Jamnalal Bajaj was an Indian

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 industrialist, a philanthropist

Philanthropist

A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...

, and Indian independence fighter. He was also a close associate and follower of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...

. Gandhi is known to have adopted him as his son. Several institutions in India bears his name, including the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies

Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies

Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies is the Department of Management Studies of the University of Mumbai and is the third oldest business school in India...

. He founded the Bajaj

Bajaj

Bajaj may refer to:People* Jamnalal Bajaj , prominent Indian businessman, founder of the Bajaj group of companies* Rahul Bajaj, Indian businessman, grandson of Jamnalal Bajaj, chairman of Bajaj Auto, and MP of Rajya SabhaCompanies...

 group of companies in the 30s. The group now has 24 companies, including 6 listed companies. Besides Bajaj Auto Ltd

Bajaj Auto

Bajaj Auto is a major Indian vehicle manufacturer started by Jamnalal Bajaj from Rajasthan in the 1930s. It is based in Pune, Maharashtra, with plants in Chakan , Waluj and Pantnagar in Uttaranchal. The oldest plant at Akurdi now houses the R&D centre Ahead...

, the other major companies in the group include Mukand Ltd

Mukand Ltd

Mukand Ltd India based manufacturer of stainless steel, alloy steel, stainless steel billets, exporter of hot rolled bars. The company is engaged in general engineering work and manufactures iron & steel products, steel castings, steel structurals, EOT and other cranes, and various types of...

, Bajaj Electricals Ltd

Bajaj Electricals

Bajaj Electricals Ltd is Indian consumer electrical products manufacturing company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a part of the Bajaj Group. It has diversified with interests in lighting, luminaries, appliances, fans, LPG based Generators, engineering and projects. It main domains are...

 and Bajaj Hindustan Ltd.