TP Gopalan Nambiar, founder of BPL Group, passes away at 94

TP Gopalan Nambiar, the esteemed founder of BPL Group, passed away on Thursday at the age of 94. He died at his residence in Bengaluru around 10:15 am. Known affectionately as TPG, Nambiar was the father-in-law of BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Reports indicate that he had been unwell for some time.

Confirming the news, Chandrasekhar expressed his sorrow on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “It is with great sadness that I inform you all about the passing away of my father-in-law TPG Nambiar, Chairman BPL Group. Om Shanti. He was a true visionary and built one of India's most trusted consumer brands that remains popular to this day. I am pausing my election campaign work and returning to Bengaluru to be with my family.”

Mourning Nambiar’s death, former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa shared his condolences, stating, “Saddened by the passing of Shri TPG Nambiar, founder of the iconic BPL brand, who has been a close acquaintance for a long time. Shri Nambiar’s enormous contributions and legacy will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.”

At its peak, BPL Group was a significant player in the consumer electronics industry, with interests in batteries, telephone equipment, packaging, electronic devices, and medical equipment. The company was renowned for its diverse portfolio and had a notable market presence, particularly in the television sector, where it held over 15 per cent market share during the liberalisation era, competing against multinational giants.

However, internal family disputes and strategic missteps hindered BPL's growth in later years. Challenges included diversification into unrelated sectors and increased competition from South Korean companies like LG and Samsung, ultimately leading to the company's decline. Nambiar's legacy, however, remains influential in India's consumer electronics landscape.