The President of French Republic has appointed Rahul Bajaj, Chairman of Bajaj Auto, Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honor.
On behalf of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, H.E. the French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont conferred the "Chevalier de l 'Ordre de la Legion de' Honneur" on Rahul Bajaj at a glittering ceremony held at his residence in New Delhi. The French President bestowed the honour in recognition of Rahul Bajaj's remarkable career as businessman, his successful management of the Bajaj Group and his notable entrepreneurial spirit.
The French Republic confers several distinctions amongst which the Order of the Legion of Honour is the highest distinction that can be conferred on a French citizen as well as on a foreigner. The Order of the Legion of Honour was instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
On accepting the honour, Rahul Bajaj said: "It is indeed a great honour to receive this recognition. It is a great honor for the members of the Bajaj Group and a tribute to the spirit of entrepreneurship."
Bajaj, an Honors Graduate in Economics and Law with an MBA from Harvard Business School hails from an illustrious family that has made rich contributions to nation building and has been associated with the Indian freedom struggle. Late Shri Jamnalal Bajaj, Grandfather of Rahul Bajaj was considered the fifth son of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. In recognition of his personal qualities, President of India awarded Bajaj the 'Padma Bhushan' in 2001. Bajaj was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2006.
The Bajaj Group today is India's leading industrial house with a market cap of about Rs. 78,000 cr and functions with deep social commitment and practices the highest norms of good corporate governance.
