Unforgotten Brands: Escorts
𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬: 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬
Born in Lahore, in undivided British India, Har Prasad Nanda began his entrepreneurial journey with the flourishing passenger transport business – Nanda Bus Service – alongside his brother, Yudi.
But in 1947, the Partition forced him to abandon it all. With just Rs 5,000 and two cars, he arrived in Delhi, determined to start over.
Instead of staying with family, he checked into Delhi’s most luxurious hotel, The Imperial, believing that a bold presence would help him revive connections.
And it did.
✳️From Agency to Agricultural Reformer
Before the Partition, Nanda had already founded Escorts Agents Ltd in Lahore in 1944, working as a franchisee for Westinghouse.
The name “Escorts” came from their role of escorting goods from manufacturers to consumers.
By 1948, Nanda had launched Escorts Agricultural Machines Ltd, marketing imported tractors to a newly independent, agrarian India. Collaborations followed—Massey Ferguson, Minneapolis-Moline, and URSUS of Poland.
In 1954, he also formed a joint venture with Germany’s Goetze to manufacture piston rings. By 1959, Escorts was producing tractors with Polish support—ushering India into the era of farm mechanisation.
✳️Diversification and Dominance
Escorts Limited was officially established in 1960. Tractors remained the backbone, but Nanda pushed the envelope with:
Rajdoot motorcycles, in collaboration with Yamaha
Marine engines and excavators
EPABX systems
Deep-well drilling equipment
He even established India’s first private institute for farm mechanisation on 800 acres in Delhi’s Azadpur, leased from the army.
By the late 1970s, Escorts had grown into a Rs 1,000 crore conglomerate, among India’s top business houses.
✳️A Corporate Battle That Changed India
In 1983, Nanda faced his most defining challenge: fending off a hostile takeover attempt by NRI businessman Swaraj Paul. Backed by public opinion, media, and titans like JRD Tata and Keshub Mahindra, he fought back.
The standoff redefined the relationship between public financial institutions and Indian promoters, setting a precedent in Indian corporate governance.
TO READ THE REST, VISIT
Unforgotten Brands: Escorts
Born in Lahore, in undivided British India, Har Prasad Nanda began his entrepreneurial journey with the flourishing passenger transport business – Nanda Bus Service – alongside his brother, Yudi.
But in 1947, the Partition forced him to abandon it all. With just Rs 5,000 and two cars, he arrived in Delhi, determined to start over.
Instead of staying with family, he checked into Delhi’s most luxurious hotel, The Imperial, believing that a bold presence would help him revive connections.
And it did.
✳️From Agency to Agricultural Reformer
Before the Partition, Nanda had already founded Escorts Agents Ltd in Lahore in 1944, working as a franchisee for Westinghouse.
The name “Escorts” came from their role of escorting goods from manufacturers to consumers.
By 1948, Nanda had launched Escorts Agricultural Machines Ltd, marketing imported tractors to a newly independent, agrarian India. Collaborations followed—Massey Ferguson, Minneapolis-Moline, and URSUS of Poland.
In 1954, he also formed a joint venture with Germany’s Goetze to manufacture piston rings. By 1959, Escorts was producing tractors with Polish support—ushering India into the era of farm mechanisation.
✳️Diversification and Dominance
Escorts Limited was officially established in 1960. Tractors remained the backbone, but Nanda pushed the envelope with:
Rajdoot motorcycles, in collaboration with Yamaha
Marine engines and excavators
EPABX systems
Deep-well drilling equipment
He even established India’s first private institute for farm mechanisation on 800 acres in Delhi’s Azadpur, leased from the army.
By the late 1970s, Escorts had grown into a Rs 1,000 crore conglomerate, among India’s top business houses.
✳️A Corporate Battle That Changed India
In 1983, Nanda faced his most defining challenge: fending off a hostile takeover attempt by NRI businessman Swaraj Paul. Backed by public opinion, media, and titans like JRD Tata and Keshub Mahindra, he fought back.
The standoff redefined the relationship between public financial institutions and Indian promoters, setting a precedent in Indian corporate governance.
TO READ THE REST, VISIT
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