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Rahul Bajaj was born on Friday, 10 June 1938 (age 83 years; at the time of death) in Calcutta, British India (now Kolkata). He did his schooling at Cathedral & John Connon School in Mumbai. He went to St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, Government Law College in Mumbai, and Harvard Business School in the US for further studies.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Colour: Salt & pepper
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Rahul Bajaj’s father, Kamalnayan Bajaj, was an Indian businessman and politician. His mother’s name was Savitri Bajaj.. Rahul was the grandson of freedom fighter Jamnalal Bajaj. He has two younger siblings, a brother, Shishir Bajaj, and a sister, Suman Jain.
Wife & Children
In 1961, Rahul Bajaj got married to Rupa Bajaj. The couple was blessed with three children, two sons, Rajiv Bajaj, and Sanjeev Bajaj, and a daughter, Sunaina Bajaj
Religion
He was a follower of Hinduism.
Signature
Career
After completing his studies in 1965, Rahul Bajaj joined the Bajaj Group, a diversified business conglomerate founded by his grandfather, Jamnalal Bajaj. He took over the reins of the Bajaj Group as its Chairman and Managing Director in 1968, succeeding his father. He oversaw the group’s flagship company, Bajaj Auto, growing its revenue from 7.5 crores to 12,000 crores, with the company’s scooter, the Bajaj Chetak, serving as the primary growth driver.
In 2005, he appointed his son Rajiv Bajaj as the managing director of the Bajaj Group. In 2008, Rahul split Bajaj Auto into three companies to improve shareholder earnings and allow his sons, Rajiv and Sanjiv, more control over the company’s operations. Rahul Bajaj owned 24% of Bajaj Holdings & Investment and 10% of the insurance and consumer lending firm Bajaj Finserv. His other investments include a 2% stake in Bajaj Finance, a 14% stake in home appliance company Bajaj Electrical, and a 19% stake in Mukand, which is a manufacturer of wire rods, alloy castings, and steel bars.
Awards
- In 1964, he was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award by Harvard Business School for MBA.
- In 2001, Rahul Bajaj was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India.
- In 2017, Bajaj was honored with CII President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Net Worth
His net worth was $4.2 billion.
Death
On 12 February 2022, Rahul Bajaj, at the age of 83, took his last breath after he suffered from pneumonia in Pune. He has cancer and heart issues prior to his death.