B L Nijhawan lived a full life. He moved ahead facing struggles to taste success. When he started out on his own without any support in 1974, he probably did not envision that his company would have plans to reach the US$ 750 million turnover mark by 2016.
His son, Sham Nijhawan, a chartered accountant and chairman, Nijhawan Group, always admired his father’s conviction and commitment to start a business against all odds. People describe late B L Nijhawan as an unstoppable workaholic. He continued to work till the very end. Shares Sham Nijhawan, “My father was a complete workaholic. He was unstoppable even at 91 years of age. A few years ago (when he was 88 years old) he shocked us by discussing work even when on ventilator support in a hospital.”
B L Nijhawan, started his career in 1946 and leaves behind a legacy for the gen next to take forward. The group thrived on his sales acumen and sheer determination to work in the unexplored regions of Punjab. Working at the grassroot level, he travelled across villages in the early 70s and 80s and proved to be a true entrepreneur, building jobs, careers and homes in the field of travel and tourism. He worked out of a hotel for over 10 months as he had no support, no bank guarantees, no offices. He built his empire steadily with sheer grit and gumption. In an an exclusive interview with Express TravelWorld, B L Nijhawan himself had shared that, he never drifted from his goal. He kept working against all odds as he was convinced from within that he was on the right path. He founded the group as the GSA for British Airways in 1974.
On a lighter note, there was a time when people in Punjab called British Airways (BA) as Bansilal Airways, which is his first name. With his 69 years of experience in the business, he has given the industry a company that is today a leading business house diversifying intensively each day. And Ankush Nijhawan, his grandson is set to take the company to new heights of success.
