India’s leading multi-million-dollar business conglomerate, the Essel Group, is celebrating 100 years of innovation, leadership, growth, and transformation. Honouring the legacy that paved the way for the 'Z' brand, a grand ceremony was held in Mumbai on August 1, 2026. Hosted by actor Aparshakti Khurana, the landmark event reunited members of the creative fraternity who have been part of Zee's journey since the launch of India's first private satellite television channel, Zee TV, in 1992. Several celebrities were also part of it, including Sheyas Talpade, Shaan and Arjun Bijlani, among others.<h2>Celebrities at 100 years of the Essel Group event</h2>Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra was present to commemorate the historic milestone and express his gratitude. The event revisited the organisation's humble beginnings, honouring the artists and visionaries who helped shape its journey, and celebrated the pioneering milestones that transformed India's media and entertainment landscape.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/zee-network-eyes-global-tv-media-leadership-in-a-decade-chairman-dr-chandra-outlines-vision-as-essel-turns-100-1785613551931">'Zee Network eyes global TV media leadership in a decade': Chairman Dr Chandra outlines vision as Essel turns 100</a>&nbsp;Several celebrities from Bollywood and TV came in together for the event are stars Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta, Rakesh Bedi, singer Shaan, choreographer, Bosco Martis, actor Mahesh Thakur, Arjun Bijlani, Rakesh Bedi, Darshan Jariwala, Jayati Bhatia, Niharika Chouksey, Shubangi Atre, Abhishek Sharma, Ragini Khanna, Dheeraj Doopar, Rajshree Thakur.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-essel-group-dr-subhash-chandra-shares-origin-story-of-the-name-essel-1779347038565">100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel'</a><h2>Arjun Bijlani on being part of the Essel Group event</h2>On being part of the grand occasion and celebrating 100 years of Essel Group, TV actor Arjun Bijlani spoke about being part of Zee and said, "I feel very fortunate to have worked with the Zee Group. I truly enjoyed my time there. In fact, WION is my favourite news channel. I didn't know initially that WION was part of the Zee Group, but when I found out, I was pleasantly surprised. Whenever I watch the news, I switch to WION because I'm so fond of the channel. It's truly amazing, and I really enjoy watching it."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/100-years-of-essel-group-marking-an-impression-of-a-century-through-innovation-and-entrepreneurial-spirit-1779350406250">100 years of Essel Group: Marking an ‘impression of a century’ through innovation and entrepreneurial spirit</a>&nbsp;The gala featured celebratory moments, performances and heartfelt tributes reflecting on Zee's evolution from a pioneering broadcaster to one of India's leading entertainment networks.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/100-years-of-essel-group-a-century-of-vision-innovation-and-inspiring-generations-1779270124809">100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations</a>&nbsp;The centenary event not only celebrated the Essel Group's rich legacy but also looked ahead to its future, highlighting its continued commitment to storytelling, innovation and connecting audiences across platforms. With leading personalities from the entertainment fraternity under one roof, the evening stood as a fitting tribute to a century of achievements.

The Essel Group celebrated its 100th anniversary with a grand gala in Mumbai. Several stars, including Rakesh Bedi, Shreyas Talpade and several prominent entertainment personalities, came together to commemorate the centenary milestone.

India’s leading multi-million-dollar business conglomerate, the Essel Group, is celebrating 100 years of innovation, leadership, growth, and transformation. Honouring the legacy that paved the way for the 'Z' brand, a grand ceremony was held in Mumbai on August 1, 2026. Hosted by actor Aparshakti Khurana, the landmark event reunited members of the creative fraternity who have been part of Zee's journey since the launch of India's first private satellite television channel, Zee TV, in 1992. Several celebrities were also part of it, including Sheyas Talpade, Shaan and Arjun Bijlani, among others. Celebrities at 100 years of the Essel Group event Essel Group Chairman Dr. Subhash Chandra was present to commemorate the historic milestone and express his gratitude. The event revisited the organisation's humble beginnings, honouring the artists and visionaries who helped shape its journey, and celebrated the pioneering milestones that transformed India's media and entertainment landscape. Also Read: 'Zee Network eyes global TV media leadership in a decade': Chairman Dr Chandra outlines vision as Essel turns 100 Several celebrities from Bollywood and TV came in together for the event are stars Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta, Rakesh Bedi, singer Shaan, choreographer, Bosco Martis, actor Mahesh Thakur, Arjun Bijlani, Rakesh Bedi, Darshan Jariwala, Jayati Bhatia, Niharika Chouksey, Shubangi Atre, Abhishek Sharma, Ragini Khanna, Dheeraj Doopar, Rajshree Thakur. Also Read: 100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel' Arjun Bijlani on being part of the Essel Group event On being part of the grand occasion and celebrating 100 years of Essel Group, TV actor Arjun Bijlani spoke about being part of Zee and said, "I feel very fortunate to have worked with the Zee Group. I truly enjoyed my time there. In fact, WION is my favourite news channel. I didn't know initially that WION was part of the Zee Group, but when I found out, I was pleasantly surprised. Whenever I watch the news, I switch to WION because I'm so fond of the channel. It's truly amazing, and I really enjoy watching it." Also Read: 100 years of Essel Group: Marking an ‘impression of a century’ through innovation and entrepreneurial spirit The gala featured celebratory moments, performances and heartfelt tributes reflecting on Zee's evolution from a pioneering broadcaster to one of India's leading entertainment networks. Also Read: 100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations The centenary event not only celebrated the Essel Group's rich legacy but also looked ahead to its future, highlighting its continued commitment to storytelling, innovation and connecting audiences across platforms. With leading personalities from the entertainment fraternity under one roof, the evening stood as a fitting tribute to a century of achievements.

The Essel Group celebrated its 100th anniversary with a grand gala in Mumbai. Several stars, including Rakesh Bedi, Shreyas Talpade and several prominent entertainment personalities, came together to commemorate the centenary milestone.

100 years of Essel Group: Rakesh Bedi, Aparshakti Khurana, Shreyas Talpade and stars gather for grand Mumbai celebration

Over the course of a century, the company has expanded through multiple phases of Indian economic history, from the pre-liberalisation era to the rise of satellite television and the digital economy.

Over the course of a century, the company has expanded through multiple phases of Indian economic history, from the pre-liberalisation era to the rise of satellite television and the digital economy.

100 years of Essel Group: Marking an ‘impression of a century’ through innovation and entrepreneurial spirit

At the landmark celebration of 100 years of the Essel Group on Thursday (May 21), Dr Subhash Chandra delivered an inspiring and reflective speech tracing the Indian conglomerate’s extraordinary journey through enterprise, setbacks, resilience, and renewal. Addressing the nearly 10,000 employees and associates, the Essel Group Chairman said he felt “fortunate to have reached this podium” as he looked back at a century-long legacy built across generations. He divided the group’s 100-year journey into three broad themes — businesses, financial impact, and the emotional lessons accumulated over the decades. While acknowledging that the influence of Zee News and Entertainment is widely recognised, Chandra emphasised that several Essel businesses before Zee had already touched millions of lives across India. He recounted how the group evolved from supplying food grains to the Indian Army to building storage capacity for millions of tonnes of food grains at a time when the country lacked such infrastructure. He also highlighted Essel’s diversification into telecom pole fabrication, laminated tube manufacturing, and entertainment ventures like EsselWorld, all of which helped the group establish deep public connect.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-essel-group-dr-subhash-chandra-shares-origin-story-of-the-name-essel-1779347038565">100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel'</a> Chandra recalled how the exports of food grains to the erstwhile Soviet Union generated the maximum capital for the group during its formative years. Calling it “the story of a family from united Punjab pre-partition starting business from zero,” he recalled how the original trading firm, Messrs Ramgopal Indraprasad, founded in 1926 by Jagannath Goenka in Adampur, Haryana, remained vibrant for nearly four decades before slipping into negative capital. He reflected on the first major family separation, when his grandfathers parted ways with their brothers, and spoke about how the business was later reconstituted, and how the next generation took charge later. Recalling a key milestone, Chandra said the group first crossed Rs 100 crore in annual turnover in 1981. “At the time, a colleague asked, what about next year? And I said, ‘We will find many things, will never be below Rs 100 crore.’ And that is what happened,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/essel-group-completes-100-years-marks-century-long-journey-from-grain-trading-business-to-global-conglomerate-1779335073369">Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate</a> The Essel Group later rose dramatically in stature, with Chandra noting that the group was once described among the richest Indians by The Wall Street Journal in 1998 and 1999. Yet, he admitted that the journey had been “exciting but like a rollercoaster.” He reflected on the second family separation during 2008–09 and acknowledged that the group hit a low point in 2019 due to debt carry-forward and “my wrong decisions.” Despite the setbacks, Chandra asserted that the group is once again on an upward trajectory, "moving towards creating a new peak.”&nbsp;On the emotional aspect of the journey, Chandra described the experience as “interesting, challenging, with ups and downs which happens in large families.”&nbsp;“Lots can be learnt from these aspects of life,” he said. The Essel Group chairman also spoke candidly about personal resilience and inner discipline, crediting his long-standing practice of Vipasana meditation for helping him remain steady during difficult periods. “I was least affected by negative standpoints because of my consistent Vipasana meditation practice. I’m conscious and sympathise with those who were negatively affected due to my actions,” he said.&nbsp;In one of the central messages of his speech, Chandra urged employees and colleagues to continue moving forward with conviction. “Your fate is to move. Keep moving with certainty. Certainty is the keyword,” he said. “I assure you it’s happening irrespective of the odds we face in life at such challenging times.” Chandra also stated that he never pursued wealth for personal gain. “I’ve not personally created any wealth for myself,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/100-years-of-essel-group-a-century-of-vision-innovation-and-inspiring-generations-1779270124809">100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations</a> Addressing criticism and controversies surrounding the group over the years, the Essel chief acknowledged that adversaries had attempted to project a negative corporate image. “Many adversaries tried to accuse me and project negative image…But the same people praise the group’s persistence, vision, ability to fight well and long-lasting impression of a century. They privately acknowledged it.”Reflecting on the broader lessons of the Essel journey, Chandra said there was “a lot to be absorbed from the highs and lows of this 100 years.”&nbsp;“In this journey, you will find that often the greatest impact in life starts with the simple acknowledgement that another human being matters,” he said.&nbsp;“When kindness combines with trust…one life uplifted can uplift many.”&nbsp;He added that the Essel story demonstrates how success finds its highest purpose when it creates opportunities for others. “This story will remind you that success reaches its highest purpose when it becomes a bridge for someone else’s future. That’s the Essel story. There are hundreds of thousands of examples,” he said. &nbsp;Chandra also referred to long-serving employees who retired from Zee or spent nearly 50 years with the group. He urged senior leaders across divisions to identify similar individuals and document their experiences for younger employees. “That will be a great learning for younger generations,” he said.&nbsp;Chandra observed that while some employees may view their role merely as a job, many others remain deeply proud to be associated with the institution. He urged employees to internalise the meaning of the century-long journey and continue building upon it. “It’s our collective responsibility to carry this pattern forward. Not just grow existing business, but create new. Celebrate glorious milestones and keep building new,” he said. &nbsp;Describing Essel as an entrepreneurial institution long before the term “startup” became fashionable, Chandra said the group has always embraced innovation-led thinking. “The group has been and will remain India’s early startup when no one knew the word startup,” he said. “We should continue to work in a startup culture. This is our mantra for being creative, energetic 24/7 and 365 days without feeling tired.”&nbsp;“This will bring sense of ownership and create more enjoyable workplace,” he added.

At Essel Group’s 100-year celebration, Chairman Subhash Chandra reflected on the Group’s journey through growth, setbacks and resilience, urging employees to embrace innovation, certainty and a startup culture for the future.

At the landmark celebration of 100 years of the Essel Group on Thursday (May 21), Dr Subhash Chandra delivered an inspiring and reflective speech tracing the Indian conglomerate’s extraordinary journey through enterprise, setbacks, resilience, and renewal. Addressing the nearly 10,000 employees and associates, the Essel Group Chairman said he felt “fortunate to have reached this podium” as he looked back at a century-long legacy built across generations. He divided the group’s 100-year journey into three broad themes — businesses, financial impact, and the emotional lessons accumulated over the decades. While acknowledging that the influence of Zee News and Entertainment is widely recognised, Chandra emphasised that several Essel businesses before Zee had already touched millions of lives across India. He recounted how the group evolved from supplying food grains to the Indian Army to building storage capacity for millions of tonnes of food grains at a time when the country lacked such infrastructure. He also highlighted Essel’s diversification into telecom pole fabrication, laminated tube manufacturing, and entertainment ventures like EsselWorld, all of which helped the group establish deep public connect. Also Read: 100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel' Chandra recalled how the exports of food grains to the erstwhile Soviet Union generated the maximum capital for the group during its formative years. Calling it “the story of a family from united Punjab pre-partition starting business from zero,” he recalled how the original trading firm, Messrs Ramgopal Indraprasad, founded in 1926 by Jagannath Goenka in Adampur, Haryana, remained vibrant for nearly four decades before slipping into negative capital. He reflected on the first major family separation, when his grandfathers parted ways with their brothers, and spoke about how the business was later reconstituted, and how the next generation took charge later. Recalling a key milestone, Chandra said the group first crossed Rs 100 crore in annual turnover in 1981. “At the time, a colleague asked, what about next year? And I said, ‘We will find many things, will never be below Rs 100 crore.’ And that is what happened,” he said. Also Read: Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate The Essel Group later rose dramatically in stature, with Chandra noting that the group was once described among the richest Indians by The Wall Street Journal in 1998 and 1999. Yet, he admitted that the journey had been “exciting but like a rollercoaster.” He reflected on the second family separation during 2008–09 and acknowledged that the group hit a low point in 2019 due to debt carry-forward and “my wrong decisions.” Despite the setbacks, Chandra asserted that the group is once again on an upward trajectory, "moving towards creating a new peak.” On the emotional aspect of the journey, Chandra described the experience as “interesting, challenging, with ups and downs which happens in large families.” “Lots can be learnt from these aspects of life,” he said. The Essel Group chairman also spoke candidly about personal resilience and inner discipline, crediting his long-standing practice of Vipasana meditation for helping him remain steady during difficult periods. “I was least affected by negative standpoints because of my consistent Vipasana meditation practice. I’m conscious and sympathise with those who were negatively affected due to my actions,” he said. In one of the central messages of his speech, Chandra urged employees and colleagues to continue moving forward with conviction. “Your fate is to move. Keep moving with certainty. Certainty is the keyword,” he said. “I assure you it’s happening irrespective of the odds we face in life at such challenging times.” Chandra also stated that he never pursued wealth for personal gain. “I’ve not personally created any wealth for myself,” he said. Also Read: 100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations Addressing criticism and controversies surrounding the group over the years, the Essel chief acknowledged that adversaries had attempted to project a negative corporate image. “Many adversaries tried to accuse me and project negative image…But the same people praise the group’s persistence, vision, ability to fight well and long-lasting impression of a century. They privately acknowledged it.” Reflecting on the broader lessons of the Essel journey, Chandra said there was “a lot to be absorbed from the highs and lows of this 100 years.” “In this journey, you will find that often the greatest impact in life starts with the simple acknowledgement that another human being matters,” he said. “When kindness combines with trust…one life uplifted can uplift many.” He added that the Essel story demonstrates how success finds its highest purpose when it creates opportunities for others. “This story will remind you that success reaches its highest purpose when it becomes a bridge for someone else’s future. That’s the Essel story. There are hundreds of thousands of examples,” he said. Chandra also referred to long-serving employees who retired from Zee or spent nearly 50 years with the group. He urged senior leaders across divisions to identify similar individuals and document their experiences for younger employees. “That will be a great learning for younger generations,” he said. Chandra observed that while some employees may view their role merely as a job, many others remain deeply proud to be associated with the institution. He urged employees to internalise the meaning of the century-long journey and continue building upon it. “It’s our collective responsibility to carry this pattern forward. Not just grow existing business, but create new. Celebrate glorious milestones and keep building new,” he said. Describing Essel as an entrepreneurial institution long before the term “startup” became fashionable, Chandra said the group has always embraced innovation-led thinking. “The group has been and will remain India’s early startup when no one knew the word startup,” he said. “We should continue to work in a startup culture. This is our mantra for being creative, energetic 24/7 and 365 days without feeling tired.” “This will bring sense of ownership and create more enjoyable workplace,” he added.

At Essel Group’s 100-year celebration, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra reflected on the Group’s journey through growth, setbacks and resilience, urging employees to embrace innovation, certainty and a startup culture for the future.

My destiny is to keep moving: Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra's inspiring speech at the 100th anniversary of Essel Group

100 Years of Essel Group: As the Essel Group celebrated its 'Centenary Of Trust' on Thursday (May 21), Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group, shared his views on artificial intelligence and its use to further the welfare of humans. Describing the technology as a transformative tool, Dr Chandra noted that it can help improve efficiency across sectors. The former Rajya Sabha MP revealed that he uses AI to improve efficiency in his daily life, but asserted that the technology would never surpass human intelligence. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/essel-group-completes-100-years-marks-century-long-journey-from-grain-trading-business-to-global-conglomerate-1779335073369">Essel Group marks 100 years: The legacy continues</a><h2>AI vs You &amp; I</h2>While noting that AI is a "powerful tool", Dr Chandra said that it has the potential to make sectors like education more efficient, accessible and cost-effective. However, he cautioned that, "People should use AI as a slave rather than becoming its slave".The Essel Group Chairman shared his own experiences with the technology and said that he regularly uses AI to supplement his work, and said that, in his experience, it significantly improves productivity. "Sometimes I give a problem to AI before going to sleep and by early morning, I find possible solutions," he said. "AI is a tool which you should use, but it is not going to replace human beings. Human thinking will continue to be supreme."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/100-years-of-essel-group-dr-subhash-chandra-shares-origin-story-of-the-name-essel-1779347038565">100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel'</a><h2>AI and improving the quality of human life</h2>Dr Chandra further noted that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believed that AI could eventually help solve major human challenges related to health, wealth and ageing. To this end, Dr Chandra said, massive investments are being made in the sector. However, he reiterated that Artificial Intelligence should be viewed and used only as a tool to help humanity achieve its goals. Acknowledging recent concerns of AI becoming sentient, Dr Chandra said AI must remain under human direction and control.Established in 1926, the Essel Group completed 100 years on May 21, 2026. The conglomerate pioneered India’s business landscape with a presence across packaging, amusement parks, home entertainment, news, content distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology and lifestyle.

As the Essel Group marked 100 years on Thursday (May 21), chairman Subhash Chandra shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence, calling it a transformative tool that can improve efficiency across sectors, but insisting that human intelligence will always remain superior. Scroll down.

100 Years of Essel Group: As the Essel Group celebrated its 'Centenary Of Trust' on Thursday (May 21), Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman, Essel Group, shared his views on artificial intelligence and its use to further the welfare of humans. Describing the technology as a transformative tool, Dr Chandra noted that it can help improve efficiency across sectors. The former Rajya Sabha MP revealed that he uses AI to improve efficiency in his daily life, but asserted that the technology would never surpass human intelligence. Also read | Essel Group marks 100 years: The legacy continues AI vs You & I While noting that AI is a "powerful tool", Dr Chandra said that it has the potential to make sectors like education more efficient, accessible and cost-effective. However, he cautioned that, "People should use AI as a slave rather than becoming its slave". The Essel Group Chairman shared his own experiences with the technology and said that he regularly uses AI to supplement his work, and said that, in his experience, it significantly improves productivity. "Sometimes I give a problem to AI before going to sleep and by early morning, I find possible solutions," he said. "AI is a tool which you should use, but it is not going to replace human beings. Human thinking will continue to be supreme." Also read | 100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel' AI and improving the quality of human life Dr Chandra further noted that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believed that AI could eventually help solve major human challenges related to health, wealth and ageing. To this end, Dr Chandra said, massive investments are being made in the sector. However, he reiterated that Artificial Intelligence should be viewed and used only as a tool to help humanity achieve its goals. Acknowledging recent concerns of AI becoming sentient, Dr Chandra said AI must remain under human direction and control. Established in 1926, the Essel Group completed 100 years on May 21, 2026. The conglomerate pioneered India’s business landscape with a presence across packaging, amusement parks, home entertainment, news, content distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology and lifestyle.

As the Essel Group marked 100 years on Thursday (May 21), chairman Subhash Chandra shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence, calling it a transformative tool that can improve efficiency across sectors, but insisting that human intelligence will always remain superior. Scroll down.

‘Use AI as a slave, don't become its slave’: Dr Subhash Chandra shares warning as Essel Group marks 100 years

The Essel Group marked 100 years of its journey on May 21 (Thursday). On the occasion, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra reflected on the unique story behind the name “Essel”. During the conglomerate’s centenary town hall address, he revealed that the name originated from a simple operational abbreviation that eventually evolved into the corporate identity of the Group.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/essel-group-completes-100-years-marks-century-long-journey-from-grain-trading-business-to-global-conglomerate-1779335073369">Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/essel-group-celebrates-100-years-of-legacy-growth-1779339659494/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/essel-group-celebrates-100-years-of-legacy-growth-1779339659494/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Narrating a fascinating story behind the origins of the name “Essel”, Dr Subhash Chandra said that in its early years, the business operated under the name Ramgopal Indraprastha Messers before transitioning to Subhash Chandra Laxmi Narain in 1969. During routine dealings with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the lengthy company name was often verbally shortened to “SL” for gate passes, transport records and internal documentation. He explained that the abbreviation emerged largely because of space limitations and administrative convenience in day-to-day operations. It started in verbal communication specifically for gate passes. “People started saying this is the vehicle from SL group,” Dr Subhash Chandra said during the townhall address.&nbsp;In Pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/100-years-of-essel-group-a-century-of-vision-innovation-and-inspiring-generations-1779270124809">100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations</a>&nbsp;Further, the Chairman explained that the shorthand “SL” became commonly associated with the business across operational and trade circles. However, as the company expanded and began creating brochures, presentations and formal communication material, the abbreviated form posed branding challenges. Dr Subhash Chandra recalled that the business needed a name that was not only easy to remember, but also more presentable, distinctive and suitable for a growing corporate identity. It was during this phase that he proposed refining “SL” into “Essel” — a more polished and brand-friendly version of the abbreviation.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The Essel Group marks 100 years since its founding in 1926, growing from a humble grain store in Haryana&#39;s Hisar district into one of India&#39;s major business conglomerates. Over the decades, the group expanded across media, entertainment, infrastructure and technology, emerging… <a href="https://t.co/cjofoXAFmg">pic.twitter.com/cjofoXAFmg</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2057292965887017348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What initially started as a simple operational adjustment gradually evolved into the official identity of the Group. Over the decades, the name “Essel” went on to become synonymous with the conglomerate’s expansion across sectors including packaging, media, entertainment, infrastructure, technology, education and lifestyle, eventually representing one of India’s well-known business groups with a presence across 190+ countries.

As Essel Group marked 100 years, Chairman Subhash Chandra revealed how the name “Essel” evolved from the abbreviation “SL”, used in routine FCI operations, into the Group’s corporate identity spanning businesses across 190+ countries.

The Essel Group marked 100 years of its journey on May 21 (Thursday). On the occasion, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra reflected on the unique story behind the name “Essel”. During the conglomerate’s centenary town hall address, he revealed that the name originated from a simple operational abbreviation that eventually evolved into the corporate identity of the Group. Also Read: Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate https://www.wionews.com/videos/essel-group-celebrates-100-years-of-legacy-growth-1779339659494/embed Narrating a fascinating story behind the origins of the name “Essel”, Dr Subhash Chandra said that in its early years, the business operated under the name Ramgopal Indraprastha Messers before transitioning to Subhash Chandra Laxmi Narain in 1969. During routine dealings with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the lengthy company name was often verbally shortened to “SL” for gate passes, transport records and internal documentation. He explained that the abbreviation emerged largely because of space limitations and administrative convenience in day-to-day operations. It started in verbal communication specifically for gate passes. “People started saying this is the vehicle from SL group,” Dr Subhash Chandra said during the townhall address. In Pics | 100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations Further, the Chairman explained that the shorthand “SL” became commonly associated with the business across operational and trade circles. However, as the company expanded and began creating brochures, presentations and formal communication material, the abbreviated form posed branding challenges. Dr Subhash Chandra recalled that the business needed a name that was not only easy to remember, but also more presentable, distinctive and suitable for a growing corporate identity. It was during this phase that he proposed refining “SL” into “Essel” — a more polished and brand-friendly version of the abbreviation.

As Essel Group marked 100 years, Chairman Subhash Chandra revealed how the name “Essel” evolved from the abbreviation “SL”, used in routine FCI operations, into the Group’s corporate identity spanning businesses across 190+ countries.

100 Years of Essel Group: Dr Subhash Chandra shares origin story of the name 'Essel'

Multi-faceted Indian business conglomerate Essel Group has marked a historic milestone in its journey, as it completes 100 glorious years of delivering value across the globe. From a humble beginning in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business to a multi-faceted conglomerate with a diverse presence across a gamut of businesses, Essel Group has created a lasting impression across the world. Over the course of a century, the Group has evolved alongside India’s own economic and industrial transformation, expanding its footprint across sectors including packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle and gold refineries. With a presence spanning 190+ countries, Essel Group has positively impacted the lives of billions of people while contributing significantly to India’s business landscape and global presence.<h2>From a humble beginning in 1926 to a global conglomerate</h2>The journey of Essel Group began in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business. Over the decades, the Group steadily expanded its footprint and emerged as one of India’s prominent business conglomerates with a presence across multiple sectors and geographies. The Group’s century-long journey reflects the transformation of Indian enterprise itself — from traditional trading roots during pre-Independence India to becoming a globally recognised business conglomerate with operations spanning across 190+ countries.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260521/image-1779335202583.png"></figure><h2>Leadership across six generations</h2>Led by Jagannath Goenka and successfully spearheaded by the visionary Dr. Subhash Chandra as the Chairman of the Group, and his brothers – Jawahar Goel, Laxmi Narain Goel and Ashok Goel, Essel Group is amongst the few Indian business conglomerates to have successfully passed down its rich legacy across six generations. The Group’s leadership journey represents continuity, entrepreneurship and long-term vision that helped Essel Group navigate changing business landscapes over the last century.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260521/image-1779335269425.png"></figure><h2>Contribution to India’s economic and cultural growth</h2>Over the last century, the group diversified into multiple business sectors including packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle, gold refineries and more, positively impacting the lives of billions of people across 190+ countries. Its expansion into diverse industries reflects the group’s ability to evolve with changing economic realities and consumer aspirations while contributing to India’s industrial and business ecosystem.&nbsp;Essel Group has not only contributed towards the establishment of the Indian business landscape in the pre-liberalisation era, but it has also strengthened the economic development of our nation by significantly enhancing its hard power and soft power. Essel Group’s growth story mirrors India’s own economic transformation over the decades, particularly during periods of industrial expansion, media growth and infrastructure development.&nbsp;Through its pioneering initiatives that have set up not just companies but industries in itself, Essel Group has created an ‘ Impression of a Century ’, generating employment opportunities for over 10 million people across the Nation. The Group’s contribution extends beyond business growth, playing a role in employment generation, industrial development and expanding India’s global business presence.&nbsp;As Essel Group completes 100 years, its journey stands as a reflection of resilience, diversification and generational leadership. From a grain trading business in Adampur to a global conglomerate with a footprint across industries and countries, the group’s century-long legacy continues to leave an ‘ Impression of a Century ’ across the world.<figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260521/image-1779335470647.png"></figure>&nbsp;

Essel Group has completed 100 glorious years, marking its journey from a grain trading business in Adampur in 1926 to a multi-sector global conglomerate. Led across six generations, the Group expanded into packaging, entertainment, infrastructure, technology and more

Multi-faceted Indian business conglomerate Essel Group has marked a historic milestone in its journey, as it completes 100 glorious years of delivering value across the globe. From a humble beginning in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business to a multi-faceted conglomerate with a diverse presence across a gamut of businesses, Essel Group has created a lasting impression across the world. Over the course of a century, the Group has evolved alongside India’s own economic and industrial transformation, expanding its footprint across sectors including packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle and gold refineries. With a presence spanning 190+ countries, Essel Group has positively impacted the lives of billions of people while contributing significantly to India’s business landscape and global presence. From a humble beginning in 1926 to a global conglomerate The journey of Essel Group began in 1926 in Adampur with a grain trading business. Over the decades, the Group steadily expanded its footprint and emerged as one of India’s prominent business conglomerates with a presence across multiple sectors and geographies. The Group’s century-long journey reflects the transformation of Indian enterprise itself — from traditional trading roots during pre-Independence India to becoming a globally recognised business conglomerate with operations spanning across 190+ countries. Leadership across six generations Led by Jagannath Goenka and successfully spearheaded by the visionary Dr. Subhash Chandra as the Chairman of the Group, and his brothers – Jawahar Goel, Laxmi Narain Goel and Ashok Goel, Essel Group is amongst the few Indian business conglomerates to have successfully passed down its rich legacy across six generations. The Group’s leadership journey represents continuity, entrepreneurship and long-term vision that helped Essel Group navigate changing business landscapes over the last century. Contribution to India’s economic and cultural growth Over the last century, the group diversified into multiple business sectors including packaging, entertainment, news, distribution, infrastructure, real estate, education, technology, lifestyle, gold refineries and more, positively impacting the lives of billions of people across 190+ countries. Its expansion into diverse industries reflects the group’s ability to evolve with changing economic realities and consumer aspirations while contributing to India’s industrial and business ecosystem. Essel Group has not only contributed towards the establishment of the Indian business landscape in the pre-liberalisation era, but it has also strengthened the economic development of our nation by significantly enhancing its hard power and soft power. Essel Group’s growth story mirrors India’s own economic transformation over the decades, particularly during periods of industrial expansion, media growth and infrastructure development. Through its pioneering initiatives that have set up not just companies but industries in itself, Essel Group has created an ‘ Impression of a Century ’, generating employment opportunities for over 10 million people across the Nation. The Group’s contribution extends beyond business growth, playing a role in employment generation, industrial development and expanding India’s global business presence. As Essel Group completes 100 years, its journey stands as a reflection of resilience, diversification and generational leadership. From a grain trading business in Adampur to a global conglomerate with a footprint across industries and countries, the group’s century-long legacy continues to leave an ‘ Impression of a Century ’ across the world.

Essel Group has completed 100 glorious years, marking its journey from a grain trading business in Adampur in 1926 to a multi-sector global conglomerate. Led across six generations, the Group expanded into packaging, entertainment, infrastructure, technology and more

Essel Group completes 100 years, marks century-long journey from grain trading business to global conglomerate

Essel Group celebrates 100 years of resilience, innovation and leadership, evolving from a grain trading business into a global conglomerate while transforming industries, empowering communities and inspiring generations.

Essel Group celebrates 100 years of resilience, innovation and leadership, evolving from a grain trading business into a global conglomerate while transforming industries, empowering communities and inspiring generations.

100 Years of Essel Group: A century of vision, innovation and inspiring generations

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