Baba Kalyani
Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1949 Pune, India |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge |
Babasaheb Neelkanth Kalyani (born 7 January 1949) is an Indian billionaire entrepreneur who serves as the chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge, the principal company within the Kalyani Group. Bharat Forge ranks as the world's second-largest forging manufacturer, trailing only ThyssenKrupp of Germany.
Family, Early life and education
Born on 7 January 1949 to Sulochana and Neelakanth Rao Kalyani, a technocrat specializing in automotive components based in Pune, Babasaheb Kalyani spent his early years attending Rashtriya Military School in Belgaum for high school, followed by Dr. (Mrs.) Erin N. Nagarvala School in Pune. He graduated with a BE (Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering from BITS Pilani in 1970 and subsequently earned a Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
A legal conflict exists between Babasaheb and his brother Gaurishankar concerning their mother’s inheritance. Gaurishankar disputes a will dated 2012 favoring Babasaheb and has introduced a 2022 will that nullifies prior versions, alleging that Babasaheb exerted undue pressure to claim a larger portion. He further asserts that Babasaheb’s probate actions intend to seize assets meant for him.
Moreover, their sister Sugandha Hiremath has accused Babasaheb of fraudulent conduct related to a memorial shrine (samadhi) dedicated to their mother in Kashi. This matter has been escalated to Pune’s Civil Court following Hiremath’s filing of a special civil suit against him.
Career
Babasaheb Kalyani began his career at Bharat Forge in 1972, which is recognized as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
To promote renewable energy, he established Kenersys Limited, focusing on the production of energy-efficient wind turbines catering to both domestic and international markets. The company operates wind turbines in Maharashtra, delivering clean energy to support the group’s manufacturing activities. Additionally, he is advancing solar energy technologies and, through a collaboration with KPIT Cummins, Bharat Forge is developing hybrid vehicle solutions aimed at achieving India’s emission reduction goals.
Since 2011, Kalyani has been a member of the board of directors at SKF.
In 2018, the Government of India appointed him as chairman of a task force assigned to evaluate policies related to special economic zones (SEZs).
On 19 February 2015, the Kalyani Group announced a joint venture based in India with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems from Israel.
Recognition
The Indian government honored Kalyani with the Padma Bhushan award for his significant contributions to Trade and Industry. Sweden recognized his efforts in enhancing bilateral trade by bestowing upon him the title Commander First Class of the Royal Order of the Polar Star. His other distinctions include receiving the Global Economy Prize for Business from Kiel Institute in 2009, being named German Businessman of the Year by Business India Magazine in 2006, earning Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for Manufacturing award in 2005, and being designated CEO of the Year by Business Standard in 2004.
In 2012, Germany awarded him the Cross of the Order of Merit. As per Forbes estimates from April 2021, his net worth was approximately US$2.3 billion. By 2024, he holds the 66th position on Forbes’ list of India’s top 100 wealthiest individuals with an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion.
Philanthropy
Kalyani is the founder and current chairperson of the Pratham Pune Education Foundation, a non-governmental organization launched in 2000 that aims to deliver primary education to disadvantaged children within the local area.