Mumbai, December 06th, 2024: Sonu Bhasin’s book “Entrepreneurs Who Built India – Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” has won the prestigious Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2024, recognizing its significant contribution to Indian business literature. The biography explores the life of Lala Shri Ram, a pioneering entrepreneur who transformed DCM into one of India’s largest business houses by 1950s. It details his early life, his entrepreneurial journey, and the visionary leadership that enabled him to build a successful empire across industries such as textiles, sugar, and chemicals. The book also highlights his contributions to education and community development.
Bhasin, a respected business leader and family business historian, draws upon her expertise in family enterprises to craft this compelling narrative. Her career spans senior roles at companies like Tata Administrative Services (TAS), ING Barings, Axis Bank, and Tata Capital, in addition to serving as the editor-in-chief of Families & Business magazine. Reflecting on the book prize and her award, Sonu Bhasin says “I am delighted to receive the Award. This is an excellent initiative by Gaja Capital and goes a very long way in encouraging authors, especially business authors. I dedicate this award to the memory of Lala Shri Ram, a true visionary, and to all family business owners who are the unsung heroes of our country. Thank you Gaja Capital.”
The award was presented during the Gaja Talks 2024 event at the Four Seasons in Worli, Mumbai, a dynamic gathering of leading industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. The event featured an insightful panel discussion with the shortlisted authors – Sonu Bhasin, Bhagwan Chowdhry, Anas Ahmed, Shashank Mani, Kamal Shah and A.R. Venkatachalapathy – covering entrepreneurship, economics, and India’s rich business history, and celebrating the impactful contributions of Indian business leaders. This year’s prize comes with an enhanced reward of INR 20 lakhs, further solidifying its position as India’s most prestigious business book honor.
Gopal Jain, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Gaja Capital, said, “This year’s winner intricately weaves India’s rich history, entrepreneurial spirit, and evolution over the decades with Lala Shri Ram’s journey, visionary leadership, and profound societal impact. Sonu Bhasin’s work not only honors Lala Shri Ram’s legacy but also inspires future generations of leaders to dream big and act boldly. The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize remains committed to promoting such narratives that enrich our understanding of the business landscape and encourage young entrepreneurs to pursue their vision. We dedicate this year’s edition of the business book prize to the memory of Ratan Tata. It is fitting that the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize debut award in 2019 was given to Girish Kuber’s book on the remarkable legacy of Tatas – “The Tatas: How a Family Built a Business and a Nation.”
Manish Sabharwal, Chairman of the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize Jury, commented, “Entrepreneurs Who Built India – Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow is an extraordinary book that goes beyond mere storytelling. Sonu Bhasin captures Lala Shri Ram’s incredible journey and lasting influence on India’s business world. It underscores how resilience, innovation, and social responsibility are vital to the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our nation. This book will inspire future generations of leaders.”
The jury for the sixth edition includes eminent figures from industry, investments, public policy, and governance: Manish Sabharwal, Vice-Chairman at TeamLease (Chairman of the Jury), Imran Jafar, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Gaja Capital, Aarthi Subramanian, Group Chief Digital Officer at Tata Sons, Arindam Bhattacharya, Senior Advisor and Emeritus Partner at Boston Consulting Group, Dr. Lakshmi Venu, MD of Sundaram-Clayton (SCL), Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint MD of Apollo Hospitals, Neelkanth Mishra, Chief Economist, Head of Global Research and Board member at Axis Capital, Prithvi Haldea, Founder Chairman of Praxis Consulting, Shailesh Haribhakti, Founder and Managing Partner of Shailesh Haribhakti & Associates, and UK Sinha, Former Head of the RBI Expert Committee on MSMEs and Former Chairman of SEBI.
Now in its sixth year, the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize, through its curated short-lists over the years, has created a repository of over 50 exceptional works on Indian entrepreneurship, business, and excellence. These books cover a range of topics from large Indian conglomerates to indigenous businesses. The fifth edition was jointly awarded to Against All Odds: The IT Story of India by Kris Gopalakrishnan, N. Dayasindhu, and Krishnan Narayanan, and Winning Middle India: The Story of India’s New-Age Entrepreneurs by T.N Hari and Bala Srinivasa.
The jury process began with creating a short list of 5 books from a select long list of ten books. The 2024 shortlist consisted of a range of stories of enterprises and their protagonists including:
- Entrepreneurs Who Built India – Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow by Sonu Bhasin
- Fintech for Billions: Simple | Human | Ubiquitous by Bhagwan Chowdhry and Anas Ahmed
- Middle of Diamond India: National Renaissance through Participation and Enterprise by Shashank Mani,
- Silver Lining: Overcoming Adversity to Build NephroPlus – India’s Largest Dialysis Provider by Kamal Shah,
- Swadeshi Steam: V.O Chidambaram Pillai and the Battle against the British Maritime Empire by A.R. Venkatachalapathy
Jury Citation
‘Entrepreneurs Who Built India – Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” by Sonu Bhasin is an engaging biography that highlights the visionary leadership of Lala Shri Ram, a pioneering industrialist who significantly shaped modern Indian business. The jury commends Bhasin for her meticulous research and engaging storytelling, which illuminates Shri Ram’s innovative spirit and commitment to social responsibility. This book not only chronicles his contributions to multiple industries but also serves as an inspiring guide for future entrepreneurs, showcasing how resilience, critical thinking, and empathy for one’s employees can lead to success in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.