- Incumbent Chairman and Managing Director of RRB Energy Limited, Rakesh Bakshi passes away on 13th April 2020
- He was an Indian climate change activist, professor, businessman, and a pioneer in the field of renewable energy sources in India
- Born in London, he was awarded Padma Shri by in 1991 by then President of India Shri R Venkataraman
On 13th April 2020, India lost one of its extraordinary figures, Rakesh Bakshi, an ardent climate change activist, a proponent of renewable energy in India, a pioneer of renewable power plants in India, and a successful entrepreneur. Born on 4th June 1958 in London, he completed his graduation from the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra and post-graduation in Computer Science and Foreign Trade.
The realization of depleting climate change and the need for action was his motivation right from his young age. So, after completing his studies, instead of pursuing lucrative other career options, he devoted himself to setting up organizations in the field of research and manufacture of renewable power plants. He was the founder of Solchrome Private Limited, RRB Energy Limited, and Eco RRB Infra Private Limited which are major entities in the fields of Solar Thermal Energy and Wind Power Energy in India.
He has been serving as the incumbent Chairman and Managing Director at RRB Energy Limited, President of SESI (2007-08) and also was a guest lecturer at IIT, Delhi for a time. He was a former Advisory Member of TERI, Member of Executive Committee, Management Committee Member of ASSOCHAM and many leading businesses and social associations.
Rakesh Bakshi’s life is credited with many firsts, be it in action or accolades. For instance, he was the pioneer in establishing wind power energy as a major source of power generation in India over three decades ago. But alongside, he was also the first one to explore the commercial application of solutions and services in the renewable energy sector.
In 1991, Rakesh Bakshi was awarded Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian awards by the then President of India Shri. R. Venkataraman in recognition of his extraordinary contributions in the field of renewable energy sources. In fact, he was the first person in India to be awarded this award for working in the field of nonconventional energy sources.
More than an entrepreneur, Rakesh Bakshi was ecopreneur – who successfully explored entrepreneurship in environment-friendly technology and businesses.
While he was instrumental in facilitating know-how transfer and bringing some of the world’s most advanced technologies in the field of renewable energy and wind power energy to India from developed countries from Europe and Canada, he was also one of the forerunners of ‘Make in India’ movement as his companies exported renewable energy products and services to Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, Malaysia, Mauritius, Botswana, Korea, Australia, Cyprus, U.K., and Turkey.
Other than the Padma Shri award, he was conferred with Prince Henrik's Medal of Honour from Denmark in 1997, Climate Technology Leadership Award United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1999, Udyog Rattan Award, 2000 Millennium Award, SESI Business Leadership Award from Solar Energy Society of India- 2005, Lifetime Achievement Award, Rotary's “For The Sake Of Honour” Award, Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, Knight Commander, etc.
Rightly for his outstanding lifelong devotion to the cause of climate change and renewable energy in India he was called Wind Energy Pioneer and Green Maharaja not only in India but globally. As India, world’s third-largest power generating country after China and the US has embarked on its mega plans for 175 gigawatts (GW) Renewable Energy capacity by 2022, mainly in the form of 100 GW solar and 60 GW wind, the vision and legacy of Rakesh Bakshi will be guiding source of inspiration.
You can find more about this extra ordinary Machine Maker at http://rrbindia.com/mrrakeshbakshi.htm
