First Edition of the 'Rahul Bajaj Memorial Lecture

The School of Management, GD Goenka University, organized its first edition of the "Rahul Bajaj Memorial Lecture" on May 12, 2023, from 2:00–3:00 PM. Mr. Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati, India, was invited to deliver the memorial lecture.

The event was started by a brief address to the day by Dr. Deepti Wadera, followed by the inauguration with Sarasvati Vandana and the lighting of the lamps by the dignitaries. The event
continued with a video documentary on Mr. Rahul Bajaj. It was indeed an inspiring video to watch and gain some insights into his life from January 10, 1938, until February 12, 2022.

He brought about the automobile revolution. He was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2001 and was also an alumnus of Harvard Business School, from which he received the alumni achievement award. Bajaj Chetak was his break-throw product during liberalisation, which has a waiting period of 5–6 years. 

Bajaj Pulsar was again one of the most strategic and successful products that was introduced in
response to Honda. Not only this, Baja also expanded into the insurance sector and brought
products for home appliances. 

The session was followed by the opening remarks of Prof. (Dr.) B.S. Satyanarayana, Honourable Vice Chancellor, GD Goenka University, along with the welcome address and introduction of Mr.Bipul
Chandra by Dean, School of Management, Prof. (Dr.) Alok Pandey. 

Our honourable vice chancellor gave us some insights when he shared his expression of Bajaj as a
successful company. He stated that India is an aspirational country, and Bajaj represents the historical transition of India. It is the largest two-wheeler export in the world, where they focus on quality, reliability, and affordability. In the world today, where sustainability, integrity, and ethics are the questions that are raised about a product, Bajaj successfully brings these to the table and has done so with consistency over the years.

Our Dean, School of Management, Prof. (Dr.) Alok Pandey, introduced the guest and speaker for the
day, Mr. Bipul Chandra, by sharing that his sales and marketing experience in the automobile industry has been built over two and a half decades, working with some of the most revered automobile brands in the country like Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, and Ashok Leyland. In his current role, he spearheads the business operations and market expansion for Ducati Motor Holding India operation.
Furthermore, a memorial lecture for Shri Rahul Bajaj by Mr. Bipul Chandra was delivered, where he
focused on decision-making by using facts and making the right choice for the future. He elaborated on the length and breath of Mr. Rahul Bajaj and his organisation. He gave us valuable lessons that he imbibed through his time with Mr. Rahul Bajaj. He also shared how family is an essential part of our lives, as we also need to remember our roots and not forget this in the rut of life. At the end, he said that he was fortunate to meet and learn the best humanitarian values for his life from Mr. Rahul Bajaj.

The event was brought to an end when Mr. Bipul Chandra was felicitated and a vote of thanks was
presented by Dr. Deepti Wadera to the dignitaries, faculty, students, and other supporters without
whom the event would not be possible.