Mahindra & Mahindra, one of India’s most respected and diversified business groups, marked its 80th Founders Day on October 2, 2025. The occasion commemorates the vision of its founders, J.C. Mahindra and K.C. Mahindra, who established the company in 1945 — a day that also coincides with Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
Even before India’s independence, Mahindra announced its arrival with a powerful advertisement in The Times of India. The ad invited individuals from all communities to join a company built on courage, fairness, and opportunity — an inclusive and progressive call during a time of global war and social division.
Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group said, “Eighty years ago, the Mahindra Group was born with a crystal-clear purpose: to help build our nascent nation. Our founders pledged to develop industry, create livelihoods, and enable communities to rise from the violent throes of the struggle for independence into a brighter future. Today, we once again are in turbulent times, and we have the opportunity to renew that pledge to strive together to propel India towards technological self-reliance and global respect.”
Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group said, “Our founders were ahead of their time. Their first ad did not talk about products or profits, it highlighted the ‘principles which will guide their activities’: entrepreneurship, integrity, diversity, and a fearless optimism about India’s future. Eighty years later, those principles continue to guide us as we innovate, empower communities, and drive positive change across the world.”
From assembling the first Willys jeeps in post-war India to building a global federation of companies across mobility, technology, finance, hospitality, and renewable energy, Mahindra has remained true to its purpose of “Rise” — enabling others to rise.
Today, the Group operates in over 100 countries and is active across 70% of India’s GDP. It champions sustainability, gender diversity, skilling, and rural prosperity, reaffirming that talent knows no boundaries and opportunity should be open to all.
At the heart of Mahindra’s journey are its associates, whose agility, boldness, and collaborative spirit keep the vision alive. Growth, for Mahindra, is not just about profits but about impact. Initiatives such as Kaabil (empowering women with skills for livelihoods) and Nanhi Kali (supporting girls’ education) embody this philosophy.
Despite global uncertainties, Mahindra sees India as uniquely positioned to emerge as a global manufacturing powerhouse. With strong infrastructure, a young workforce, and supportive policies, the company aspires to strengthen its global presence while staying anchored in its founding values.
As the Group enters its ninth decade, it continues to stand as “a platform for possibilities” where businesses, people, and communities come together to Rise.
