Bengaluru: TP Gopalan Nambiar, the visionary behind the BPL Group, passed away on Thursday at his Bengaluru residence at the age of 94. He was the father-in-law of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former Union Minister and prominent BJP leader.
Nambiar, a trailblazer in the consumer electronics industry, launched BPL in 1963 amidst the ‘Licence Raj,’ initially producing precision panel meters for Indian defense. His ambition saw the establishment of BPL’s first manufacturing plant in Palakkad, Kerala, later moving operations to Bengaluru. Under his leadership, BPL grew to become a household name in India’s electronics market by the 1990s, diversifying into color televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and more.
However, economic liberalization in 1991 brought fierce competition from global brands like LG and Samsung, which, along with family disputes, contributed to BPL’s decline. Despite these challenges, Nambiar’s legacy as a builder of one of India’s most trusted brands endures, with his son Ajit Nambiar now serving as BPL’s Chairman and CEO.
In the early 2000s, facing global competition and financial strain, BPL partnered with Sanyo in a 50:50 joint venture, transferring its $80 million color TV business to the collaboration. After a brief market hiatus, the two companies resumed operations in 2006, aiming to reclaim market presence.
Nambiar once brought a legal challenge to the Company Law Board (CLB) in Chennai regarding BPL Telecom’s ownership, involving son-in-law Rajeev Chandrasekhar. The dispute concluded in an out-of-court settlement.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed his sorrow on social media, stating, “With great sadness, I share the passing of my father-in-law TPG Nambiar, BPL Group’s Chairman. He was a visionary who built one of India’s most beloved consumer brands. I am pausing my election campaign to return to Bengaluru to be with my family.”
Expressing his condolences, MP Shashi Tharoor said, “It’s deeply saddening to hear of TPG Nambiar’s passing. A pioneering industrialist from Kerala, he brought a new era to electronics manufacturing by establishing a cutting-edge facility in Palakkad after acquiring British Physical Laboratories in 1961, later renamed BPL Limited. His visionary legacy continues to inspire.”