Companies that have survived 100 years in India
June 26, 2011
Two World Wars, the Great Depression, India's independence struggle, the Hindu rate of growth, the licence-permit raj, controls on foreign exchange and expansion, and the reforms of the 1990s: a handful of Indian companies have seen it all, and adapted along the way to do well. India has around three dozen century-old companies that are listed and still actively traded. Of these we have selected a dozen that have done especially well at responding to change. "Response to change is the first condition for survival in business," says Dwijendra Tripathi, a former IIM professor who authored The Oxford History of Indian Business. A hundred years is a long period. Dive into the exciting journey of these intrepid survivors.1788: Breen & Co founded; to become Jessop in 1820 1838: The Times of India launched 1898: Calcutta becomes first city in India to get electricity 1902: Shalimar Paints sets up first paint factory in SE Asia ![]() 1910: Advent of electricity helps Britannia biscuits mechanise operations ![]() 1919: Birlas defy Yule and other Scots to get into jute manufacture, WWI fuels boom 1926: Kirloskar makes first diesel engine in India 1929: TVS bags General Motors' dealership 1931: CESC builds tunnel under river Hoogly 1940: For the first time, The Times of India publishes news items 1945: Britannia sales surge, fuelled by contract to supply biscuits to Allied troops 1951: R.D. Birla acquires control of Century Textiles 1953: Bengal Chamber of Commerce completes a 100 years ![]() 1969: Managing Agency system abolished ![]() 1988: Jessop celebrates 200 years of existence 1998: Burman family hands over Dabur management to professionals 2007: Tata Steel acquires Corus ACKNOWLEDGMENT We thank and acknowledge the following for access to their records and permission to use images from their archives and publications: Allahabad Bank; Andrew Yule; Bank of Baroda; Britannia; Bennett, Coleman & Co; CESC, Century Textiles; Dabur; Godrej Archives; Indian Hotels; ITC; Jessop; Kirloskar; Saregama; Shalimar Paints; Tata Steel; TVS & Sons; The Statesman. | |||||||
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