Independence Day (15 Aug 2025) is exactly one week away.

Our country’s journey to independence was not just a political saga, but also an economic one.

Now, in her 78th year of independence, India is making its mark at a global level in almost every field. 

But even before 1947, a handful of visionary enterprises were laying the groundwork for wealth creation in the subcontinent. 

These companies – some founded under colonial rule – have stood the test of time, showcasing the power of longevity, brand strength, and compounding returns. 

This Independence month, we’ll cover some editorials focusing on India’s journey from Independence till date. For starters, let’s look at five iconic companies that were building wealth before India was free and still stand tall. 

And if you’re wondering what makes them enduring wealth creators – any stock market advisory will tell you it’s their strong fundamentals and the power of compounding over generations.

Let’s start with Tata Steel.

Tata Steel: Forging an Industrial Giant Since 1907

Founded in 1907 by the legendary industrialist Jamsetji Tata, Tata Steel (originally Tata Iron & Steel Co., or TISCO) was Asia’s first integrated steel plant. 

At a time when the idea of heavy industry in India was far-fetched, Tata Steel established a steel city in Jamshedpur that would become the backbone of India’s industrialization. 

By World War I, the company was supplying steel for the Allied war effort, helping it survive economic challenges. 

During World War II, Tata Steel again contributed by manufacturing steel plates for armored vehicles, reinforcing its strategic importance. 

Post-independence, Tata Steel expanded rapidly – from producing rails for Indian Railways to acquiring global steelmakers (like Britain’s Corus in 2007) to become a worldwide steel conglomerate. 

Today, Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel companies and a staple in investor portfolios.

Fast Facts About Tata Steel

Tata Steel was incorporated in 1907 and is now a Large Cap company with a market capitalization around ₹1.98 lakh crore. 

It remains a key player in India’s Metals & Mining sector, having evolved from a single steel plant to operations in 26 countries. 

Generations of shareholders have benefitted from its growth; the company has paid dividends since its early years and delivered robust long-term returns (for example, its shares have gained about 49% in the last 3 years, outpacing the Nifty 50 index.

Tata Steel Share Price 

Tata Steel’s enduring legacy – “Nation building” through steel – exemplifies how patience and compounding can build immense wealth over a century.

Tata Steel (Est. 1907)	Key Highlights
Founder	Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata (established by Dorabji Tata)
Pre-Independence Role	First integrated steel plant in Asia; supplied steel for railways and World War efforts
Post-Independence Growth	Expanded to global operations (e.g. acquired Corus); diversified steel products worldwide
Market Cap (2025)	~₹1,98,000 Cr (Approx $22.5 B)
Wealth Creation	Consistent dividends since early 1900s; long-term stock growth (e.g. ~14% CAGR in recent decades)

ITC: From Imperial Tobacco to Diversified Conglomerate

ITC traces its origins to the days of the British Raj. It was incorporated on 24 August 1910 as the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Ltd., initially catering to colonial India’s cigarette demand. 

For its first six decades, ITC’s business was largely cigarettes and leaf tobacco. 

However, post-independence and especially after Indian ownership increased (the company’s name changed to India Tobacco Company in 1970 and then simply ITC in 1974 as it became fully Indian-managed), ITC reinvented itself. 

Today, ITC is a powerhouse spanning multiple sectors – Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (staple brands from Aashirvaad atta to Sunfeast biscuits), hotels (the ITC Welcomgroup), paperboards, agri-products, and more. 

Despite this diversification, ITC remains a cash-generating giant thanks to its tobacco business, allowing it to consistently reward shareholders with hefty dividends and share buybacks over the years.

Fast Facts About ITC

Established in 1910 by British tobacco interests, ITC has transformed into one of India’s largest conglomerates. It boasts a market cap of about ₹5.15 lakh crore as of 2025, making it one of the top-valued companies in India. 

While rooted in the tobacco sector, over 60% of its revenues now come from non-tobacco businesses, reflecting successful diversification. For investors, ITC has been a classic example of long-term compounding – it has rewarded faithful shareholders through regular dividends (often with ~80–100% payout ratios) and stock bonuses. 

The company’s ability to reinvent itself from a colonial-era cigarette maker to a modern multi-sector listed giant underscores its brand strength across generations. 

It’s no surprise then that many stock market advisory experts often cite ITC as a must-have blue-chip for balanced portfolios.

ITC Share Price

ITC Limited (Est. 1910)	Key Highlights
Original Name	Imperial Tobacco Co. of India (British-owned)
Evolution	Renamed ITC in 1974 after Indianization; diversified into FMCG, hotels, paper, agri, IT, etc.
Flagship Brands	Classic cigarettes (Gold Flake, Classic), Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Savlon, ITC Hotels, Classmate, etc.
Market Cap (2025)	~₹5,15,000 Cr (Approx $58.8 B)
Wealth Creation	High dividend payouts; stock up ~40x in last 20+ years (demonstrating power of compounding)

Britannia: Baking Biscuits and Compounding Wealth Since 1892

Not many brands can claim over 130 years of heritage, but Britannia Industries can. 

Founded in 1892 in Calcutta (Kolkata) by a group of British businessmen with a modest capital of just ₹295, Britannia started as a small biscuit bakery in a nondescript house. 

Early on, its tasty biscuits caught on, and the company grew steadily – coming under Indian management (the Gupta brothers) in the early 20th century. 

During World War II, Britannia played a crucial role feeding Allied troops: the British Indian government relied on Britannia for a continuous supply of biscuits, so much so that the company devoted up to 95% of its production capacity to the British Army. 

This war-time boost cemented Britannia’s financial strength and brand recognition across India. Post-independence, Britannia became a household name, known for popular biscuits like Marie Gold, Tiger, Good Day, and Bourbon. Now part of the Wadia Group, it’s one of India’s largest FMCG food companies, with products spanning dairy, bread, cakes, and more – found in almost every Indian kitchen.

Fast Facts About Britannia

Established in 1892, Britannia is among India’s oldest surviving companies. It is headquartered in Kolkata and today commands a market capitalization of around ₹1.3–1.4 lakh crore (about $15 billion).

This once-tiny bakery is now a Nifty-50 listed juggernaut selling to millions of customers in India and abroad. Britannia’s longevity is matched by its stock performance – long-term investors have seen significant wealth creation through stock splits, bonuses (the company went public in 1978), and rising share prices. 

Britannia Share Price

For instance, by supplying nearly all the army’s biscuit needs in the 1940s, Britannia built reserves that funded expansion, enabling decades of growth. Its story highlights the compounding power of steady consumer demand: small profits on each packet of biscuits, multiplied over 100+ years, have compounded into massive shareholder wealth. 

Britannia Industries (Est. 1892)	Key Highlights
Founders	Group of British businessmen (initial investment ₹295)
Colonial Era Boost	Supplied biscuits to British Army in WWII (up to 95% capacity)
Modern Era	Part of Wadia Group; leading FMCG foods company (biscuits, dairy, etc.)
Market Cap (2025)	~₹1,35,000 Cr (Approx $14–15 B)
Wealth Creation	Stock compounded over decades; blue-chip FMCG with consistent growth in revenues and profits

Hindustan Unilever: FMCG Titan with Colonial Roots

When you think of daily household brands – soap, tea, shampoo – chances are you’re thinking of Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL). 

This consumer goods behemoth traces its Indian roots to 1931-33, when Anglo-Dutch Unilever set up subsidiaries in British India. 

Unilever’s first Indian venture was Hindustan Vanaspati Mfg. Co. in 1933 (maker of Dalda vanaspati ghee), soon followed by Lever Brothers India Ltd. (soaps) and United Traders Ltd. (personal care). These entities merged in 1956 to form Hindustan Lever Ltd., which became Hindustan Unilever in 2007. 

Before independence, HUL was already selling popular products (like Lifebuoy soap, which famously advertised “Tandurusti ki raksha” or health protection). After independence, HUL was a pioneer among multinationals – it was the first foreign subsidiary in India to offer equity to the Indian public, issuing shares in 1956. 

HUL’s growth over the decades has been phenomenal: from basic commodities, it expanded into detergents (Surf Excel), shampoos (Clinic Plus), tea (Brooke Bond, Lipton), and dozens of categories. Today, HUL’s products reach every corner of India, giving the company unparalleled pricing power and brand loyalty.

Fast Facts About Hindustan Unilever (HUL)

HUL was incorporated in India in 1933 (as Lever Brothers India). Fast-forward to 2025, and it is India’s largest FMCG company with a market cap of about ₹5.96 lakh crore (around $68–73 billion). This places HUL among the top 5 companies in India by market value. 

The stock has been a stellar long-term performer – for example, since the late 1990s, HUL’s market capitalization has increased over 40-fold, translating to an annualized return close to ~14% (excluding its generous dividends). 

HUL Share Price

Such is the power of its iconic brands (think Lux, Sunsilk, Knorr, Vim, etc.) that HUL enjoys steady growth even in tough economic times. 

Over generations, HUL has compounded wealth for investors while also compounding the trust of consumers. It stands as a shining example of a pre-independence legacy business that continues to deliver riches in the stock market – truly a testament to investing in quality companies and holding them for the long run.

Hindustan Unilever (Est. 1933)	Key Highlights
Colonial Origins	Unilever set up Indian subsidiaries 1931–33 (soaps, vanaspati)
Milestones	Merged to form HUL in 1956; first MNC in India to offer equity to public; renamed Hindustan Unilever in 2007
Brands & Reach	50+ leading brands (Lifebuoy, Lux, Surf, Dove, Lipton, etc.); products in ~100 million households; pan-India distribution
Market Cap (2025)	~₹5,95,000 Cr (Approx $70 B)
Wealth Creation	Among the best long-term performers (40x value increase since 1990s); steady dividends and high return on equity ~20%

State Bank of India: Banking on India’s Growth Since 1806

The State Bank of India (SBI) is not just a bank – it’s an institution that predates modern India itself. SBI’s origins go all the way back to 1806 with the establishment of the Bank of Calcutta in colonial Bengal. 

This was the first joint-stock bank of British India. It later became the Bank of Bengal, and along with the Bank of Bombay and Bank of Madras (founded in the 1840s), formed the trio of “Presidency Banks” that dominated banking in the 19th century. 

In 1921, these three were amalgamated to create the Imperial Bank of India, which was essentially the banker to the government and the largest commercial bank in the country. 

After Independence, in 1955, the Imperial Bank was nationalized and renamed as the State Bank of India – a bank for independent India’s development. 

Over the past seven decades, SBI has been the financial backbone of the nation: from financing infrastructure and agriculture to being the banker of choice for millions of Indians. It’s also been an innovator – whether installing the first ATMs or digitizing banking services in recent years.

Fast Facts About SBI

With a legacy dating to 1806, SBI is by far the oldest bank in India It went public with an IPO in 1993, and today SBI is a banking behemoth with a market capitalization around ₹7.4 lakh crore (~$85 billion). 

That makes it one of the world’s top 250 companies by market value. As India’s largest bank, SBI holds a fifth of the nation’s banking assets and has over 22,000 branches. 

For investors, SBI has delivered solid returns especially in the past two decades alongside India’s economic rise – its stock is up many times over since listing, and it regularly pays dividends. 

SBI Share Price

The bank’s sheer scale and government backing have made it a core holding in many mutual funds. 

Importantly, SBI showcases how a pre-independence institution adapted to post-independence needs: it spearheaded rural branch expansion, absorbed other state-owned banks, and now is driving financial inclusion and digital banking. Its journey from the Bank of Calcutta under the British to the SBI of today mirrors India’s economic evolution – steadfast, resilient, and growth-oriented.

SBI (Est. 1806/1921)	Key Highlights
Pre-1947 Roots	Began as Bank of Calcutta (1806); merged presidency banks became Imperial Bank of India (1921)
Post-1947 Transition	Renamed State Bank of India in 1955 (nationalized); became India’s largest bank and banker to the government
Nation-Building Role	Financed Five-Year Plans, rural development, small industries; has >45 crore customers today
Market Cap (2025)	~₹7,40,000 Cr (Approx $85 B)
Wealth Creation	Listed in 1993; blue-chip bank stock with strong long-term growth, especially as Indian economy expanded (e.g., ~65% stock gain in 2021 alone)

Conclusion

The stories of Tata Steel, ITC, Britannia, Hindustan Unilever, and SBI illuminate a powerful lesson: quality endures. 

These companies started building wealth before India’s independence, and through adaptability, prudent management, and strong brands, they have continued to build wealth after independence. 

Company	Founded	Pre-Independence Milestone	Listed
Tata Steel	1907	First steel ingot, 1912	1910s
ITC	1910	Colonial cigarette monopoly	1970s
Britannia	1892	95 % output to British Army, 1940s	1978
HUL	1933	First MNC to float Indian equity, 1956	1956
SBI	1806	Bank of Calcutta charter, 1809	1993 IPO

An investor who held any of these stocks over the decades would have seen the magic of compounding returns – turning even modest investments into substantial fortunes. 

They also show that investing is not about quick wins, but about riding the long waves of growth. 

As a stock market advisory, the key is to find enduring businesses with strong moats and stick with them. 

On this upcoming Independence Day, as we honor India’s past, we also celebrate these corporate legends that have been wealth compounding engines for generations. They remind us that while regimes change and eras pass, true value creation is independent of time. 

This 15 August 2025, pledge to break free from Telegram tips, WhatsApp rumours, and one-day punts.

Let a SEBI-registered Stock Market Advisory craft your own “century portfolio” — firms with the stamina to outlive fads, news cycles, and maybe even us.

Jai Hind and Happy Investing! 

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