On 11th April 2025 I lost my dear friend Madhur Bhai. He was 73 years old and had been ailing on and off for some years.  Just on 26th March I spent lovely two hours with him in his house in Mumbai. He was in a cheerful mood and we talked on various things as we used to whenever we met. Little did I know that within a fortnight he would be gone.

Madhur Bajaj was the grandson of Jamnalal Bajaj – Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘fifth son’ and was the Vice Chairman of Bajaj Auto and was on the board of almost all the companies of Bajaj Group that was headed by his more famous cousin Rahul Bajaj, who died three years ago. He played a stellar role in the rise of Bajaj Auto and other companies though he always kept a low profile and as a professional wanted his work to speak.

Commitment to excellence and innovation 

He was the Past President of SIAM, the apex association of Indian automobile manufacturers; and Past President of Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), the apex Industries Association of Pune.

His tenure at SIAM was characterized by a commitment to excellence and innovation. Notably, he played a pivotal role in developing India’s first Automotive Mission Plan (2006–16), which laid the foundation for the country’s robust automotive industry. His efforts in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, including initiatives with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), showcased his vision for a progressive industrial landscape.

 Besides his industrial role Madhur Bajaj was also involved with many charitable institutions like Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha, Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital, Aurangabad, and foremost among them being Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.

Madhur Bajaj was the recipient of the Vikas Rattan Award from the International Friendship Society of India, for enriching human life and outstanding achievements.

Developing, showcasing Aurangabad 

His greatest joy and contribution in the domain of business was in Aurangabad from 1983-1993. While setting up the Bajaj Auto plant, he developed the social infrastructure of high standard of the city along with his colleagues. This included the Kamalnayan Bajaj Hospital, Nath Valley School, showcasing Aurangabad via Maha Expo and organizing various cultural events. This enabled high-caliber executives to be willing to settle down in Aurangabad.

I first met Madhur Bhai in 2001 when I received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award at the hands of Dr. Manmohan Singh. We hit off as if two long lost brothers had met and since that time remained as very good friends.

Madhur Bhai was a very gentle and approachable person and his education and upbringing was reflected in his ‘tehzeeb’ and graciousness. He was educated in Doon School and did his MBA from International Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1979.

Any time I met him he would inquire in great detail about what I had been doing, how our Institute was doing and about the family. With time we shared lots of our personal information as one normally shares among a dear friend.  

Bajaj Center for Sustainabal Development 

He greatly helped us in setting up our Bajaj Center for Sustainable Development at NARI and was delighted to inaugurate it in 2011.  In 2008 he released my book “1970s America – An Indian Student’s Journey”. He also introduced me to so many of his friends in various walks of life.

Madhur Bhai loved life. He was very fond of horses and film industry. On 26th March he told me that Javed Akhtar was making a film for him – though he did not expect to make any money on it.  I never inquired why he thought so. He was also fond of good food. Because of severe diabetes his diet was restricted. Anytime he came to Phaltan his wife Kumud gave him a dabba with diet food. But the moment he saw the spread on the table the dabba was conveniently forgotten!

He was generous and amiable to a fault.  He would religiously read all my articles and other reading material that I sent to him and discuss it with me. He was ever eager to offer his opinion and suggestions on them. Almost every 2-3 months we would talk for nearly half to one hour on the telephone about almost everything under the sun. We enjoyed exchanging notes.

Anytime I went to Mumbai I made it a point to see him.  In one of my meetings with him at Bajaj Bhavan he asked me to go down to the Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, housed on the ground floor of Bajaj Bhavan and select a painting that I liked. An exhibition of painting of budding artists was on at that time in the gallery and Madhur Bhai was helping those artists. I liked one painting and he promptly presented it to me. That painting is hanging in my room at NARI and is a constant reminder of him, his generosity and his magnanimity. 

In his death at such an early age I have lost a very dear friend and world a very noble and decent human being.                                          

(The writer, an IIT and US-educated Indian engineer,  a 2022 Padma Shri award winner, is the Director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, Phaltan, Maharashtra.  He can be reached at anilrajvanshi50@gmail.com/@anilraj24.bsky.social)