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BPL Founder TPG Nambiar Dies At 96

This marks the end of an era in Indian technology.

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BPL Founder TPG Nambiar Dies At 96

TPG Nambiar, who started BPL, died at his home in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru, India: TPG Nambiar, the renowned Indian entrepreneur and founder of BPL (British Physical Laboratories) died at his residence in Bengaluru at the age of 96 since he was combating age-related health issues. This marks the end of an era in Indian technology.

TP Gopalan Nambiar was a pioneer in Indian technology. He worked abroad before returning to India to start BPL in 1963. Initially, the company produced precision instruments for the defence sector.

TPG Nambiar was born in 1938 in Palakkad, Kerala. He obtained a post-graduate diploma in air-conditioning and refrigeration from England where he worked with the British Physical Laboratory.

Nambiar returned to India in 1963 and founded BPL (British Physical Laboratories) with a modest factory in Palakkad, manufacturing hermetically sealed precision panel meters.

BPL became a national leader in consumer and professional electronics, introducing innovative products like ECGs, patient monitoring systems and flat square tube televisions under his leadership.

BPL’s breakthrough came after the 1982 Asian Games. The company expanded its product line to include colour TVs, video cassette recorders, refrigerators, batteries and other consumer electronics.

Later, BPL achieved remarkable success, becoming a household name in India for its technology and quality. The company introduced India’s first colour TV and VCR and led the market with a 15% share in TVs.

However, he faced significant challenges and after liberalisation, BPL struggled to compete with multinational TV majors.

Nambiar also confronted setbacks and difficulties and critics argued that he managed BPL as a family business rather than a professional enterprise as he failed to manage growth effectively.

When it comes to his personal life, Nambiar was married and had children, including a son, Ajit Nambiar, who took over as CEO of BPL Limited. He was also the father-in-law of BJP leader and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. He mourned the loss of his father-in-law penning a note on the X platform.


Thiruvananthapuram MP and Author Shashi Tharoor, took to social media to express his condolences on the passing of TPG Nambiar. He wrote: “Sad to learn of the passing of Shri TPG Nambiar (96), visionary Kerala industrialist who ushered in a new chapter in electronics manufacturing here by setting up a state-of-the-art facility at Palakkad after acquiring British Physical Laboratories in 1961, renamed BPL Limited. A true pioneer who remains an inspiration.”


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BPL BPL Founder TPG Rajeev Chandrashekar TPG Nambiar

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