Whether it is in the field of technology, agriculture, airlines, mining, etc. Indians have always made a mark when it comes to doing business. Throughout the Indian history, there have been a number of successful entrepreneurs who started of small but made a big name for themselves. India has no dearth of businessmen and the same is recognized and accepted worldwide.
In this article, we shall delve into the lives of some of the greatest businessmen that the country has ever produced.
10. Ghanshyam Das Birla
Ghanshyam Das Birla or GD Birla as he is famously known as inherited his family’s money-lending business. But he wasn’t satisfied with the same and much against the wishes of the British empire, he started a manufacturing business in India. Not only this, Birla is also known to establish the Hindustan Motors and got into the manufacturing of cars. Besides, G.D Birla diversified into other segments namely textiles, cement, steel, as well as rayon. The Birla Institute of Technology and science which is today considered one of India’s best engineering colleges was also established by this great Indian businessman.
9. Govindram Seksaria
The lesser known businessman actually pioneered the growth of cotton industry in the country. He was also known to be one of the founders of the Indian Stock Exchange. He diversified and grew into the field of business at a time when India was ruled by the Britishers. Those were the times when doing business was all the more difficult for the Indians. It was at those troublesome times that this Indian businessman found the company named as Govindram Brothers Private Limited in the year 1937 which was into sugar, textiles, printing, and other businesses.
8. Bhai Mohan Singh
Well, those in the field of pharmaceuticals must have surely heard of the Indian businessman by the name of Bhai Mohan Singh. He was one of the most prominent figures in the field of medicines. This great businessman was even awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to the field. Not only did Singh prove his worth in the field of pharmaceuticals but he also successfully ventured into other fields namely construction. However, Singh is best known for his acquisition of Ranbaxy and his contributions and success in the field of Pharma.
7. Narayan Murthy
Talk about Information Technology in India and the first name to pop up will be that of the Infosys founder, Mr.Narayan Murthy. In the year 2015, this businessman was named as the “Business pioneers in technology” in the list published by the financial times. The great Indian businessman was the CEO of the Indian software giant from the year 1981 to the year 2002. the man has been recognized as one of the greatest businessman’s India has ever produced by various publications and magazines. In fact, he is the first recipient of the World Entrepreneur of the year award given by Ernst and Young.
6. Lakshmi Mittal
Based out of the United Kingdom, Lakshmi Mittal is rightly known as the “Steel Magnate” of India. The Indian tycoon holds a majority stake in Arcelor Mittal and was once regarded as the richest Indian person. Although Mittal no longer holds that position, he continues to remain one of the greatest businessmen India has ever produced. Lakshmi Mittal has always been regarded as a great visionary and it was this quality of his that gave birth to the largest steel company the world has ever witnessed-the Arcelor Mittal steel. His story, like that of the others, continue to inspire budding and upcoming businessmen through different parts of the globe.
5. Walchand Hirachand
This was a man who dreamt of a high living and worked extremely hard to fulfill his ambitious plans. Although born in a poor family, walchand always knew he could make it big in life. It was this that made him diversify and try his hands on a number of businesses. Some of these included mining, construction, as well as shipping. He is known to have started the Hindustan Aircraft, the Hindustan Shipyard Limited, the Premier Automobiles which were respectively the first aircraft company, the first shipyard, and the first car manufacturing plant in India. He sure was one of the greatest Indian businessmen.
4. K.C Mahindra
Kailash Chandra Mahindra is better known as the co-founder of the company Mahindra & Mahindra. He was the chairman of the Indian giant for 13 long years and it was under his leadership that Mahindra & Mahindra achieved its status of being one of the most important business houses in the whole of the country. He was always known to be one of the greatest businessmen of his times. Not only that, owing to his skills and knowledge, he served as the director of Air India and the Reserve Bank of India as well.
3. Verghese Kurien
Who does not know about the business acumen of the “Father of the White Revolution” in India? He was the man behind the largest development programme the world has ever seen in the field of agriculture. It was under this program that India stepped up to become the largest producer of milk in the world. He was the man who pioneered the development and growth of the dairy industry in India. Such was his vision and business acumen that India was recognized in the world forum as far as milk and other dairy products are concerned. No doubt his birth anniversary is today celebrated as the “National Milk Day.”
2. Jamsetji Tata
When you talk about the greatest Indian companies, one of the names which will certainly come to your mind is that of the TATA Group. Jamsetji Tata was actually the man behind this great Indian conglomerate. He is also known as the “Father of Indian Industry.” He started his legendary career by starting cotton mills in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Nagpur.Owing to his views and business mindset, the great Indian businessman was able to establish one of the best luxury hotels in the world-The Taj Mahal in Mumbai. Unfortunately, he could not live long enough to see the TATA group grow to such heights. However, he was the one who laid the foundation for the great Indian conglomerate that we know today!
1. Dhirubhai Ambani
How can you forget mentioning the name of the “Reliance” founder when you are listing the top 10 greatest businessmen in Indian history? Ambanis is a story which has always inspired budding businessmen not only in India but also in different parts of the world. He founded Reliance Industries in the year 1966. Today, the worth of the company is said to be more than 60 billion dollars and more than 5% of the total tax revenue of the Indian government comes from the Reliance group. Dhirubhai Ambani is truly one of the greatest businessmen India has ever produced!
Thus, India has produced some of the greatest businessmen the world has ever seen. The story of each one of the above businessmen is inspiring and worth following!
I’m Hina Khan, working as a writer at Worldblaze.in blog. I love dancing and listening punjabi music. Here I’m sharing all the interesting stuffs that will definitely entertain you.