Brijmohan Lall Munjal Indian entrepreneur Date of Birth: 01.01.1923 Country: India

1. Early Life and Background
2. Migration and Business Beginnings
3. Rise of Hero Cycles
4. Triumph in Bicycle Production
5. Guinness Record and Honda Alliance
6. The Hero Group's Expansion
7. Honors and Awards

Early Life and Background

Brigadier Mohán Lal Munjál, the founder of Hero MotoCorp, was born in Kamalia, Toba Tek Singh, which was then part of British India. He came from a middle-class family, and after completing his education, he worked at a factory for a short period.

Migration and Business Beginnings

Due to the impending partition of India, Munjál and his brothers, Dayanand, Satyanand, and Om Prakash, moved to Amritsar. They established their first venture, supplying parts to bicycle manufacturers. In 1947, they relocated to Ludhiana, a significant industrial center for bicycles and textiles.

Rise of Hero Cycles

The Munjál brothers expanded their supply network, and by the early 1950s, their components were being used in bicycles throughout India. In 1954, they transformed their company, Hero Cycles Ltd., from a supplier to a manufacturer. They initially produced components such as chains, forks, and handlebars, then gradually widened their product range.

Triumph in Bicycle Production

In 1956, the government issued tenders for 12 new bicycle manufacturing licenses. The Munjál brothers participated and emerged victorious, making Hero Cycles a major industrial enterprise. In 1961, they ventured into component manufacturing under Rockman Cycles Industries, while Hero Cycles expanded its bicycle business internationally.

Guinness Record and Honda Alliance

By 1975, Hero had become the largest bicycle manufacturer in India. In 1986, it entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest producer. Munjál's ambition led him to form an alliance with Honda Motors. He founded Majestic Auto Limited, which focused on scooters, before expanding into motorcycles with Honda's assistance.

The Hero Group's Expansion

The Hero Group continued to thrive, with the company selling 86 million bicycles in 2002 and producing 16,000 motorcycles per day. Munjál became renowned as one of India's most successful entrepreneurs, receiving numerous accolades.

Honors and Awards

In 1994, Business India named him "Entrepreneur of the Year." He received the National Award for Outstanding Contribution to Indian Industry in 1995. Business Barons included him in their list of "Most Admired CEOs" in 1999. Ernst and Young honored him with an Entrepreneurial Award in 2001, and in 2003, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Management by the All India Management Association. Banaras Hindu University conferred an honorary doctorate upon him in October 2004.