Rahul Bajaj

Rahul Bajaj
$850 million
Pune
66 . Married . 3 Children .
Source: Forbes
Associated Companies: Bajaj Group

Rahul Bajaj is India 's most outspoken industrialist. As chairman of the Bombay club Bajaj was among the few to have vehemently opposed India 's liberalization programme in the early 1990's. It is ironic that today Bajaj plans to have establishments in countries as far and diverse as Brazil , Indonesi and Nigeria .. A confidante of Mahatma Gandhi, Rahul Bajaj's grandfather founded the scooter company. Recently tensions with estranged brother Shishir hogged the limelight and threatened to divide his fortune

Bajaj believes in giving people a lot of independence. He prefers them to learn while on the job. Brash and assertive, Bajaj thinks that he created one of India 's best companies in the difficult days of the license-permit raj.Although many would disagree and think that creating companies during the license raj was far easier for established business groups then for the non-established ones. In 1980 Bajaj Auto was top scooter producer and its Chetak brand had a 10-year waiting list. During the 1970's foreign collaborations and licenses were difficult to obtain. However, in the 1980s capacity licensing and foreign collaboration for two-wheelers was liberalized. All the world's top players (Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Piaggio, Garelli, Peugot) entered through collaborations or joint ventures. But this did not deter Bajaj Auto as it met the challenge and maintained its dominating position.. While Hero Honda captured the motor-cycle market Bajaj hung on to its scooter business. Post the liberalization and the change in the demographic profile the younger Indian began to prefer motor-cycles to scooter. Bajaj finally woke up but by then Hero Honda was already ahead in the two-wheeler race.

Talking of people Bajaj feels I feel an MBA should have four essential qualities to succeed in the new millennium


a.Listen effectively


b.Think like an entrepreneur


c.Cross functionality.


d.Smart work combined with hard work

Bajaj feels that the world has become a seamless place to live in and that liberalization of the economy during the 1991-93 period was handled exceptionally well. The biggest problem with the country is its apathy to creating wealth. Rahul Bajaj feels that the bloated structures and the unproductive systems need to be dismantled. The need of the hour is efficient mechanism with free and fair competition.

This year Rahul Bajaj become a Member of Parliament through the Rajya Sabha. It is now for time to decide whether as M.P Bajaj actually does what he always wanted to do. His company how-ever is being handled very well in the safe hands of his son Rajeev