Mumbai: On a day when the world honours the Mahatma, India’s own Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is celebrating a Gandhian-birthday of its own — turning a spirited 80 years old. Founded on October 2, 1945, by visionaries J.C. Mahindra and K.C. Mahindra, the Group began its journey before India’s independence with a bold promise: build industry, create livelihoods, and rise together.
Eight decades later, Mahindra isn’t just walking the talk — it’s driving it, flying it, financing it, farming it, electrifying it, and occasionally, tweeting it.
🧭 A Founding Advertisement That Aged Like Fine Innovation
Back in 1945, Mahindra placed an ad in The Times of India inviting “enterprising individuals of all communities” to join a company built on courage, fairness, and opportunity. This was long before corporate DEI statements were trending hashtags.
In a world recovering from war and navigating uncertainty, Mahindra’s call was refreshingly inclusive — a kind of LinkedIn post before LinkedIn existed.
🗣️ Voices from the Top: Renewing the Pledge
Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, reflected:
“Eighty years ago, our founders pledged to help build our nascent nation. Today, as we navigate another turbulent era, we renew that pledge — to propel India towards technological self-reliance and global respect.”
Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, added with pride:
“Their first ad didn’t talk about products or profits — it spoke about principles. Eighty years on, those principles still power everything we do, from mobility to moonshots.”
🚙 From Willys Jeeps to World Leaders
From assembling Willys Jeeps in post-war India to building a global federation of companies spanning mobility, finance, tech, hospitality, and clean energy — Mahindra’s journey is a story of Rise, its signature philosophy.
Operating in over 100 countries, the Group touches 70% of India’s GDP, proving that it’s not just part of the India story — it’s a chapter title.
🌱 Legacy Meets Impact
Mahindra’s programs like Kaabil and Nanhi Kali aren’t just CSR checkboxes — they’re engines of empowerment. While Kaabil upskills women to secure livelihoods, Nanhi Kali ensures underprivileged girls get holistic education — because real horsepower isn’t measured in bhp, it’s measured in opportunity.
🧠 The Road Ahead: Turbocharged by Purpose
Even amidst global headwinds, Mahindra sees India uniquely poised to emerge as a manufacturing powerhouse. With infrastructure rising, policies supporting, and youth innovating — the Group is gearing up to make its ninth decade its boldest yet.
As Anand Mahindra often quips on X (formerly Twitter): “When we say Rise, we don’t mean just us. We mean everyone.”
🎂 Eighty & Enterprising
Mahindra’s 80th isn’t a quiet family dinner. It’s a cross-sector, multi-continent, jeep-to-jet celebration of values that refuse to retire.
Here’s to 80 years of Enterprise and Equality — and to many more decades of Mahindra doing what Mahindra does best: driving change with a grin and a gearbox.
