Honouring the Pillar of Our Legacy: Remembering Jankidevi Bajaj
As the Bajaj Group reflects on the historic milestone of celebrating 100 years of our foundation on May 11th, we pause to honour the incredible matriarch who shaped the moral conscience of our institution. On May 21st, we observe the death anniversary of Jankidevi Bajaj (1893–1979). She was a revolutionary social reformer, freedom fighter, and the guiding light behind the values we uphold today.
A Century of Values: Walking the Path of Jankidevi Bajaj
On May 11th, our company celebrated a monumental landmark: 100 years of the Bajaj Group. While our operations have grown globally over the last century, our true foundation rests on the ethical principles of nation-building, humility, and public service. Jankideviji did not merely support these ideals; she actively lived them, serving as the ultimate blueprint for the corporate conscience we carry today.
Born into absolute luxury in Jaora, Madhya Pradesh, Jankideviji willingly relinquished her wealth when her husband, Jamnalal Bajaj, adopted the Gandhian way of life. She discarded foreign clothing, adopted swadeshi and khadi, broke down the rigid orthodox customs of purdah, and fought relentlessly to eliminate untouchability. She proved that true leadership is defined by what you give back to society, not what you accumulate.
A Revolutionary Reformer Beyond the Boardrooms
Jankideviji was an innovator of grassroots development. Following the passing of Jamnalalji, and at the personal urging of Mahatma Gandhi, she took charge as the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Goseva Sangh. Her work extended deeply into rural India, where she walked barefoot alongside Acharya Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan (land-gift) movement.
When she saw rural communities struggling for water, her unique spirit birthed the “Koopdan” initiative, successfully moving from house to house to secure donations for digging wells. For her exceptional, lifelong service to the nation, the Government of India rightfully honoured her with the Padma Vibhushan in 1956, making her the first woman in Indian history to receive the nation’s second-highest civilian honour.
Our Centenary Pledge: Carrying Her Torch Forward
As the Bajaj Group crosses the historic 100-year mark, we look back with immense pride and look forward with deep responsibility. Jankidevi Bajaj was not just a historical figure; she is the permanent moral compass of the Bajaj ecosystem. Her life taught us that true wealth lies in societal welfare, and absolute devotion is the fuel for lasting progress.
Today, every member of the Bajaj Group feels a profound sense of gratitude and a collective responsibility to keep her vision alive. As we step into our next century, we pledge to carry forward her fierce revolutionary spirit, her boundless empathy, and her unwavering dedication to the marginalized. We are because she was. Let us honour her memory by ensuring that the next hundred years of Bajaj continue to shine with the light of her timeless values.
