Business Icons of Pune

The book release of 'Business Icons of Pune', a coffee table book was a special occasion that was marked as a significant event in the history of Pune city.

Pune has become one of the major economic epicenters of the country and its contribution to nation’s progress is note worthy. From automobiles, engineering, education and real estate to the new age sectors like Information Technology, Biotechnology and Nanotechnology, the city has successfully assimilated the rapid changes taking place all around. The most striking feature in this entire process of transformation is that the development module evolved by the city’s leading lights has put this part of the country on the right path of progress.

What has made Pune more vibrant is the positive mind-set of the people here. Institutions and business houses play a vital role in shaping the future of a city and here in Pune, the contributions made by Tatas, Bajajs, Kalyanis, Kirloskars, Firodias  -- to name a few - have gone a long way in ensuring a speedy socio-economic development of the city. Similarly, institutions like National Defence Academy, Ayukka, National Chemical Laboratory, National Food Production Centre, Central Water and Energy Conservation Centre; educational institutions like Infosys, Bharati Vidyapeeth, D Y Patil, MIT and many others have never lagged behind in focusing on areas that have earned a distinct character for the city.

As to the role played by the media in the process, Lokmat has been a witness to Pune’s metamorphosis into a vibrant city. From 1999, when Lokmat made its first appearance in Pune, the group under the able leadership of Mr Vijay Darda has firmly rooted itself in this rapidly growing city keeping pace with all its developments.

Lokmat has taken this noble step of profiling the leading men and women who shaped the Pune of this century. The coffee-table book ‘Business Icons of Pune’ not only chronicles the success story of the city’s torch-bearers but also enlists the challenges these leading lights faced to make Pune a better and developed city.

This book featuring 56 sparkling personalities of Pune serves as a guide for the future generation of the country. The book was released at the hands of Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble finance minister of India on 7th November 2011 at the Hyatt Regency, Pune. Also present on the occasion were Mr. Prithviraj Chavan, Hon'ble Chief Minister, and Government of Maharashtra.