India’s corporate landscape is deeply rooted in legacy, tradition, and entrepreneurship that has evolved over centuries. The country’s economic rise isn’t a story of startups alone — it’s also powered by the enduring success of the oldest business families in India, who laid the foundation for Indian enterprise long before independence. These dynasties represent more than wealth; they embody the cultural and economic DNA of India’s private sector. Let’s explore the list of the oldest business families in India:
Table of Contents
List of Oldest Business Families in India
| Business Family | Founding Year | Founder(s) | Key Sectors / Businesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wadia Group | 1736 | Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia | Shipbuilding, Textiles, Aviation (Go First), FMCG (Britannia) |
| Forbes & Company | 1767 | John Forbes | Trading, Engineering, Logistics, IT Solutions |
| RPG Group | 1820 | Ram Dutt Goenka | Power, Infrastructure, Tyres (CEAT), IT (Zensar) |
| Aditya Birla Group | 1857 | Seth Shiv Narayan Birla | Metals, Cement, Telecom, Financial Services |
| Shapoorji Pallonji Group | 1865 | Pallonji Mistry lineage | Construction, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Energy |
| Tata Group | 1868 | Jamsetji Nusserwanjee Tata | Steel, Power, Auto, IT, Hospitality |
| Kirloskar Group | 1888 | Laxmanrao Kirloskar | Engineering, Pumps, Industrial Machinery |
| Dabur India | 1884 | Dr. S. K. Burman | Ayurveda, Healthcare, FMCG |
| Godrej Group | 1897 | Ardeshir & Pirojsha Godrej | Consumer Goods, Real Estate, Appliances, Chemicals |
| Murugappa Group | 1900 | Dewan Bahadur A. M. Murugappa Chettiar | Agriculture, Finance, Manufacturing, Engineering |
Oldest Family Business in India: Overview
Wadia Family – Oldest business Family in India
The Wadia Group, founded by Lovji Nusserwanjee Wadia in 1736, is one of the Oldest family-owned businesses in India. Initially shipbuilders for the British East India Company, the Wadias built over 350 vessels, including the HMS Trincomalee, still afloat in the UK. Over nearly three centuries, the group has diversified into textiles, aviation, real estate and FMCG. Its flagship companies include Bombay Dyeing, Britannia Industries and Go First (GoAir). Despite modern challenges, the Wadias are an iconic example of longevity in Indian business — how heritage and entrepreneurship can coexist across generations among the oldest business families in India.
Forbes & Company
Founded in 1767 by John Forbes, Forbes & Company is one of the oldest family businesses in India, tracing its roots to colonial trade in Bombay. It transitioned from a British trading house to an Indian family enterprise after its acquisition by the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. Today, Forbes operates in engineering, logistics, IT and water treatment solutions. The company’s adaptability for over 250 years shows how traditional family businesses have evolved with India’s industrial and digital revolutions. Forbes & Company is a bridge between India’s colonial commerce and its modern industrial economy.
RPG Group (Founded in 1820)
Established by Ram Dutt Goenka in 1820, the RPG Group is the entrepreneurial legacy of Bengal’s Marwari business families. Over two centuries, it has expanded into infrastructure, tyres (CEAT), power (CESC) and IT (Zensar Technologies). Under Harsh Goenka’s leadership, the group blends innovation with family-driven governance. RPG has leveraged its heritage to build a modern conglomerate rooted in strong ethics and long-term vision — a hallmark of India’s oldest family businesses.
Birla Family
Founded by Seth Shiv Narayan Birla in 1857, started as a cotton trading business in Pilani, Rajasthan. Over five generations, it has grown into a multinational company specialising in metals, cement, telecom and financial services. Under Kumar Mangalam Birla, the group has maintained its reputation for governance and innovation. Its global presence in 36 countries is a testament to how India’s oldest family owned businesses have adapted. The Birla name is synonymous with enterprise, philanthropy and resilience — the three pillars that continue to define the oldest business families in India.
Read Also: Birla Family Tree Explained
Shapoorji Pallonji Group (1865)
The Shapoorji Pallonji Group, started in 1865, was a construction company that built Mumbai’s most iconic structures — from the Reserve Bank of India building to the Taj Mahal Palace expansion. Founded by the Mistry family, the group later diversified into real estate, infrastructure and renewable energy. It also has a significant stake in Tata Sons, connecting two of India’s most powerful business houses. With operations in 70 countries, the group is one of the oldest family businesses in India, known for engineering excellence and long-term sustainability.
Tata Group (1868)
Founded by Jamsetji Nusserwanjee Tata in 1868, the Tata Group kickstarted India’s industrial revolution — from Tata Steel and Tata Power to TCS, India’s largest IT company. The group employs over 10 lakh people globally and contributes nearly 2% of India’s GDP. While professionally managed today, its roots remain tied to family stewardship and philanthropy through Tata Trusts. The Tata Group shows how India’s oldest family owned businesses have redefined capitalism through ethics, innovation and nation-building.
Kirloskar Group (1888)
The Kirloskar Group, founded by Laxmanrao Kirloskar in 1888, marked India’s shift from craft to industrial production. From iron ploughs to engineering and machinery, it grew into a leading conglomerate with companies like Kirloskar Oil Engines and Kirloskar Brothers. Based in Pune, the group is all about innovation and self-reliance — principles that align with India’s Make in India vision. Managed by the fourth generation, it continues to live up to its founder’s legacy, is the technical backbone of the oldest family businesses in India.
Dabur Family (1884)
Founded by Dr SK Burman in 1884 in Kolkata, Dabur started as an Ayurvedic medicine venture, it has grown into a global FMCG leader with brands like Dabur Amla, Vatika and Real Juices. The Burman family still controls the majority, blending heritage with professional management. With operations in over 120 countries and a market cap of near INR 1 lakh crore, Dabur is a proof that traditional family enterprises can rule modern consumer markets. It is one of the most trusted and oldest business families in India.
Godrej Family (1897)
The Godrej Group, founded by Ardeshir and Pirojsha Godrej in 1897, started by making locks and safes in pre-independence India. Over time, it expanded into consumer goods, real estate, appliances and chemicals. Still 100% family-owned, the group is known for its ethical leadership, innovation and green business practices. With revenues of over INR 20,000 crore, it is a flagship among the oldest family businesses in India. The Godrej legacy is a blend of trust and modernity — a benchmark for sustainable family capitalism in India.
Murugappa Group (Founded in 1900)
Founded in 1900 by Dewan Bahadur A. M. Murugappa Chettiar, the Murugappa Group started as a money-lending firm in Burma before returning to Chennai post-independence. Today, it is one of South India’s largest conglomerates, operating in agriculture, finance (Cholamandalam), and engineering. The group employs over 70,000 people and maintains a strong focus on sustainability and governance. Its success demonstrates how southern India’s entrepreneurial families helped shape national industry. The Murugappas stand among the oldest business families in India, representing legacy-driven growth and multi-sector diversification.
The Indian Family Capitalism Legacy
Family capitalism in India predates industrial capitalism itself. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when colonial trade routes shaped the economy of the subcontinent, merchant families from various communities — Parsis in Bombay, Marwaris in Calcutta, Chettiars in the South — created enduring legacies. Many of these early trading houses have evolved into what are now known as the oldest business families in India.
Unlike Western corporations driven by shareholder interests alone, Indian family enterprises combined networks of trust, community values, and long-term wealth management. This hybrid model created intergenerational capital, allowing these families to survive global wars, political upheavals and economic reforms.
Challenges Faced by Legacy Family Businesses
Even the strongest dynasties face modern challenges. Governance disputes, diversification fatigue and generational differences test family cohesion. The Shapoorji Pallonji-Tata shareholding dispute and Go First’s crisis under the Wadia Group show that legacy alone cannot guarantee resilience.
However, many of these oldest group companies in India have turned these challenges into opportunities for change — adopting transparent governance, professional CEOs and sustainability-driven strategies. Their adaptability, along with brand equity, continues to make them pillars of Indian capitalism.
Road Ahead
As India is set to become a USD 7 trillion economy, the oldest business families in India are reimagining themselves for the globalised world. They are investing in renewable energy, digital infrastructure and venture capital and nurturing new generations of leaders who blend tradition with innovation.
In many ways, these oldest family businesses in India are India’s most enduring institutions — carrying centuries of trust, innovation and resilience. Their continued evolution proves a timeless truth: in Indian business, legacy isn’t a burden of the past — it’s an asset for the future.
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