Doyen of Mahindra Group, Keshub Mahindra passes away at 99 in Mumbai

Mumbai, April 12: Renowned industrialist Keshub Mahindra, the Chairman Emeritus of the industrial conglomerate Mahindra Group, passed away here on Wednesday morning, an official said.

He was 99 and breathed his last peacefully at his home. He is survived by nephew and industrialist Anand Mahindra and other relatives.

A well-known philanthropist, Mahindra had served as the non-executive Chairman of the Union Carbide India Ltd. when the massive Bhopal gas leak had occurred in December 1984.

Ranked as the world's worst industrial disaster, Mahindra and others were later convicted by a court for two years' jail term in 2010, and later enlarged on bail.

Born on October 9, 1923 in Shimla, Mahindra pursued his higher education in the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.

Subsequently, he joined the Mahindra & Mahindra Group in 1947, and rose up to become its Chairman in 1963.

Over the years, the Mahindra Group became a leading conglomerate with interests comprising automobiles, starting with its popular Willys jeeps that ruled the roads once, engineering, farm equipment, education, aerospace, IT, housing, realty, finances, etc.

Keshub Mahindra worked on various high-level government committees and panels with various governments, and was on the PM's Council on Trade and Industry from 2004-2010.

He was decorated with several national and international honours, served with several industry organisations and associations like ASSOCHAM, HUDCO, and also on the boards of top companies like Tatas, SAIL, IFC, ICICI, HDFC, EFI, AIMA, Bombay Dyeing, Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation, et al.