English
From building SUVs to manufacturing trucks and bikes, Mahindra has done great achievements. Now it is famous among all as Mahindra and Mahindra, however its original name when it was founded before India’s independence was not Mahindra & Mahindra. The company was originally named as Mahindra & Mohammed during its founding time in the pre-independence era.
On October 2, 1945, the company was established in Ludhiana, Punjab, by K.C. Mahindra, J.C. Mahindra, and Pakistan’s Ghulam Mohammed. Although Ghulam Mohammed had a small stake in the company, the Mahindra brothers decided to name it Mahindra & Mohammed so that he didn’t feel excluded.
Initially, the company focused on the steel trade. However, after the partition of India in 1947, Ghulam Mohammed moved to Pakistan. He became Pakistan’s first Finance Minister and also served as the country’s Governor-General in 1951. After his departure, the Mahindra brothers renamed the company Mahindra & Mahindra.
The renaming of the company was a difficult decision for founding members. Former chairman Keshub Mahindra once shared in an interview that Ghulam Mohammed’s decision to move to Pakistan was a shock to the Mahindra family. Though he moved to Pakistan their familial ties remained stronger even after the partition.
When Ghulam Mohammed visited India for Republic Day in 1955, he first called Keshub Mahindra’s grandmother.
Anand Mahindra, the current Executive Chairman of the company, once explained that by the time Ghulam Mohammed left, much of the company’s stationery, including letterheads, invoices, and bills had the initials M&M. To avoid wastage, the Mahindra brothers decided to keep the abbreviation as M&M which brought the current name to the company as Mahindra & Mahindra.
Today, Mahindra & Mahindra stands have crossed miles away in sectors like SUVs, trucks, tractors, and two-wheelers.
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