BPL Founder T.P. Gopalan Nambiar Passes Away at 94: A Tribute to His Legacy - Read Now 

BPL Limited's founder, T.P. Gopalan Nambiar, is no more. He left behind a legacy that changed the face of consumer electronics in India. His death on Diwali day has brought sorrow to his family and the industry he helped shape. Nambiar was instrumental in bringing international standards of technology to Indian households with products like televisions, radios, and refrigerators.

Nambiar had been bedridden for long and had all old-age complaints. He died in Bengaluru. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the senior BJP leader and former Union Minister and son-in-law, expressed deep condolences at the passing away of his father-in-law. Nambiar was remembered as a visionary who brought to life one of the most trusted consumer brands from India.

Legacy of BPL Limited

T.P. Gopalan Nambiar set up BPL Limited in the year 1963 by acquiring British Physical Laboratories India Pvt. Ltd at Palakkad, Kerala. Initially it was mainly into making products meant for the Indian Army and later into consumer electronics. In just less than two decades of the 1980s, BPL became an household name by dominating all other electronics. By the year 1990, BPL had captured nearly the Indian electronics market by offering quality of products that no international firm could do.

At a time when the Indian economy began to liberalize in 1991 with South Korean giants LG and Samsung eating into its profit margins, BPL innovated again. In 2004, it tied up a 50:50 joint venture with Sanyo to further extend its portfolio in the color television line.

The Tie-up with Reliance

BPL Limited has witnessed a revival in the last couple of years. In 2021, Reliance Industries reclaimed the manufacturing license and sales license for branded products from BPL for reviving the brand as it was once known as. BPL still functions and manufactures a range of products like medical equipment, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, audio items, and refrigerators. Its present CEO is Ajith Nambiar whose father is T.P. Gopalan.

Passing away Nambiar marks the end of an era for Indian manufacturing, but the consumer electronics contribution will have been remembered for years. Underpinning the influence he had on the industry and the country are the tributes from leaders as respected as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and politician Shashi Tharoor.

Therefore, BPL Limited continues to exist under new leadership and new partnerships as a symbol of T.P. Gopalan Nambiar's vision to make quality consumer electronics accessible to every Indian household.

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