From The Family Albums of India's Business Doyens

A walk down memory lane with the doyens of business

Published: Nov 26, 2013

As seen in the pictures, RP Goenka, RP to friends, was an “out-and-out Congressman”, but

Image by : RP-SG Group

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As seen in the pictures, RP Goenka, RP to friends, was an “out-and-out Congressman”, but his charm was enough to melt even the staunchest of Communists, including former West Bengal Chief Minister late Jyoti Basu (picture on top). Goenka founded the RPG Group in 1979 and in 1988, elder son Harsh joined the business. (Younger son Sanjiv followed suit in some time and was involved till 2011, when he carved his interest out of the group to create the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group.) Two years later, Goenka retired from active business and involved himself in the world of literature. RP died this April after a brief illness. In the pictures above, he is seen with his daughters-inlaw Preeti, wife of Sanjiv, and Mala, Harsh’s better half

HCL founder Shiv Nadar was born and raised in “mofussil Tamil Nadu” and saw his first bi

Image by : Shiv Nadar Foundation

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HCL founder Shiv Nadar was born and raised in “mofussil Tamil Nadu” and saw his first big city—Chennai—only when he was 21. It was much later and hundreds of kilometres away in Delhi that the man, who calls himself “a product of education”, founded what would later be the fourth-largest IT company in India. The billionaire likes narrating his inspiring story and it is no wonder that many of these photos, (with his siblings, riding a tractor overseas and with his friend during college years), are displayed on the walls of the VidyaGyan school that is run by his philanthropy foundation

When Anand Burman joined the family business in 1980 after completing his PhD in pharmaceutical chem

Image by : Dabur

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When Anand Burman joined the family business in 1980 after completing his PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry, Dabur’s revenue was Rs 20 crore. By the next decade, the revenue would grow fi ve-fold, and the family realised that business was growing fast enough to bring in a strategic change. And the change was to get the family out of the business. In what was an unprecedented step in those days, the Burman family decided to limit its role in the company and handed over the reigns to professionals. It was a wise decision as the family continues to hold over 60 percent stake without having to split the company. The photo is taken in 1996 when the whole move was being thought about. (Sitting from left to right) Late RC Burman and late AC Burman (Standing from left to right) Mohit Burman, Sidharth Burman, VC Burman, Pradip Burman, Amit Burman, late GC Burman and Anand Burman

OP Jindal was an entrepreneur who ‘talked to machines’. It would have been an unlikely d

Image by : JSPL

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OP Jindal was an entrepreneur who ‘talked to machines’. It would have been an unlikely description for a farmer’s son. But growing up in Hisar, Jindal showed early liking for technology. He started off his career by setting up a bucket manufacturing unit in 1952. From there on, he would build a pipe factory and later a steel plant. Jindal entered politics in 1996. Today, his legacy is shouldered by four sons seen here— Naveen, Ratan, Prithviraj and Sajjan. While each manages a company of his own, an elaborate cross-holding enables each brother to have a stake in his sibling’s company, a masterstroke by the patriarch. His youngest son Naveen is the most high-profi le with well-followed sporting and political lives

RS Agarwal and RS Goenka are the only two promoters on the rich list unrelated by blood, but their r

Image by : Emami

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RS Agarwal and RS Goenka are the only two promoters on the rich list unrelated by blood, but their relationship is as strong as any. The friends turned business partners when they quit their jobs in the Birla Group to set up Kemco Chemicals in 1974. The two had specifi c interests—Agarwal fancied fi nance and Goenka marketing. It was a great combination for a company that is today home to several bestselling brands. The friendship is now institutionalised as the next generation is as closely knit as their fathers. They work and holiday together, like the founders. Here, they are seen working in their fi rst offi ce, launching a shampoo and holidaying in Agra and Kashmir

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