100 Years of Essel Group: The story of the name “Essel” and a century-old business legacy

As the Essel Group completed 100 years of its remarkable journey, Chairman Dr Subhash Chandra delivered a special signature address at the conglomerate’s centenary town hall. During the address, Dr Chandra shared how the name “Essel” has an unusual origin story rooted in simplicity, operational shorthand, and branding instinct—long before it became the identity of what is now Essel Group, a century-old Indian business conglomerate.

In the early days, the business operated under the name Ramgopal Indraprastha Messers, which later evolved into Subhash Chandra Laxmi Narain (SL) in 1969. During routine operations with the Food Corporation of India, the name was often reduced on gate passes and internal records to a short form—simply “SL”—due to space and administrative constraints.

However, later, Dr Subhash Chandra suggested the use of a more suitable name in case of brochures and official communication. The use of the word “Essel” was adopted as a refined substitute for “SL”, helping transform an internal shorthand into a structured corporate brand identity. This marked the beginning of a unified name that later defined the group’s presence across industries.

Early foundations of a business legacy

The origins of the company can be traced back to 1926, when Jagannath Goenka founded an agricultural produce trading firm in the Adampur grain market in Hisar, Haryana, along with his three brothers under the name Ramgopal Indraprastha Messers, which marked the beginning that later grew into the Essel Group.

As the business progressed, it moved out of Adampur and relocated to Hisar in search of newer avenues in 1941. Later on in 1946, Okara Dukaan was closed down, and Nandkishore Goenka became the head of the business at the age of just 16 years.

In 1948, Jagannath Goenka expanded operations in Delhi by setting up a pulses polishing factory in Motia Khan, strengthening the group’s presence in food processing and distribution.

Evolution and expansion

In 1970, Dr Subhash Chandra arrived in Delhi with limited resources but an ambitious intent. By 1971, he had leased a dal mill, marking the transition from traditional trading to industrial operations. In 1976, the business was formally renamed Essel Group of Industries, consolidating the identity that had begun taking shape through the “Essel” branding.

From there, the group expanded rapidly into multiple sectors. In 1981, Essel Propack Limited pioneered laminated plastic tube technology in India and grew into a global manufacturing leader. In 1990, EsselWorld opened in Mumbai as a major entertainment destination.

The early 1990s marked a turning point in Indian media history with the launch of Zee TV in 1992, followed by Zee News in 1995 and Siti Cable Network Limited in 1994. These ventures positioned the group at the forefront of India’s emerging television and broadcasting industry.

Diversification across industries

Over the following decades, the group diversified further. Dish TV was launched in 2004 as one of Asia’s leading DTH services. Earlier initiatives like Kidzee (2003) became one of Asia’s largest preschool chains, while ventures in finance, infrastructure, energy, and entertainment expanded the group’s footprint.

A century of continuity

The year 2026 saw Essel Group celebrate its centenary. The unique aspect of the Essel Group is that this milestone is achieved through five generations of business development. What started as a grain trading business in Haryana has today become a diversified conglomerate with interests in media, infrastructure, finance, and education, with an identity created out of a simple acronym ‘SL’ to 'Essel'.