Jamnalal Bajaj

Jamnalal Bajaj (4 November 1884 – 11 February 1942) was an Indian industrialist, a philanthropist, and Indian independence fighter. He was also a close associate and follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi is known to have adopted him as his son. Several institutions in India bears his name, including the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. He founded the Bajaj group of companies in the 30s. The group now has 24 companies, including 6 listed companies. Besides Bajaj Auto Ltd, the other major companies in the group include Mukand Ltd, Bajaj Electricals Ltd and Bajaj Hindustan Ltd. One of his grandsons, Rahul Bajaj, runs the family flagship company, Bajaj Auto. A locality, JB Nagar,in the sub-urban Andheri in Mumbai has been named after him.

Early years

Jamnalal Bajaj was born into a poor family, the third son of Kaniram and Birdibai, in a village named Kashi Ka Bas, near Sikar. He was later adopted as a grandson by Seth Bachhraj and his wife Sadibai Bachhraj, a rich Rajasthani merchant couple of Wardha. Seth Bachhraj was a distant relative on his father's side and was a well-known and respected trader in the British Raj.

Upon coming of age, under the guidance of Seth Bachhraj, Jamnalal got involved in the family business of his grandfather. During this period he acquired the knowhow of being a tradesman—keeping strict accounts and buying and selling commodities—excelling in his work by the time Seth Bachhraj died. In 1926 he founded what would become the Bajaj...
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