By R L Ravichandran
It is with a significant heart that I have to compose this obituary for the Car marketplace chief Rahul Bajaj who passed away on Saturday.
When I achieved him initially to approve my candidature offered by his son Rajiv, I simply cannot forget the humility of these kinds of a towering character who stood up to greet me and welcome me to his office, and I felt how minor I was.
It was a pleasurable interaction and not a formal job interview. He was fairly frank in his views. He outlined what was okay and not all right in the organisation and what he predicted me to do.
He was keen to question me all about my loved ones, and just explained that I could be of aid in creating up the organisation to rise up to the ideas his son has been doing work on. That sealed the conversations.
He even permitted my possess interpretation of the scope of my get the job done in Bajaj Auto and a title that stated my function as business enterprise and product or service development head. These are not really widespread in those people times, or even now. But that was his simplicity and believe in.
In numerous conferences he chaired, a person matter was clear, who was the manager with out his authority on display screen by his authentic tactic. He listened to every single perspective position as it was relevant and at last made the decision what was good for Bajaj Auto as a enterprise. As soon as it was made a decision it was about and finished. No change.
That was a time when Bajaj dominated as the country’s most significant two- wheeler in numbers, in revenues and in profits. I remember just about every month his concluding stage as “Are we amount a single in numbers”?
It was full scooter profits of in excess of a lakh a month and a couple thousands of bikes. When the nation was drifting slowly but surely in the direction of motorcycles more than scooters it often employed to be a endeavor to make him settle for that bikes were to continue to be and it was challenging to halt this adjust over. However he recognized he was hesitant to confess. It was in 1 of people moments that we stood seeing our coveted situation of number a single modifying to selection 2.
But then he stood in comprehensive defence to guidance us in our early attempts to create the bike portfolio Rajiv envisioned to develop, with or with out engineering coming from any associates. Any other man or woman would have ridiculed us. But he did extend unreserved help in phrases of obtaining technological innovation, the manufacturing method, and even a new factory with state-of-the-artwork amenities. And that is Chakan. The turnaround and flagship motorbike for Bajaj from scratch to creation line was ‘The Absolutely Male Pulsar’.
But to Rahul Bajaj’s credit score a single really should not forget about the ubiquitous autorickshaw. And then the rear motor vehicle. In the 1980’s and 90s and even these days Bajaj passenger autorickshaw is ruling the roost not only in this article but in lots of other countries, and the unforgettable Sunny. Chetak Tremendous Scooters he designed.
At last, when Rajiv launched the new electrical scooter in 2020 and named it Chetak he felt really happy and elated. A star is reborn.
I experienced the possibility to speak to him above cellular phone late at night on the working day of Chetak electrical start and I could experience his pleasure about Chetak’s new avatar, a best and well timed present of the profitable son to his illustrious father.
His foresight and company acumen were being quite distinctive when he rolled out Bajaj Allianz Insurance policies, with Sanjiv Bajaj heading and shaping it as it is currently as the country’s top rated consumer finance with millions of buyers to Bajaj Finserve.
He has normally been a dependable CEO for his employees. A rewarding firm for his investors and true agent of the sector and many federations he led in his time.
Above all his integrity, enterprise ethics and leadership in producing substantial infrastructure and the burning motivation to be the variety 1 in the entire world is what makes him a Famous leader we have observed in our periods. A correct Gandhian, as imbibed from his father, and the genuine care with which he nurtured his service-oriented organisations, hospitals, educational institutions, are certainly serving several deserving men and women all-around Maharashtra.
He was very candid and termed a spade a spade irrespective of whom he was addressing. But his integrity, honesty and simplicity has still left an indelible perception on the Indian history of entrepreneurship and relatives- run organization empires.
Honestly, they may well not make these colossal personalities as Rahul Bajaj any far more. We used to say “East or west…. Rahul is the very best.”
And we meant it. And I necessarily mean it permanently.
Disclaimer: R L Ravichandran is an market veteran and a previous internet marketing head of Bajaj Car. Views expressed are private.