Bhujia Barons

Book excerpt: How a family-run business from humble Bikaner transformed Haldiram into a global, much-loved brand In the early twentieth century, a young man, Ganga Bhishan Agarwal, aka Haldiram, gained a reputation for making the best bhujia in town. Fast-forward a century and the Haldiram’s empire has revenue much greater than that of McDonald’s and Domino’s combined. In Bhujia Barons, Pavitra Kumar tells the riveting story of the Agarwal family in its entirety—a feat never managed before. It begins in dusty, benign Bikaner and traces the rise and rise of this home-grown label, now one of the most-recognized Indian brands in the world. The Haldiram’s story is not an average business story—it’s chock-full of family drama, with court cases, jealousy-fuelled regional expansion, a decades-old trademark battle, and a closely guarded family secret of the famous bhujia. Fast-paced and captivating, this book provides a delicious look into family business dynamics and the Indian way of doing business.