Jagdish Chandra Mahindra

Jagdish Chandra Mahindra (Hindi: जगदीश चंद्र महिंद्रा) commonly referred as J. C. Mahindra (c 1892-1951) was an Indian industrialist and co-founder of Mahindra & Mahindra in 1945, with K. C. Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed

Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, he was 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. He sent his brother K.C. to Cambridge. The brothers were very close and the love and trust between them was extraordinary.

Mahindra received his degree from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) Mumbai (University of Mumbai), one of India's premier engineering and technical institutes.

Mahindra 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 Government of India appointed him as the first Steel Controller of India.

As Independence approached, Mahindra was prescient about the opportunities that Indian entrepreneurs would have to contribute to the growth of the newborn nation. His vision and ambition led him to start Mahindra & Mohammad in partnership with K.C. and Ghulam Mohammed.

His vision and insight into India’s post-independence economic development enabled Mahindra & Mahindra to grow to the size, scope, and impact it has reached today.

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 in Mumbai. Soon, the company’s name changed to Mahindra & Mahindra.....

Mahindra died of a heart attack in 1951.