Gandhiji wrote for Jamnalalji, 'I quote, whenever I wrote a wealthy man becoming trustees of their wealth for the common good, I had always this merchant prince principally in mind.' He placed his home, his resources, and his life in service of the nation. In Wardha, the foundation of Sevagram Ashram was also laid on his land.
A simple but powerful principle: kathani karni ek si—walk the talk. This thinking became the identity of the Bajaj family. In those years, self-reliance was not just about political freedom—it was about building India's economic and industrial strength. It was this dream and vision that led to the foundation of many industries in the Bajaj Group.
Dadaji's favorite mantra was: 'It is not the kingdom I desire, nor heaven, nor even salvation. What I desire is the eradication of the sorrows of all living beings who are suffering.' When Dadaji passed away, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel wrote: 'Bapu has lost a true son, Janaki Devi and the family a true shelter, the country a loyal servant, the Congress a stately pillar, the cow her true friend, and many institutions their patriot—and we have lost a beloved blood brother.'
Wife of Jamnalalji, Shrimati Janaki Devi Bajaj, was a country-first lady, recipient of the Padma Vibhushan. If Jamnalalji built the space, Dadiji gave it its soul. She worked closely alongside leaders like Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan and Gramdan movement. She did not possess more than possibly three white khadi sarees. Simplicity was the constant message in the Bajaj household.
Jamnalalji's philosophy was taken forward successfully by his sons Kamalan Bajaj and Ramkrishna Bajaj. Both of them were brought up under the eye of Mahatma Gandhi during their formative years. They preached that simple living and high thinking should be golden principles of life, and thus they lived an exemplary life of simplicity and dedication, served the cause of business and industry with devotion and determination, and displayed an inherent quality of being ethical rather than materialistic.
Thereafter, Shri Rahul Bajaj, a giant amongst corporate leaders, established a result-oriented yet human, ambitious yet honest organization. As industries grew and capabilities expanded, one thought remained constant: Build in India, Build for India, and Build Bilkul India.
Aaj ka Bharat ek confident Bharat hai—a nation whose voice is being heard more clearly across the world. And the Bajaj Group has always seen itself as a part of that voice. Bajaj legacy is not wealth but values, not power but purpose. If I may say in all humility, the story of the Bajaj family and Bajaj Group is inseparable from the intertwined story of India itself. With the blessings of our elders, we continue to be a joint family with the fifth generation now having entered the business.
It is therefore a matter of great pride for us that the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji, has sent a special message on this occasion. Ladies and gentlemen, I request Neelima Bajaj Swami to read the message from the Honorable Prime Minister for all of us. Thank you.
Good evening. It is a matter of great honor for all of us that the Honorable Prime Minister has shared a special message on this occasion. I request Nirvan and Arav to please bring the letter to me.
On the occasion of the centenary of the Bajaj Group, I extend my greetings and best wishes to everyone associated with this milestone. A hundred years is a significant journey for any institution. It reflects not only longevity but also the ability to adapt to changing times, contribute to economic growth, and remain relevant across generations.
Started under the leadership of Shri Jamnalal Bajaj, the Bajaj Group has been a part of India's industrial and economic landscape through many phases of our nation's development. It has grown into a diversified company with operations across various sectors, serving customers both in India and across the world.
Over the decades, the Bajaj Group has played an important role in nation-building by creating jobs, fostering innovation, and supporting community development. Milestones such as this are an opportunity to reflect on key contributions as well as to renew commitment towards growth, sustainability, and inclusive progress.
India is moving forward with new aspirations in manufacturing, innovation, and global competitiveness. Institutions with deep roots and experience such as the Bajaj Group have an important role to play in shaping the journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. Greetings to everyone at the Bajaj Group once again on this memorable occasion. I am confident that the years ahead will be about continued progress and meaningful contribution to the nation's development. —Shri Narendra Modi.
On behalf of the entire Bajaj family, we express our heartfelt gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister for his kind words and blessings. Thank you.
Good evening everyone. My name is Siddh, and I am here tonight to speak about someone who is very special to me. After hearing the Honorable Prime Minister's message and the stories about Bajaj's hundred-year journey, I was thinking about one remarkable fact. When we speak about hundred years of Bajaj, one extraordinary truth stands out. Any three of those years who lived in the presence of one man—for most people in this room, he was a friend, an industry icon, a nation-builder, a voice that spoke with clarity and conviction. But for some of us, he was Dadaji, Papa, Taauji, Bhaiya, and Nana. This man was none other than our late Chairman, Shri Rahul Bajaj.
The person who taught us values long before we ever understood balance sheets. Growing up, family conversations often revolved around factories, policies, boardrooms, and sometimes even battles fought for Indian industry. But the conversation didn't end there. Dadaji, when you were at home, had another side. He loved bonding over our interests, watching all kinds of movies, having long conversations, and of course—as everyone who knew him well knew—enjoying good food and dessert.
He had this wonderful ability to make everyone—young and old, family and not—feel that their opinions mattered. I remember once as a teenager trying to explain why I wanted to do my undergrad in computer science and artificial intelligence, something I thought would completely change the world. He listened patiently for a long time. But then he smiled and said: 'Achha hai, bahut kaam aayega. Lekin ek baat yaad rakhna—technology badalti rehti hai, values nahi.' At that time it sounded like simple advice, but over the years I realized how profound that thought was. For Dadaji, values weren't abstract ideas—they were something you practiced every single day.
Whether it was standing up for Indian industry or ensuring that Bajaj remained a name people trusted, he was very clear about this. And he always expressed it by saying: 'Credibility depends on your track record, whether it's an individual, a corporate, or a government.' Dadaji lived life by very simple measures. He said: 'The real worth of a person is neither his wealth nor his power—it is the number of people who love and respect him, and whose lives he has influenced in a positive way.'
He believed deeply in a guiding idea that businesses had a duty not only to build institutions but also to move the nation forward. And he lived that belief every single day. He always said: 'Earlier organizations made individuals—today individuals make organizations.' I remember hearing stories about how Dadaji had taken the reins of Bajaj Auto in 1968, a young man at age 30 stepping into enormous shoes. Little did we know he would stay in those shoes for the next 54 years. In Dadaji's own words: 'Only fools retire.'
And how, over the next few decades, he turned it into one of the largest two-wheeler companies in the world. Chetak became a name every Indian household knew. There was a time when the waiting list for a Bajaj scooter stretched to years—and yet families waited because they trusted the name. Many of us remember how he would speak his mind. Whether there was an industry forum, a boardroom, or sometimes even in front of policymakers, he believed that if something needed to be said, it should be said clearly and honestly. In a room full of powerful people, he said what others only whispered. That was my Dadaji.
It is this combination of courage, conviction, and consistency that shaped how the world came to see him and why his contributions were recognized far beyond our family and Group. He was honored with the Padma Bhushan and recognized with lifetime achievement awards from CII and Harvard Business School. He remains the only person to have served as the President of CII twice. He sat on the advisory boards of the World Economic Forum, the Brookings Institution, Harvard Business School, and even the New York Stock Exchange, helping shape modern India and the world.
But none of that—not one honor, not one title—ever seemed to change the man we knew at home. Today, as we, the next generation, stand here, we realize something even more clearly. Dadaji was not only building companies—he was building institutions. Institutions that instilled confidence in India. Confidence that Indian companies could compete with the best in the world. Confidence that Indian industry could speak with its own voice. Confidence that India could make a mark on the global stage. And confidence that values and success can go hand in hand.
Over the next few moments, we will see a few personal memories, some small stories from an extraordinary life—stories that show the man behind the legend, the leader, the mentor, and for many of us, simply Dadaji. Please join us for this special heartfelt tribute to Shri Rahul Bajaj.
