When the British Raj came to an end, a few Indian brands came forward that reshaped the country steadily. They are now the pioneers in their industry while resonating with India's identity.
Let’s know these pre-independence era brands that are still marking their presence boldly in India and abroad.
Tata Group (1868): Having a market cap of multi-billion dollars and operating in over 100 countries, the Tata Group was started by Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata in 1868.
Dabur India (1884): Now well-known as one of the biggest FMCG companies in India, Dabur India was established in 1884 by Dr. S.K. Burman in Kolkata as a small ayurvedic clinic.
Britannia Industries Ltd (1892): Started in 1892 in Kolkata, this is one of the largest ready-to-eat packaged food production companies in India with INR 88,000 crore brand value.
Godrej Group (1897): It was founded by Ardeshir Godrej and Pirojsha Burjorji Godrej in 1897 in Bombay, specializing in lock making. Now, the company also excels in real estate, furniture, agricultural products, and more.
Rooh Afza (1907): Translating to “refresher of the soul”, it was started in 1907 by a physician named Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed. It is a popular summer drink made from herbs, vegetable extracts, and fruits.
Imperial Tobacco Co Ltd (ITC) (1910): Started in 1910 in Kolkata, initially, ITC was initially a cigarette and leaf tobacco manufacturing company now boasting a luxury chain of ITC hotels, noodles, biscuits, and more.
Parle-G (1929): Parle-G was established in 1929 in Mumbai. Standing the test of time, it still is the most consumed and loved biscuit brand in India.
Mahindra and Mahindra (1945): India’s largest vehicle production company Mahindra and Mahindra was founded in 1945 in Ludhiana by the name Mahindra & Mohammed which was later renamed to its current name.