Jamnalal Kaniram Bajaj (4 November 1889 – 11 February 1942) was an Indian businessman and politician.[1] He founded the Bajaj Group of companies in the 1920s, and the group now has 24 companies, including six that are listed on the bourses.[2] He was also a close and beloved associate of Mahatma Gandhi, who is known to have often declared that Jamnalal was his fifth son.[3]
Early life
Jamnalal Bajaj was born in 1889 into a poor family of farmers, to Kaniram and Birdibai, in a village named Kashi Ka Bas, near Sikar in Rajasthan state. In 1894, Seth Bachharaj Bajaj, a rich Marwari Agarwal businessman, and his family were going to Kashi Ka Bas village temple. They spotted young Jamnalal playing outside his home and were drawn to him. After much persuasion, Jamnalal was adopted as Seth Bajaj's grandson. In return, Bajaj installed a well in order to help the village.[4]