bajaj Consumer Care Ltd. (formerly Bajaj Corp) – Cosmetics
• Bajaj Electricals Ltd. - Manufacturers of electric appliances, high masts, lattice closed towers and poles.
• Bajaj Holdings & Investment Ltd. – It is an Investment company focusing on new business opportunities.
• Bajaj Ventures Ltd. – It is involved in manufacturing and trading power tools and manufacturing houseware and parts.

Bajaj Group: Competitors

1. Bajaj Auto: Main Competitors

For comparison: Bajaj Auto’s current revenue is $4.2 billion, and it employs 10,000 people.

2. Bajaj Allianz: Main Competitors

For comparison: Bajaj Allianz’s current revenue is $1.7 billion, and it currently employs 3,500 employees.

3. Bajaj Electricals: Main Competitors

For comparison: Bajaj Electricals’ current revenue is US$390 Million, and it currently employs 3007 employees.

Bajaj Group: Social Initiatives

Since the days of Jamnalal Bajaj, social responsibility has been one of the major focuses of the conglomerate. In fact, Jamnalal Bajaj himself had opened up their family temple and dug public wells for the cause of the “untouchables”. The spirit of social work has continued in the form of:

• In 1914, Shiksha Mandal Wardha was established by Jamnalal Bajaj to help educate the youth of the country.
• In 1965, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies was established with the help of a hefty donation by Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust. It was a collaborative effort between the University of Mumbai and the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. It was the first institute to offer a Masters Programme in Management Studies (M.M.S.) in India.
• In 1976, Kamalnayan Bajaj School was established in Chinchwad, Pune.
• In 1990, Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital was established in Aurangabad.
• In 1997, Janaki Devi Bajaj Institute of Management Studies was established in Mumbai.
• To help with Aids patient and the epidemic in general, The Bajaj-YCM Hospital A.R.T Center for H.I.V./Aids in Pimpri, Pune, was established. It was a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The Bajaj Group is a well-rounded conglomerate that has played a huge role in the Indian industrial culture. From being established to solidify the swadeshi movement to revolutionizing two-wheelers in the young republic, the Bajaj Group has seen India through some major milestones. Today, their success story is like a well-aged wine; insiders and well-wishers can sit back enjoy its depth and brilliance.