Om Prakash Jindal (1930-2005) was an Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and politician. O. P. Jindal was serving as the Minister of Power for Haryana until he passed away during a plane crash in 2005. He was also the founder of the Jindal Group and its ventures.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Om Prakash Jindal (popularly referred to as O.P. Jindal) was born on Thursday, 7 August 1930 (age 74 years; at the time of death) in the village of Nalwa in the Hisar district of Punjab, British India (now in Haryana, India). His zodiac sign is Leo. O. P. Jindal studied until class 8 in a government school in Nalwa, Haryana.
A young Om Prakash Jindal
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Colour: Salt and Pepper (Semi-bald)
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Om Prakash Jindal’s father’s name is Netram Jindal (deceased). Netram was a farmer. There is not much known about his mother and siblings.
Wife & Children
Om Prakash Jindal was married to Savitri Jindal, a businesswoman and politician. After O. P. Jindal died in 2005, Savitri took over as the chairperson of the Jindal Organisation. She was also a politician of the Indian National Congress. Forbes named Savitri as India’s richest woman in 2023.
Savitri Jindal sitting next to a picture of her late husband Om Prakash Jindal
The pair have nine children together. Naveen Jindal is an industrialist, philanthropist, sportsperson, and politician of the Indian National Congress. Naveen is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha. He is the chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (formerly known as Jindal Strips Limited) and Chancellor of O. P. Jindal Global University. Sajjan Jindal is the chairman and managing director of the JSW Group. Prithviraj Jindal is the non-executive chairman of Jindal SAW Limited. Ratan Jindal is the chairman of Jindal Stainless Limited. Seema Jindal Jajodia is a health coach and the owner of Nourish Organics. His other children include Sarika Jhunjhunwala, Urmila Bhuwalka, and Nirmala Goel.
A picture of all of Om Prakash Jindal’s children
Religion
Om Prakash Jindal followed Hinduism.
Signature/Autograph
Om Prakash Jindal’s signature
Career
Industrialist
O. P. Jindal’s interest in business arose when he was a child, which led him to start his career as an industrialist with a small bucket manufacturing unit in Hisar in 1952. With an investment of Rs. 42.000, in 1964, Om Prakash Jindal launched Jindal (India) Limited, which manufactures pipe fittings. He then established the Jindal Strips Limited factory in Kolkata, in 1969. Jindal used to explore foreign countries and their practices to understand the latest industrial technical developments and applied this knowledge to increase production in his businesses and companies in India. The Jindal Organization, which consists of O. P. Jindal’s ventures (and his children’s ventures), oversees about twenty factories, valued at over US $10 billion. According to Forbes’ 2005 “Rich List”, he was ranked 13th among the richest Indians and 548th among the richest individuals globally. Along with his children’s industries, O. P. Jindal’s industries turned into the biggest manufacturers such as the Jindal SAW Pipes, JSW, Jindal Stainless and Jindal Steel and Power Limited. Before O. P. Jindal died in 2005, he had devised a “division of business” framework. This involved giving equal shares of the existing Jindal Group to his children: Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan, and Naveen Jindal.
Om Prakash Jindal (centre, sitting) with his four sons who run the Jindal Group and its ventures
Philanthropy
O. P. Jindal, along with his children and relatives, made a significant impact on many lives through extensive charitable work carried out in his name. To help people, the O P Jindal Social and Charitable Trust services have been established. Om Prakash Jindal’s philanthropic activities include chairing the N.C. Jindal Charitable Trust, overseeing the Jindal Institute of Medical Care in Hisar, and supporting Vidya Devi Jindal School and N.C. Jindal Public School. Recognized for his charitable services, he was nominated Chairman of the Maharaja AgrasenMedical Education & Scientific Research Society and custodian trustee of the Agroha Vikas Trust. O. P. Jindal donated generously to various social and religious institutions in India. He also advocated for the advancement of all, irrespective of caste, colour, or creed. This led him to enter the field of politics.
Politics
In politics, Jindal achieved success by becoming a Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly in 1991 and later a Member of Parliament in the 11th Lok Sabha from the Kurukshetra Parliamentary Constituency in 1996. He became the first industrialist to win a seat in the Lok Sabha with a landslide victory. Serving as an Indian National Congress MLA, Jindal became the Minister of Power in the Haryana Government. He won the Hisar Legislative Assembly seat in Haryana three times in a row. Additionally, he was part of the Committee on Food, Civil Supplies, and Public Distribution from 1996 to 1997. As a parliamentarian, he actively funded welfare projects from both government and personal resources.
Educational Institutions
Om Prakash Jindal founded various educational and charitable institutions under the O.P. Jindal name. His Jindal’s commitment to educating girls resulted in the establishment of the Vidya Devi Jindal Residential School for girls in Hisar. This school was the first initiative under the Vidya Devi Jindal Rural Development Trust which he founded in 1981. After OP Jindal passed away, the schools and universities came under the control of his successors, who later started new institutions in his name. The most famous among these establishments is O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), situated in Sonipat, Haryana, Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) which is a component of JGU, Jindal Global Law School, and so on, which are big names in the educational sector. The O.P. Jindal Group has also initiated multiple schools under the O.P. Jindal name, with a focus on providing quality education spanning from primary to higher secondary levels.
Controversies
Cases where Accused
- 1 charge related to undue influence or personation at an election (IPC Section-171F)
- 1 charge related to criminal intimidation (IPC Section-506)
Jindal’s Plea Against The Income Tax Department
The controversy written is very confusing and inconsistent – Kindly write – On 6 June 1974, Om Prakash Jindal and his son challenged the actions of tax officials who searched their home and seized items like jewellery. In the petition, they argued that the authorization for the search was illegal and that the items that were taken were of the people not mentioned in the warrant. They also claimed that there were delays in following proper procedures and that the officials acted with improper motives. The IT Department responded to the petition by arguing that the above-said items were not seized but only attached. However, the court criticized the officials and said that they could not keep seized things forever. The court also asked the IT Department to return the items to Jindal within ten days. [2]Indian Kanoon
Award
O. P. Jindal won the “Life Time Achievement Award” from the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the contributions he made to the Indian steel industry in 2004.
Assets & Properties
Movable Assets
- Cash: Rs. 3,86,000
- Bank Deposits: Rs. 12,61,000
- Bonds, Debentures and Shares in Companies: Rs. 8,19,17,000
- Jewellery: Rs. 1,83,36,000
- Other Assets: Rs. 2,53,48,000
Immovable Assets
- Agricultural Land: Rs. 32,49,000
- Buildings: Rs. 46,36,000
- Houses: Rs. 7,28,49,000
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2005. It excludes the assets owned by his wife and dependents. [3]MyNeta
Net Worth
Om Prakash Jindal’s net worth for the 2005 financial year was estimated to be Rs. 20,79,82,000 (over Rupees 20 crore). [4]MyNeta It excludes the net worth of his wife and dependents.
Death
Om Prakash Jindal passed away when he was 74 years old due to a helicopter crash near Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh on 31 March 2005. The crash occurred when O. P. Jindal was travelling from Chandigarh to Delhi after a political meeting. O. P. Jindal passed away during his term as Haryana’s Minister of Power.
Facts/Trivia
- When Om Prakash Jindal was a child, he wanted to become a wrestler.
- Om Prakash Jindal has been lovingly referred to as Babuji.
- Om Prakash Jindal is popularly known as the man who could talk to machines. In 2005, Anil Dharker wrote a biography on O. P. Jindal under the title “The Man Who Talked to Machines: The Story of Om Prakash Jindal”.
Dr. Manmohan Singh unveiling the book The Man Who Talked To Machines to celebrate Om Prakash Jindal after his demise
- Due to his interest in engineering and mechanics from a young age, O. P. Jindal assisted in automobile repair shops during his school days.
- O. P. Jindal was inspired to start his own manufacturing company when he came across a pipe that said “Made in England” and was unable to find a “Made in India” product.
