Pune: Rahul Bajaj, veteran industrialist and former Chairman of Bajaj Auto, passed away here on Saturday. He was 83. Bajaj was one of India’s foremost business leaders.
"Rahul Bajaj died today at 2.30 pm. He died due to heart and lungs problems. He was admitted for past one month in Ruby hall hospital in Pune," Dr Parvej Grant, chairman of Ruby Hall hospital, said.
"It is with deep sorrow that I inform you about the passing away of Shri Rahul Bajaj, husband of the late Rupa Bajaj and father of Rajiv/Deepa, Sanjiv/Shefali and Sunaina/Manish. He passed away on the afternoon of 12th February, 2022 in the presence of his closest family members," Bajaj Group said in a statement.
His last rites will be held on Sunday. Bajaj's funeral will be accorded full state honours, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray announced soon after. Bajaj is survived by two sons, Rajiv Bajaj and Sanjiv Bajaj, and a daughter Sunaina Kejriwal. He resigned from his position of non-executive director and chairman at Bajaj Auto on April 30 last year.
Born in 1938 in Kolkata, Bajaj had a Bachelors degree from the University of Delhi (1958) and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1964. He took over as Chief Executive Officer of Bajaj Auto in 1968 and was appointed as Managing Director of the company in 1972. He stepped down from that position in 2005. Bajaj was a former member of the Rajya Sabha. Besides, he had been the chairman of the International Business Council, World Economic Forum.
Rahul Bajaj was instrumental in making Bajaj grow in the automotive industry. In 2001, Bajaj was awarded the Padma Bhushan. With him at the helm, Bajaj Auto became a household name across India in the next few decades especially its scooters and the tagline 'Hamara Bajaj'.
Rahul Bajaj stepped down as non-executive chairman of Bajaj Auto in April 2021, ceding the position to his cousin Niraj Bajaj. He had stepped down from the executive role of Bajaj Group companies before his election to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, 2006. He served as a member of Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2010.
Rahul Bajaj's younger son Sanjiv Bajaj has taken over as chairman of both the group's finance companies - Bajaj Finance and Bajaj Finserv. His elder son Rajiv Bajaj is Managing Director of Bajaj Auto.
Bajaj also served as president or chairman of several industry bodies. He served as president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) twice - from 1979 to 1980 and again from 1999 to 2000. He served as Chairman of the erstwhile Indian Airlines from 1986 to 1989. He also served as president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
"Rahul Bajaj strode across the Indian industrial landscape like a colossus. He was among the few stars who created the Indian automotive industry. He was a pioneer who established a culture of quality and technology," said Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, TVS Motor.
Tributes pour in
Several noted personalities offered condolences on his death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was pained by Bjaj's demise. "Shri Rahul Bajaj Ji will be remembered for his noteworthy contributions to the world of commerce 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," Modi tweeted.
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Shri Rahul Bajaj Ji will be remembered for his noteworthy contributions to the world of commerce 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Shri Rahul Bajaj Ji will be remembered for his noteworthy contributions to the world of commerce 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2022Shri Rahul Bajaj Ji will be remembered for his noteworthy contributions to the world of commerce 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 12, 2022
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too offered condolence on his death. "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," his tweet read.
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Rahul Bajaj’s passing is a big loss to India. We have lost a visionary whose courage made us proud.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
My love and condolences to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/SnWJpYDV85
">Rahul Bajaj’s passing is a big loss to India. We have lost a visionary whose courage made us proud.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 12, 2022
My love and condolences to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/SnWJpYDV85Rahul Bajaj’s passing is a big loss to India. We have lost a visionary whose courage made us proud.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 12, 2022
My love and condolences to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/SnWJpYDV85
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra offered his tributes in a moving tweet: "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."
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“I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
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 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/TOemOPvsEL
">“I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 12, 2022
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 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/TOemOPvsEL“I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 12, 2022
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 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/TOemOPvsEL
Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted: "Industrialist Rahul Bajaj, Former Chairman Of Bajaj Group, Dies At 83 - I am devastated - he was a dear dear friend and will miss him dearly. The country has lost a great son & nation builder." TVS Motor Company Chairman Venu Srinivasan stated that Bajaj strode across the Indian industrial landscape like a colossus. "He was among the few stars who created the Indian automotive industry. He was a pioneer who established a culture of quality and technology. He stood for high integrity in business and stuck to his principles. Rahul played a key role in industry bodies around the world like World Economic Forum and CII and was very well respected. He will be sorely missed," he stated.
Expressing similar feelings, Raymond Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Hari Singhania stated that the passing away of Rahul Bajaj, the patriarch of the Bajaj Group, one of the largest diversified groups of India, is a terrible loss to the corporate world.
"The doyen of the Indian business world will be missed for his intellectual honesty and straightforwardness. His contribution to the auto industry and steering the group during the license raj days will always be remembered. In immeasurable manner he has contributed to the growth of Maharashtra and the country. On behalf of the Raymond Group I offer my sincere condolences to the Bajaj family," he said in a statement.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, "My heartfelt tributes to Rahul Bajaj ji, a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist and former chairman of Bajaj. I had a personal relationship with Padma Bhushan awardee Rahul ji for many years. Rahul ji, who has led the Bajaj Group for the last five decades, has been instrumental in the industry. May God rest the departed soul and give strength to the family members. Om Shanti."
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यशस्वी उद्योजक, समाजसेवी और बजाज के पूर्व चेयरमैन राहुल बजाज जी को मेरी भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि। पद्म भूषण से सम्मानित राहुल जी से मेरे अनेक वर्षों से व्यक्तिगत संबंध रहे हैं।
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">यशस्वी उद्योजक, समाजसेवी और बजाज के पूर्व चेयरमैन राहुल बजाज जी को मेरी भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि। पद्म भूषण से सम्मानित राहुल जी से मेरे अनेक वर्षों से व्यक्तिगत संबंध रहे हैं।
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 12, 2022यशस्वी उद्योजक, समाजसेवी और बजाज के पूर्व चेयरमैन राहुल बजाज जी को मेरी भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि। पद्म भूषण से सम्मानित राहुल जी से मेरे अनेक वर्षों से व्यक्तिगत संबंध रहे हैं।
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 12, 2022
Madya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also condoled the demise of Bajaj. "The demise of Rahul Bajaj the Chairman emeritus of the Bajaj Group is a loss to India's business community. My condolences to the bereaved family and the group," tweeted Chouhan.
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Demise of Mr. Rahul Bajaj the Chairman emeritus of the Bajaj Group is a loss to India's business community. My condolences to the bereaved family and the group.
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
।। ॐ शांति ।।
">Demise of Mr. Rahul Bajaj the Chairman emeritus of the Bajaj Group is a loss to India's business community. My condolences to the bereaved family and the group.
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) February 12, 2022
।। ॐ शांति ।।Demise of Mr. Rahul Bajaj the Chairman emeritus of the Bajaj Group is a loss to India's business community. My condolences to the bereaved family and the group.
— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) February 12, 2022
।। ॐ शांति ।।
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar also expressed his condolences over Rahul Bajaj's death.
"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!" Pawar tweeted.
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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!
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">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!
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) February 12, 2022I 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!
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) February 12, 2022
"The affordable vehicle increased mobility, eased struggle for getting means of livelihood and became the tool of socio-economic change! We Indian are deeply indebted for his immense contribution to the industry," he said in another tweet.
"I am grieved with a passing away of my very close friend. India has lost an industrialist, a philanthropist and a lighthouse for young entrepreneurs! Hamara Bajaj," he said.
Former union minister Praful Patel said that Rahul Bajaj is credited with making the brand Bajaj a household name.
"Saddened by the passing away of renowned industrialist and one of the longest-serving chairman in corporate India, Padma Bhushan Rahul Bajaj ji. He is credited with making the brand Bajaj a household name. My heartfelt condolences to his family members," Patel tweeted.
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Saddened by the passing away of renowned industrialist & one of the longest serving chairman in corporate India, Padma Bhushan Shri Rahul Bajaj ji. He is credited with making brand Bajaj a household name. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. Om Shanti 🙏🏻#RahulBajaj pic.twitter.com/9dfSvk9Vmo
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Saddened by the passing away of renowned industrialist & one of the longest serving chairman in corporate India, Padma Bhushan Shri Rahul Bajaj ji. He is credited with making brand Bajaj a household name. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. Om Shanti 🙏🏻#RahulBajaj pic.twitter.com/9dfSvk9Vmo
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) February 12, 2022Saddened by the passing away of renowned industrialist & one of the longest serving chairman in corporate India, Padma Bhushan Shri Rahul Bajaj ji. He is credited with making brand Bajaj a household name. My heartfelt condolences to his family members. Om Shanti 🙏🏻#RahulBajaj pic.twitter.com/9dfSvk9Vmo
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) February 12, 2022
"Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Padma Bhushan Rahul Bajaj. He was among the foremost Business Leaders our nation has seen, and an inspiration to all. We will miss him dearly and his wise counsel," tweeted Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule.
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Deeply Saddened to hear about the demise of Padma Bhushan Rahul Bajaj. He was among the foremost Business Leaders our nation has seen, and an inspiration to all. We will miss him dearly and his wise counsel. pic.twitter.com/Qgle0AzmjB
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) February 12, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Deeply Saddened to hear about the demise of Padma Bhushan Rahul Bajaj. He was among the foremost Business Leaders our nation has seen, and an inspiration to all. We will miss him dearly and his wise counsel. pic.twitter.com/Qgle0AzmjB
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) February 12, 2022Deeply Saddened to hear about the demise of Padma Bhushan Rahul Bajaj. He was among the foremost Business Leaders our nation has seen, and an inspiration to all. We will miss him dearly and his wise counsel. pic.twitter.com/Qgle0AzmjB
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) February 12, 2022
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