Savitri Jindal
Savitri Devi Jindal | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 20, 1950 Tinsukia, Assam, India |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Known for | Chairperson emeritus of O.P. Jindal Group; Member of Haryana Legislative Assembly |
Savitri Devi Jindal (born 20 March 1950) is a prominent Indian entrepreneur and political figure, holding the position of chairperson emeritus at the O.P. Jindal Group, a leading conglomerate in steel and power sectors. She also leads Maharaja Agrasen Medical College located in Agroha. As of June 2024, the Jindal family’s net assets are valued at approximately $40 billion. By October 2024, Forbes ranked them third among India’s wealthiest business families, with an estimated net worth of $34.4 billion.
Biography
Originating from a Marwari background in Tinsukia, Assam, Jindal is married to Om Prakash Jindal, the founder of the Jindal Group. Following his untimely death in a helicopter accident in 2005, she took over the helm of the enterprise. Her political career includes serving as a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly representing Hisar constituency. Over time, she has been associated with both the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, and currently holds an independent MLA position while supporting the BJP.
As of March 2024, she is acknowledged as India’s wealthiest woman and ranks 50th among the richest individuals worldwide. She is also noted as the seventh wealthiest mother globally and actively continues to promote her late husband’s public welfare projects. In 2008, she was honored with the Acharya Tulsi Kartritva Puraskar by Akhil Bhartiya Terapanth Mahila Mandal.
Political life
Jindal entered the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in 2005 by winning the Hisar seat, previously held by her late husband Om Prakash Jindal. She secured re-election in 2009 and was appointed as a cabinet minister in Haryana’s government on 29 October 2013.
Her ministerial roles have included responsibilities as Minister of State for Revenue and Disaster Management, Consolidation, Rehabilitation and Housing, along with Urban Local Bodies and Housing.
Under her stewardship, the company’s turnover increased fourfold. Hailing from Haryana, she also occupied the post of Minister of Power until 2010. The O.P. Jindal Group, established in 1952 by engineer O.P. Jindal, expanded into a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning steel, power generation, mining, oil, and gas sectors. Management of its four divisions is entrusted to her sons Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan, and Naveen Jindal. Jindal Steel stands as India’s third-largest steel manufacturer.
In March 2024, she officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the 2024 Indian general election. Her son and politician Naveen Jindal secured victory from Kurukshetra on a BJP ticket during the 2024 general elections. Subsequently, in October 2024, she contested independently for the Haryana State Assembly from Hisar and won the election.