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INTRODUCTION
WHO WE ARE
Mahindra and an independent India began their rise together. In 1945, two enterprising brothers
named J.C. Mahindra and K.C. Mahindra joined forces with Ghulam Mohammed and started
Mahindra & Mohammed as a steel company in Mumbai. Two years later, India won its
independence, Ghulam Mohammed left the company to become Pakistan’s first finance minister,
and the Mahindra brothers ignited the company's enduring growth with their decision
to manufacture Willys jeeps under license in Mumbai. The company’s new name - Mahindra &
Mahindra, of course.The Mahindra brothers believed that new modes of transportation could be
a key to India’s prosperity, so one of their first goals was to build rugged, simple vehicles
capable of tackling the Indian terrain. Early pioneers of globalization, the brothers collaborated
with a wide range of international companies and before long, Mahindra’s reach extended to
steel, tractors, telecom, and more. Now, after more than six decades, Mahindra has grown from a
humble local outfit to a US $16.2 billion corporation employing more than 155,000 people
around the world. It’s been quite an adventure so far, and we’re proud of our global leadership
in utility vehicles, tractors, and information technology, as well as our significant presence in
financial services, leisure and hospitality, engineering, trade, and logistics. As we accelerate into
the 21
st
century, we’ll continue to pursue innovative ideas that enable people to rise. We’ve
come a long way, but the journey has just begun.
JAGDISH CHANDRA MAHINDRA
Jagdish Chandra Mahindra was born circa 1892 in Ludhiana, Punjab. The eldest of nine
children, the loss of his father at an early age placed the responsibility for the family on his
shoulders. He believed strongly in the power of education and ensured that all his brothers and
sisters studied hard. J.C. received his degree from Veermata Jijabai Technological
Institute (VJTI) Mumbai, one of India's premier engineering and technical institutes. He sent his
brother K.C. to Cambridge. The brothers were very close and the love and trust between them
was extraordinary. J.C. started out his career with Tata Steel, serving as the senior Sales Manager
from 1929 to 1940. When the steel industry became critical during World War II, the