Hardly a surprise #RahulBajaj said what he said yesterday. A short thread from my notes of a 2007 interview I did with him on being anti-establishment.
‘Having been born in an illustrious family that was closely involved in the freedom movement, I was always aware of the legacy I inherited from my grandfather Jamnalal Bajaj. I was only four when he died and therefore I did not have an opportunity to see him up-close...’
’..but the stories and incidents from his life was something we grew up with, and they had the biggest influence on me. Just 15 days of his death, Gandhiji called a meeting of 200 of his closest followers and told them that as the Congress trustee Jamnalalji was taking care of..’
‘...so many of the party activities that he would now probably need 50 people to replace him. My grandfather’s commitment to the nation's cause and his ethical standards have always been an inspiration and my moral compass.’
’Being anti-establishement is perhaps part of my DNA. Stories about my grandfather's and my father's fortitude gave me the courage to say 'No’. Be it about appointing a dealer or giving employment to somebody at someone request.’
’I know I will never win any popularity contest because I call a spade a spade. The lesson about standing up to the establishment was reinforced when my father Kamal Nayan Bajaj decided to join Congress (O) in 1969 taking a principled stance against...’
’Indira Gandhi’s policies such as the nationalisation of banks. We all knew both he and the company would incur the wrath of the Government. He offered to step down as the chairman and from the board to save the company from potential hardships.’
Then Ramakrishna Bajaj convinced him to stay on and said that if we suffer for our principles then so be it. Even during the emergency we sufferd at the hands of the Government because I was its critic. Then Bajaj Auto wanted to go in for a major capacity expansion...’
‘...but the Industries Ministry rejected it. I was told by some of the key men in the Ministry that permission would be granted if I came out in support of the Emergency.’
’I said, if Mahatma Gandhi or my grandfather were alive during the Emergency, even they would have opposed it tooth and nail. The lives of my grandfather and father have taught me not be anybody's chamcha.’ (Ends)
