Page 8 - M L Agarwal

HISTORY

milestones

commerce graduate of Bikaner University, Manohar Lal Agarwal joined the fam-
A ily-run native sweets and snacks business immediately after graduation in 1973.
Over the next few years, Agarwal focused on introducing sweeping changes in the
family enterprise promoted by his grandfather Ganga Bhishen Agarwal (fondly called
Haldiram by his grandmother) in 1937. Started as a small retail store in Bikaner, Ra-
jasthan, it has transformed into the Delhi-based Haldiram Snacks Pvt. Ltd (HSPL) —
the world’s most popular Indian snacks foods company with 400 products sold in 80
countries around the world. By common consensus Manohar’s hard work ethic, sharp
business acumen and introduction of corporate global best practices and innovations
have been instrumental in scripting the phenomenal success story of HSPL over the
past four decades.

Invested with a firm belief that high-quality education is critical for developing human
capital to drive industrial productivity, in October 2011 Agarwal registered the Haldiram
Educational Society which promoted the Gyanshree School, Noida in 2014.

“I am delighted that within a short time period GSN has evolved into a progressive top-
ranked school which delivers 21st century teaching-learning skills to enable children to
achieve academic excellence and develop into globally aware citizens rooted in Indian
culture and values,” says Agarwal.

Subsequently in 2018 Agarwal launched a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative
under which the Haldiram Group has adopted three all-girls government schools —
one in Noida and two in Bikaner.

“ The hallmark of Gyanshree School is its special Indianness

curriculum which enables character development and inculcating
of values in students. After all, the aim of education
is to create good human beings. ”

— M.L. Agarwal

102 | 21 Leaders Transforming Indian Education