Karan Bajaj
Karan Bajaj | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1979 India |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, Author |
| Known for | Founder and CEO of WhiteHat Jr. |
| Notable work | Keep Off The Grass, Johnny Gone Down, The Yoga of Max's Discontent, The Seeker |
Karan Bajaj is an Indian entrepreneur in the technology sector and a published writer. He gained prominence as the founder and chief executive officer of WhiteHat Jr., an Edtech firm dedicated to remote learning, which was acquired by BYJU'S in 2020 for $300 million. WhiteHat Jr. specializes in teaching coding to children, strategically positioning itself within the expanding Indian educational technology industry.
In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Bajaj has written four novels, including notable titles such as Keep Off The Grass (2008), Johnny Gone Down (2010), and The Yoga of Max's Discontent (2015). His career uniquely blends business leadership with literary creativity, showcasing a multifaceted professional background.
Early life
Born into a family with a military heritage in India, Karan Bajaj earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra.
Career
Bajaj’s early professional experience includes roles at Procter & Gamble, The Boston Consulting Group, and Kraft Foods. In 2016, he was appointed CEO of Discovery Networks South Asia, managing channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, and Discovery Kids. He stepped down from this position in 2019.
WhiteHat Jr
Founded by Bajaj in 2018, WhiteHat Jr is an online platform aimed at improving coding and mathematics skills among children. The company was purchased by BYJU'S for $300 million in 2020 and became part of their coding education segment. Following the acquisition, Bajaj took charge of Byju's International division, Byju's FutureSchool, broadening its reach to markets including the United States, Brazil, and Mexico with new course offerings in music, English language, fine arts, and science. He exited the company in August 2021, with Trupti Mukker succeeding him as CEO.
Authorship
Bajaj has authored multiple novels. His first book, Keep Off The Grass (2008), narrates the journey of a 25-year-old Yale alumnus on a psychedelic road trip across India that delves into themes like self-discovery, addiction, and spirituality. The main character, Samrat—born to immigrant parents in America—embarks on a quest to connect with his heritage while facing diverse experiences such as imprisonment and meditation retreats in the Himalayas.
His sophomore novel, Johnny Gone Down (2010), released by HarperCollins, is a thriller that follows an MIT graduate’s dramatic evolution over two decades—from surviving genocide to becoming a Buddhist monk, drug kingpin, software entrepreneur, and lethal combatant.
The Seeker (2015), published by Penguin Random House, tells the tale of an investment banker from New York searching for yogic enlightenment amidst the Himalayas. This story draws inspiration from Bajaj’s own sabbatical during which he traveled from Europe to India practicing Hatha yoga and meditation.
Critics from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Chicago Tribune, among others have reviewed Bajaj’s literary works. Keep Off The Grass was a semi-finalist for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award and shortlisted for the Indiaplaza Golden Quill Book Awards in 2008. The Chicago Tribune commended The Yoga of Max's Discontent for its genuine depiction of a Wall Street banker’s spiritual awakening.
Books
- Keep Off the Grass (2008), published by HarperCollins
- Johnny Gone Down (2010), released through HarperCollins
- The Seeker (2015), issued by Penguin Random House
- The Yoga of Max's Discontent (2016), published by Penguin Random House
- Rendered into Czech as *Max a hledání vyšší pravdy*
Adaptations
In 2009, the film adaptation rights for Keep Off the Grass were secured by Mosaic Media Group, with Ben Rekhi set to direct. Later, in 2017, producers Ronnie Screwvala and Ashi Dua became involved in developing the film version of Johnny Gone Down.
Personal life
Karan Bajaj is a father to two daughters.