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Unforgotten Brands: Forest Essentials

๐”๐ง๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐๐ซ๐š๐ง๐๐ฌ: ๐…๐จ๐ซ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ ๐„๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐š๐ฅ๐ฌ Mira Kulkarniโ€™s story is a testament to the idea that strength often emerges from lifeโ€™s most significant challenges. Married at 20, Mira soon found herself in a failing relationship marred by alcoholism. With resilience and hope, she made the difficult choice to separate, returning to her parental home with her two young children. But by the age of 28, she faced a double tragedy, losing both her parents. Alone and with limited financial resources, she rented out part of her home and sought ways to support her family. It was during a summer holiday in 1999 that inspiration struck unexpectedly. At 45, with her children growing independent, when the power repeatedly failed, Mira and her family began melting and remoulding candles in the garage. What started as a survival tactic evolved into a passionโ€”and that passion eventually gave rise to Forest Essentials.  โœ…The Foundation A deep belief in Ayurveda, rooted in ...

Unforgetten Brands: Bajaj Sunny

๐”๐ง๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ž๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐๐ซ๐š๐ง๐๐ฌ: ๐๐š๐ฃ๐š๐ฃ ๐’๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ฒ Long before sleek EVs and flashy bikes ruled Indian roads, the early โ€™90s saw a humble two-wheeler capture the hearts of young Indians: the Bajaj Sunny. Lightweight, stylish, and practical, it wasnโ€™t just a scooterโ€”it became a symbol of freedom and aspiration for a generation growing up in a changing India. โœ…The Launch of a Teen Icon In 1990, Bajaj Auto introduced the Sunny, a small, gearless scooter explicitly built for teenagers and first-time riders. Meant for those aged 16 and above, it fell into the special category of 50cc, non-geared two-wheelers that could be ridden with a learnerโ€™s license. Designed to be light, easy to handle, and economical, the Sunny features: A 50cc, air-cooled, two-stroke engine Kick-start mechanism Automatic transmission Mileage of around 50 kmpl At a time when larger scooters like the Bajaj Chetak or Vespa dominated, the Sunny offered something refreshing: ease, affordability, and confidenc...

Unforgotten Brands: Luna

๐”๐ง๐Ÿ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐๐ซ๐š๐ง๐๐ฌ: ๐‹๐ฎ๐ง๐š In the early 1970s, India was on the cusp of transformation. Bicycles dominated the roads, and motorcycles were still a luxury for the affluent. In this backdrop, a visionary idea was born in Pune, where Kinetic Engineering, part of the Firodia Group, set out to create a two-wheeler that was affordable, easy to use, and practical for the everyday Indian โ€“ a blend of bicycles and motorcycles. โœ…Naming Inspired by the Italian Piaggioโ€™s Ciao, they developed a 50cc moped. Gave it a celestial name: Luna, Latin for โ€œmoon.โ€ โœ…Launched in 1972: Small Size, Big Impact When Luna was launched in 1972, it weighed just 50 kilograms and could be pedalled like a cycle when it ran out of fuel. It was Indiaโ€™s very first mopedโ€”simple, reliable, and aspirational. The middle class found the lightweight build, affordable pricing, and ease of use appealing, and Luna quickly gained widespread recognition. Pune, already known as the bicycle capital, quickly adopte...