The man in black without the tie is none other than Dr Subhash Chandra the founder and Chairman of The Essel Group. Here he is seen standing with his brothers symbolically leading the empire. If you read the word ESSEL right to left you will see two words LESS & E – where E stands for Ego. I have learnt from Subhash Sir that you should be open to criticism and only then you will be able to move ahead in life. You have to over come fear and your Ego with the capital “E” – I had the privilege of working with ZEE in the year 1995 and then in the year 2021. The learning was phenomenal. Today as the ESSEL group celebrates 100 years of its successful saga – Dr. Chandra is writing the blue print for another 100 years, I must say thank you Sir for being a visionary.
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Dr.Subhash Chandra is a fan of Elon Musk, you heard it right- the richest man on earth. Dr. Chandra admires him not because he is rich but because he is very innovative. He tries to give new things to humanity- he tries to use technology and create things that tries to satisfy the ever curious mind of humans. One of the employee sought suggestion from the Chairman on what to do in a changing digital world to which he replied by saying, “Be ahead of people in the digital world. Stay ahead in understanding technology and where it is going.” “Digital is not standalone technology only. It is a mode of communication. Stay ahead in your business, grow your business, and stay ahead of competition,” he further said.
In media Dr. Subhash Chandra has created a legacy that is willing to give great creations with human talents that is not devoid of empathy for another 100 years for the sake of the audience in India and abroad.The Z factor reveals about the man who is ever willing to take the risk for creating something new. In real sense he is the innovator in the arena of media in India.Some say he is the man with the Midas touch.
Multi-faceted Indian business conglomerate Essel Group has marked a historic milestone in its journey, as it completes 100 glorious years of delivering value across the globe. From a humble beginning in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business to a multi-faceted conglomerate with a diverse presence across a gamut of businesses, Essel Group has created a lasting impression across the world. Over the course of a century, the Group has evolved alongside India’s own economic and industrial transformation, expanding its footprint across sectors including packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle and gold refineries. With a presence spanning 190+ countries, Essel Group has positively impacted the lives of billions of people while contributing significantly to India’s business landscape and global presence.
The journey of Essel Group began in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business. Over the decades, the Group steadily expanded its footprint and emerged as one of India’s prominent business conglomerates with a presence across multiple sectors and geographies. The Group’s century-long journey reflects the transformation of Indian enterprise itself — from traditional trading roots during pre-Independence India to becoming a globally recognised business conglomerate with operations spanning across 190+ countries.
Led by Jagannath Goenka and successfully spearheaded by the visionary Dr. Subhash Chandra as the Chairman of the Group, and his brothers – Jawahar Goel, Laxmi Narain Goel and Ashok Goel, Essel Group is amongst the few Indian business conglomerates to have successfully passed down its rich legacy across six generations.
The Group’s leadership journey represents continuity, entrepreneurship and long-term vision that helped Essel Group navigate changing business landscapes over the last century. The group diversified into multiple business sectors including packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle, gold refineries and more, positively impacting the lives of billions of people across 190+ countries. Its expansion into diverse industries reflects the group’s ability to evolve with changing economic realities and consumer aspirations while contributing to India’s industrial and business ecosystem.
Essel Group has not only contributed towards the establishment of the Indian business landscape in the pre-liberalisation era, but it has also strengthened the economic development of our nation by significantly enhancing its hard power and soft power. Essel Group’s growth story mirrors India’s own economic transformation over the decades, particularly during periods of industrial expansion, media growth and infrastructure development.
Through its pioneering initiatives that have set up not just companies but industries in itself, Essel Group has created an ‘ Impression of a Century ’, generating employment opportunities for over 10 million people across the Nation. The Group’s contribution extends beyond business growth, playing a role in employment generation, industrial development and expanding India’s global business presence. As Essel Group completes 100 years, its journey stands as a reflection of resilience, diversification and generational leadership. From a grain trading business in Adampur to a global conglomerate with a footprint across industries and countries, the group’s century-long legacy continues to leave an ‘ Impression of a Century ’ across the world.
The author of this article is Irfan Sheikh senior journalist & former channel head of Zee Salam