Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2024

EDITIONS

2024 Winner

Entrepreneurs who built India – Lala Shri Ram: The man who saw tomorrow by Sonu Bhasin

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The 2024 Gaja Business Book Prize Shortlist featured a diverse and compelling set of stories, showcasing the expanding pantheon of Indian business literature. Among the shortlisted books were “Fintech for Billions: Simple | Human | Ubiquitous” by Bhagwan Chowdhry and Anas Ahmed, “Middle of Diamond India: National Renaissance through Participation and Enterprise” by Shashank Mani, “Silver Lining: Overcoming Adversity to Build NephroPlus – India’s Largest Dialysis Provider” by Kamal Shah, and “Swadeshi Steam: V.O Chidambaram Pillai and the Battle against the British Maritime Empire” by A.R. Venkatachalapathy.

The Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2024 was awarded to “Entrepreneurs Who Built India – Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” by esteemed author Sonu Bhasin, which chronicles the life and contributions of Lala Shri Ram and serves as an inspiring guide for future entrepreneurs, showcasing how resilience, critical thinking, and empathy for one’s employees can lead to success in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.

Gaja Talks 2024: Announcing the Gaja Capital Business Book Prize Winner

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2024 Jury

Manish Sabharwal

Jury Chairman

Manish is a successful serial entrepreneur, currently co-founder and chairman of TeamLease Services. Manish also currently serves as an Independent Director on the Board of the RBI, as member of the Central Advisory Board on Education in the HRD Ministry and Member of Advisory Board of Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Imran Jafar

Imran is a founding member of the Gaja Capital team and has over 25 years of experience in private equity, pharmaceuticals, and technology services. Imran has co-led investments in the education and consumer clusters. He holds an MBA from IIM Bangalore and a master’s degree in software engineering from
BITS-Pilani.

Aarthi Subramanian

Aarthi Subramanian is the Group Chief Digital Officer at Tata Sons. A professional with over 35 years of experience in the global technology sector, Aarthi started her career with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a graduate engineer trainee. During her career, Aarthi has held several key roles and has rich experience in business and technology consulting. At TCS, she was an Executive Director and Global Head of Delivery Excellence, Governance and Compliance. Currently at Tata Sons, Aarthi is responsible for driving digital adoption across group companies as well as shaping the group's digital initiatives. She also serves as a Director on the Boards of several Tata Group Companies and is a member of the Gartner Research Board & Microsoft Services Executive Board.

Arindam Bhattacharya

Arindam Bhattacharya is an Independent Director of several public companies, advisory board member of not-for-profits and academic institutes, angel investor in and mentor to start-ups. Until recently, Arindam was the Managing Director and Senior Partner in the India office of Boston Consulting Group. He currently serves as an Independent Director on boards of Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Holdings and Investments Ltd, Bajaj Housing Finance Ltd, InfoEdge Ltd., and Lemon Tree Hotels.

Dr. Lakshmi Venu

Dr. Lakshmi Venu is the Joint MD of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd (SCL), which forms part of the $8.5 billion TVS Group. She is also the Deputy MD of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited. Dr. Venu’s focus at SCL has been to create a sustainable foundation for the companies’ future growth and to create flexible and agile companies for a VUCA world.

Dr. Sangita Reddy

Dr. Sangita Reddy is a global healthcare influencer, healthcare technocrat, social entrepreneur, and humanitarian. She is currently the Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited and has been a recipient of numerous prestigious awards for business and leadership in the healthcare industry. She is currently the Chair of G20 Empower and is a director of 16 companies in India dealing in Healthcare, Alternate Energy, Real Estate, and Software Development.

Neelkanth Mishra

Neelkanth Mishra is currently the Chief Economist, Head of Global Research, and member of the Board in Axis Capital. Until recently, he was the Co-Head of Equity Strategy, APAC and India Equity Strategist, and Securities Research, at Credit Suisse. He is part of the Advisory Council to India’s 15th Finance Commission and has been an advisor to government committees such as the Revenue Neutral Rate Committee on GST and the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Review Committee.

Prithvi Haldea

Prithvi is a member of several capital market related committees of SEBI and has served as a member of the Indian finance minister’s high level expert committee on corporate bonds and securitization. Prithvi has worked as a consultant for the World Bank and U.S. Department of Commerce. In 1989, he set up Prime Database, India’s first and largest repository for all primary capital market offerings.

Shailesh Haribhakti

Shailesh Haribhakti is an experienced accountant and an independent board member of several leading Indian companies. He is also the Chairman of DHC (Desai Haribhakti) one of India’s leading accountancy and advisory firms. He is actively involved with several prominent financial institutions in India, including the NSE, CII, IMC and ASSOCHAM.

Upendra Kumar Sinha

Upendra Kumar Sinha headed the RBI Expert Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He was the Chairman of the SEBI, having served two consecutive three-year terms, starting in 2011. He was also the Chairman and Managing Director of UTI Mutual Fund. He was selected for the Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
in 1976.

2024 Short List

Entrepreneurs who built India – Lala Shri Ram: The man who saw tomorrow

Sonu Bhasin

Fintech for Billions: Simple | Human | Ubiquitous

Bhagwan Chowdhry and Anas Ahmed

Middle of Diamond India: National Renaissance through Participation and Enterprise

Shashank Mani

Silver Lining: Overcoming Adversity to Build NephroPlus – India’s Largest Dialysis Provider

Kamal Shah

Swadeshi Steam: V.O Chidambaram Pillai and the Battle against the British Maritime Empire

AR Venkatachalapathy

Other Longlisted Books

Breaking the Mould: Reimagining India’s Economic Future

Raghuram G. Rajan and Rohit Lamba

Doctor Steel: My Life and Times with the Tatas

J.J Irani

India in Search of Glory: Political Calculus and Economy

Ashok K. Lahiri

Just Aspire: Notes on Technology, Entrepreneurship and the Future

Ajai Chowdhry

The Great Bank Robbery: NPAs, Scams and the Future of Regulation

V. Pattabhi Ram and Sabyasachee Dash

Our coverage

The Times of India

Sonu Bhasin wins Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2024 for 'Entrepreneurs Who Built India– Lala Shri Ram'

Mint

Sonu Bhasin’s biography of Lala Shri Ram bags Gaja Capital Business Book Prize

Yourstory

Author Sonu Bhasin's biography of Lala Shri Ram wins Gaja Capital Business Book Prize for 2024

Financial Express

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The Hindu

Gaja Capital Business Book Prize 2024 announces shortlist

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