People

The Bajaj legacy

The youngest child of Jamnalal and Jankidevi Bajaj, Ramkrishna was born on 22 September 1923 in Wardha, where he studied at the Navabharat Vidyalaya. The seeds of patriotism and virtuousness were sown early on in his life. He left his studies to participate in the freedom struggle. Under the tutelage of social reformers Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, he gained practical, hands-on knowledge of the world. His adolescent experiences were enriched with his involvement with Satyagraha, the khadi movement and his engagement with constructive work.

Ramkrishna Bajaj was 17 when he got special permission from Gandhiji to participate in the individual Satyagraha in 1941. He intermittently spent three years in jail (1942-1945) for participating in the Quit India Movement. These guided his actions, thus leaving behind a unique legacy in ethical business practices, social welfare, and promotion of Gandhian values.

Bajaj was at the forefront of societal change. He increased the reach of education as the Chairman of the Shiksha Mandal in Wardha, which runs colleges and a polytechnic. He facilitated the propagation of the Gita’s message, especially among schoolchildren, as the Chairman of Gita Pratishthan. He steered significant charitable activities as the Chairman of Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust and Founder of the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation.

In 1952, Bajaj joined his family business as a director, and served Bajaj Electricals till his death in 1994. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

His life and philosophy

The exhibition commemorating 100 years of Ramkrishna Bajaj—an Indian businessman and freedom fighter—is a tribute to the extraordinary man and the enduring legacy he bestowed on us, and continues to inspire and shape our nation. The impact of his life’s work still resonates with us profoundly. The exhibition is a step into the world of a man whose life work exemplified integrity, compassion and a commitment for the greater good. It interprets archival material in modern ways, and weaves together static documents, photographs and objects to bring to the fore the story of the freedom struggle and the post-colonial state through the perspective of Ramkrishna Bajaj’s life and philosophy.

With extensive use of dynamic multimedia technology, the exhibition presents an immersive experience that takes the viewer on a journey across defining periods in Indian history, narrated through the life of Ramkrishna Bajaj.

The highlights of the exhibition include unseen candid photographs of Indian National Congress leaders inbetween meetings clicked by a young Ramkrishna himself, dramatic recreations of certain episodes from his life including his devout Gandhian politics, his participation in Satyagrahas, his arrest by the colonial state, as well as his engagement in hand-spinning cloth, including a khadi sari.

The exhibition presents a letter written by Bajaj from the post-independence period, urging the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to control black money, and his views on the Babri Masjid demolition which promoted peace amidst strife. Another letter to late industrialist JRD Tata sheds light on consumer protection. A striking feature of the exhibition is the uniquely crafted audio pieces that elevate the showcase, including preserved sitar recordings that were performed by Ramkrishna’s wife Vimla Bajaj.

An inspiring individual

As an overview, the exhibition showcases the story of India demonstrated through the life of an inspiring individual. It takes every visitor on a journey of new learnings and thoughtprovoking ideologies while simultaneously tracing the aspirations of a country from Swaraj to liberalisation.

The exhibition is curated by art historian Dr Arshiya Lokhandwala and her team of four multimedia artists, Payal Arya, Aditi Kulkarni, Anokhi Shah and Sultana Zana, aided of course, by the Bajaj Archives team, Sanghamitra Chatterjee, Sneha Rego and Avantika Prabhakar.