Anand Mahindra shares rare photo of his father. Mahindra's business still runs on personal bonds his father built decades ago

Anand Mahindra recently shared a heartfelt tribute to his late father, Harish Mahindra, recalling his significant role in shaping the foundation of Mahindra & Mahindra. Accompanying his reflection was a rare photo from the early 1960s, taken in Harish’s office in Mumbai. At that time, Harish Mahindra had just been entrusted with a pivotal responsibility — building the utility vehicle dealer network across India for Mahindra & Mahindra.

In an era without modern communication tools, establishing a national dealership network was no easy task. There were no mobile phones, emails, or video conferences. Communication was limited to handwritten letters, telegrams, and unreliable landline phones. Making calls across states meant booking trunk calls in advance — a process that was often unpredictable and inefficient. Despite these constraints, Harish Mahindra took on the challenge with determination, traveling extensively across India under harsh conditions and without the infrastructure we now take for granted.

His strategy was deeply personal. Rather than merely setting up a chain of dealerships, he focused on building long-lasting relationships with entrepreneurial families across the country. These early dealers didn’t just represent Mahindra vehicles — they became part of an extended family, forming emotional and professional bonds that continue to endure. Many of these relationships, started decades ago, are still alive today, connecting Anand Mahindra with the children and grandchildren of the original dealers.



Netizens took note of the historical depth behind Mahindra & Mahindra’s widespread reach, with one analyst pointing out the incredible logistical and emotional effort involved in building such a network in the absence of modern tools. Online, tributes poured in as many praised Harish Mahindra’s visionary approach and unwavering commitment. Netizens admired not just the business acumen but the personal warmth he infused into the company’s growth story.

Harish Mahindra’s work laid a rock-solid foundation — one that would support the company's exponential growth in the decades that followed.

Harish Mahindra, born in Calcutta in 1923, was a Harvard and Fletcher School graduate who played a pivotal role in shaping Mahindra & Mahindra’s early growth. As a Director, he led the marketing efforts for the Vehicles division and was instrumental in building its nationwide dealership network. A visionary leader, he also played a key role in establishing Mahindra Ugine Steel Company Ltd., laying the foundation for the group’s industrial expansion and long-term success across India.