Business Legends

by Gita Piramal

The Golden age of Indian industry, as it now seems in retrospect, lasted from 1951 to "62. and industrialists of the lime were not afraid to think ahead and plan big. Among the entrepreneurs who led this Industrial resurgence, four were particularly outstanding, G.D. Birla, Walchand Hirachand, Kasturbhai Lalbhai and, J.R.D. Tata. Gita Piramal, author of the acclaimed Business Maharajas, sensitively recreates the Lives and Times of these four titans of industry. She draws upon hitherto untapped sources of information to Sketch her profiles, making htis perhaps the closest Look at these legends this fair. Thought provoking and incisive. Business Legends is a compelling Account of ambition and achievement.

Genres: Business, Biography, India, Management

656 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sandeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a lot of history that we seem to know nothing about. It never featured in our school curriculum. Probably, never deemed important by the people deciding what gets to be taught in schools and colleges. This book fills an important Gap in the pre-independance history of India. It shifts the narrative from our struggle for independence to the industry back then. The people who ran the economy, helped in financial policy making. It's gives an interesting perspective and insight on the state of business before independence. For eg, Tata had pioneered 8 hr working hours in TISCO much before US and UK did. It's like reading the stories of men who made India. I would recommend it to all history, economics of finance buffs.

[Saurabh Deshmukh · Rating 5 out of 5]

as good as the other one....

[Ankur Paliwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Business Legends opens up the unique window allowing reader to experience 20th century India through the eyes of GD Birla, Walchand, Kasturbhai & JRD Tata. A brilliant work! Reader also gets to know the stalwarts of Indian freedom movement like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel & how they shaped the Indian industry while using the industrialists as a tool.

[Vasu Goenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a book which is good in content, but poorly written. The book becomes boring after the first chapter itself. Though written about the big Turks of Indian Business namely GD Birla, JRD Tata, Kasturbhai Lalbhai and Walchand Hirachand. The pioneers of Indian Business in 20th century.

[Maganraj Bafna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is about the big turks of indian business namely GD Birla, JRD Tata, Kasturbhai Lalbhai and Walchand Hirachand, the pioneers of indian business in the 20th century. There is a wealth of information about the business life of these great industrialists, While there is lot of information available about G D Birla & JRD Tata, this book contains little known facts about the life of Walchand Hirachand & Kasturbhai Lalbhai which make for a very interesting reading of the business life in India in the earlier part of the 20th Century. It fills an important gap in the pre-independence history of India. It shifts the narrative from our struggle for independence to the industry back then. It gives an interesting perspective and insight on the state of business before independence. Right before partition to the Nehru - Indira years, these legends and their groups had a major bearing on most of the organised industry and commerce across the country.
"Tata - Birla" became a phrase in common language whenever referring to big business in India. Gita Piramal offers a rare look into the lives - personal and business - of all these giants, and how their actions and thinking impacted millions for generations to come.

[Rohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and detailed read, but I have read Business Maharajas earlier.
Hence, the book is comparatively a dampener compared to Business Maharajas.
Unlike Business Maharajas, Business Legends is written only on four industrialists. Its a lazy read, and one need to let the details sink in.
Like Business Maharajas, author has amazingly started all four stories.

One of best books on Business before independence.

[Pratik Patankar · Rating 3 out of 5]

From Maharajas to Legends, this book is the next logical step in understanding the business houses of India.

[Prisheeta Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blend of business legends' way of thinking, their struggle for India's independence and at the same time setting their name in the list of Business legends.

[Hitesh Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly inspiring. And gives a lot of business insights

[Siddharth Pandey]

good