Om Prakash Munjal facts for kids

Om Prakash Munjal (1928–2015) was an important Indian businessman. He was also a poet and helped many people. He started Hero Cycles, which grew to be the world's largest company making bicycles. He also helped create Hero Motors, which makes parts for two-wheelers. Mr. Munjal was known for supporting schools and hospitals. He passed away on August 13, 2015.

Early Life and Business Beginnings

Om Prakash Munjal was born in Kamalia, India, in 1928. His family moved to Amritsar in 1944. There, he and his three brothers, Brijmohan Lall Munjal, Dayanand Munjal, and Satyanand Munjal, started a business selling bicycle spare parts.

After a few years, the Partition of India happened. This made business difficult in Amritsar. So, the brothers moved their business to Ludhiana. In 1956, they decided to start making whole bicycles instead of just parts. They named their brand Hero. In their first year, they made 639 bicycles. This was the first bicycle manufacturing unit in India.

Building Hero Cycles

Om Prakash Munjal started Hero Cycles in 1956 with a loan of Rs. 50,000. The company's growth attracted many skilled engineers and business people. These experts helped create other businesses around the bicycle industry. The chief minister of Punjab at the time, Pratap Singh Kairon, encouraged the Munjal brothers to build their business. They felt he was very helpful in their early days.

In the 1980s, Hero Cycles became the biggest bicycle maker in the world. This achievement was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1986. Today, Hero Cycles produces about 19,000 bicycles every day.

Om and his brothers expanded the Hero Group into many different areas. These included bicycle parts, cars, car parts, and technology. Om and his brother Brijmohan, along with the next generation of their family, helped create Hero Honda. This was a partnership between Hero Cycles and Honda to make motorcycles. Hero Honda later became Hero Motocorp and grew to be the world's largest motorcycle producer.

In the late 1990s, Om Prakash Munjal was one of the first to think about making electric bicycles in India. In 2010, he took charge of Hero Cycles and other group companies. He also served as the president of the All India Cycle Manufacturers’ Association many times.

Personal Life and Interests

Om Prakash Munjal was married to Sudarshan Munjal. They had five children: Neeru Khanna, Neeta Seth, Poonam Soni, Priyanka Malhotra, and Pankaj Munjal.

Mr. Munjal was known for his love of culture and literature. He supported new artists and writers. He also promoted the Urdu language through his poems and poetry gatherings. His life story was written by Indian writer Priya Kumar. The book, called The Inspiring Journey of A Hero, was published in 2014.

Awards and Recognition

Om Prakash Munjal received many awards and honors. Former Presidents of India, including Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, V. V. Giri, Zail Singh, and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, recognized his work. He received the Udyog Rattan Award from Amrinder Singh. This award was for his great contribution to Punjab's economic growth.

He also received the Samman Patra award for his contributions to the state government. The Indira Gandhi National Unity award recognized his social work. The Punjab Rattna award honored his impact on the state's economy.