The man who made two-wheelers a part and aspiration of every Indian middle-class household, Rahul Bajaj passed away on February 12. He was 83. “Rahul Bajaj died today at 2.30 pm. He died due to heart and lungs problems. He was admitted for past one month in Ruby hall hospital in Pune,” Dr. Parvej Grant, chairman of Ruby Hall hospital told.
He was at the helm of India’s second-largest auto company for over five decades. Under his strong leadership, Bajaj Auto reached the hearts of millions in the country. Two-wheelers in India had been synonymous with Bajaj between the 1970s and 1990s.
Known for his frank and fearless nature, Rahul Bajaj was truly an icon who shaped the two-wheeler industry. He has never shied away from making his position clear on the policy concerning industry and others.
Rahul Bajaj served twice as the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), once at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Bajaj was also the chairman of the erstwhile Indian Airlines. In 2001, he was awarded Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honor in the country. He was also a former chairman of the International Business Council, World Economic Forum, and a former member of the South Asia advisory board of Harvard Business School.
