SherleneGirardi at 20:50, 1 May 2026

2026-05-01T20:50:33Z

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{{short description|Indian writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox writer
| image = Karan-Bajaj-portrait.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = Portrait of Karan Bajaj
| name = Karan Bajaj
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age| 1979 |06|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = India
| occupation = {{hlist|Entrepreneur|Novelist}}
| nationality = [[India]]n
| years_active = 2008–present
| alma_mater = [[Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore]]<br>[[Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra]]
| notableworks = ''Keep Off The Grass'' (2008) <br />''Johnny Gone Down'' (2010) <br /> ''The Seeker'' (2015)<br /> ''The Yoga of Max's Discontent'',
| website = {{URL|karanbajaj.com}}
}}

'''Karan Bajaj''' is an [[Indian people|Indian]] technology entrepreneur<ref name="quartz">{{cite web|url=https://qz.com/india/1938091/how-byjus-owned-whitehat-jr-rose-in-the-indian-ed-tech-sector/|title=WhiteHat Jr's dream run until it became controversy's favourite child |publisher=Quartz India }}</ref><ref name=BS>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/edtech-start-up-whitehat-jr-sold-to-byju-s-on-zoom-for-300-million-120080601851_1.html |title=Edtech start-up Whitehat Jr sold to Byju's on Zoom for $300 million|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=6 August 2020|publisher=Business Standard|last1=Abrar|first1=Peerzada}}</ref> and author.<ref name=ET>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/features/autobiography-of-a-multimillionaire-yogi-the-incredible-journey-and-contrarian-ideas-of-karan-bajaj/articleshow/77565021.cms?fromsrc=etprime&fbclid=IwAR347ZIrl1XIzSDfsFsaRsAm1M1Tb2G70O_k0eJBlnsWpmE8zNWoq_tgvS0&from=mdr |title=Autobiography of Multimillionaire Yogi|publisher=The Economic Times}}</ref> He is best known as founder and CEO of [[WhiteHat Jr.]], an [[Edtech]] company specializing in distance learning<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-26/covid-pandemic-india-could-lead-the-market-for-remote-coding-lessons|title=9 year old coders show How India is pioneering online education |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref><ref name="forbes india">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/take-one-big-story-of-the-day/whitehat-jr-and-the-curious-case-of-disappearing-dissent/63627/1|title=WhiteHat Jr and the curious case of disappearing dissent |work=Forbes India }}</ref><ref name="ken">{{cite web|url=https://the-ken.com/story/byjus-silencing-of-online-dissent/|title=Rage against the machine: behind Byju's swift silencing of dissent |date=6 October 2020 |publisher=The Ken }}</ref> which was acquired by [[BYJU'S]] in 2020.<ref name=TC>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/05/indias-byjus-acquires-whitehat-jr-for-300-million/ |title=India's Byju's acquires WhiteHat Jr. for $300 million |publisher=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref name = inc42>{{cite web|url=https://inc42.com/features/untangling-whitehat-jrs-150-mn-arr-is-coding-edtechs-new-holy-grail/|title=Untangling WhiteHat Jr's $150 Mn ARR: Is Coding Edtech's New Holy Grail? |publisher=Inc42}}</ref>

Bajaj is also the author of four novels.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-prj-karan-majaj-yoga-of-maxs-discontent-20160428-story.html |title=Karan Bajaj on 'The Yoga of Max's Discontent,' finding his own karma |date=2016-04-28|last=Nance|first=Kevin|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Companies/p3TPPsBFpoMyl9HhgB1w4M/Karan-Bajaj-A-winning-discovery.html |title=Karan Bajaj: A Winning Discovery |publisher=LiveMint }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RzEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=karan+bajaj+keep+off+the+grass+outlook&pg=PA53 |title=The Dollar-Rupee Conversion |date=11 February 2008 |publisher=Outlook }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VDEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=karan+bajaj+keep+off+the+grass+outlook&pg=PA103 |title= Cutting Edge: Keep of the Grass by Karan Bajaj|date= 7 July 2008|publisher=Outlook }}</ref>

==Early life==
Karan Bajaj was born in India, where he was brought up in a family with military roots.<ref name=LSQuare>{{cite web|url=http://newsletter.iimbaa.org/karan-bajaj-a-yogi-to-a-millionaire-in-a-rendezvous-with-rahul-singh/ |title=Karan Bajaj: A Yogi to a Millionaire in a rendezvous with Rahul Singh|publisher=LSquare}}</ref> He has a master's degree in [[Business Administration]] from [[Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore]] and a B.A diploma in [[Mechanical Engineering]] from [[Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra]].<ref name=ET/>
==Career==
In his early career, Bajaj worked for [[Procter & Gamble]], [[The Boston Consulting Group]]<ref name=Times>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/Karans-novel-captures-youth-angst-Ben-Rekhi/articleshow/4815036.cms |title=Karan's novel captures youth angst: Ben Rekhi |publisher=Times of India}}</ref> and [[Kraft Foods]].<ref name=ET/> In 2016, he moved to Mumbai as CEO of [[Discovery Networks]], where he headed Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and Discovery Kids in South Asia.<ref name=BS/> He left Discovery Networks in 2019.<ref name = mashable>{{cite web | url = https://in.mashable.com/tech/10047/in-conversation-with-former-discovery-ceo-karan-bajaj-need-for-ai-ethics-machine-learning-as-a-skill | publisher = Mashable | title = In Conversation With Former Discovery CEO Karan Bajaj: Need For AI Ethics, Machine Learning As A Skill, And More| date = 2 January 2020 | accessdate = 29 May 2021}}</ref>

===Whitehat Jr===
In 2018, Bajaj started WhiteHat Jr, an online educational company initially aimed at improving children's coding and math skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/business/whitehat-jr-adds-music-learning-to-platform-to-expand-offering-to-brazil-mexico-soon-1011912.html|title=WhiteHat Jr adds music learning to platform, to expand offering to Brazil, Mexico soon |date=23 July 2021 |publisher=Deccan Herald}}</ref><ref name="forbes india"/>
In 2020, the firm was acquired for $300 million by [[BYJU'S]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/byjus-acquires-whitehat-jr-for-300-million/articleshow/77378559.cms|title=Byju's acquires WhiteHat Jr for $300 million |work= The Times of India}}</ref><ref name=BS/> and integrated into their coding teaching division.<ref name="BS" /><ref name="TC" /><ref name="ET" /><ref name = inc42/> After the acquisition, he led Byju's International division, Byju's FutureSchool, launching programs in English, Spanish and Portuguese for the US, Brazil and Mexico students with new courses including music, English, fine arts and science.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/07/indian-edtech-giant-byjus-to-expand-to-international-markets/|title=Indian edtech giant Byju's to expand to international markets |publisher=TechCrunch }}</ref> Bajaj left the company in August 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/whitehat-jr-founder-karan-bajaj-quits-a-year-after-acquisition-by-byjus/articleshow/85033048.cms|title=WhiteHat Jr founder Karan Bajaj quits a year after acquisition by Byju's |newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/whitehat-jr-founder-karan-bajaj-moves-on-trupti-mukker-new-ceo-121080400468_1.html|title=WhiteHat Jr Founder Karan Bajaj moves on, Trupti Mukker new CEO |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=4 August 2021 |publisher=Business Standard }}</ref> Now Trupti Mukker the head of customer experience and delivery, will take over as CEO of White HatJr.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WhiteHat Jr founder Karan Bajaj quits a year after acquisition by Byju's|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/whitehat-jr-founder-karan-bajaj-quits-a-year-after-acquisition-by-byjus/articleshow/85033048.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2021-12-14}}</ref>

===Authorship===
Bajaj is the author of several books.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ruby|first=Nary|title=Contemporary authors|year=2017|oclc=1248747362}}</ref> ''Keep Off The Grass'' is Bajaj's debut book first published in 2008, about a psychedelic road trip of a 25-year-old [[Yale]] graduate through the length and breadth of India. The journey is made by a youngster [[protagonist]] named Samrat, born to immigrant parents in the U.S. who decides to go out in search of his roots. Along the way, Samrat is jailed for possession of marijuana, develops a drug addiction, meditates in the foothills of the [[Himalayas]], has a one-night stand with a hippie in [[Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh|Dharamsala]] and meets flesh-eating Aghoree saints on the banks of [[Varanasi]].<ref name=Hindu>{{cite news|last=Nair|first=Nandini|title=The grass green|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/05/24/stories/2008052452061400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822061449/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/05/24/stories/2008052452061400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 August 2008|accessdate=23 June 2012|date=2008-05-24|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

Bajaj's second novel, ''Johnny Gone Down'', is a thriller published by [[HarperCollins]] in 2010. The novel's narrative is focused on the "bizarre, almost surreal series of events that transform an MIT graduate into first a genocide survivor, then a Buddhist monk, a drug lord, a homeless accountant, a software mogul, and a deadly game fighter over a period of twenty years."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/80546/fast-paced-gripping.html |title=Fast-paced and gripping|date=10 July 2010|publisher=Deccan Herald}}</ref>

''The Seeker'', was a third book published by [[Penguin Random House]] in June 2015. The novel is about an investment banker in New York who embarks on a quest to become a yogi in the Himalayas. The plot was inspired by Bajaj's one-year sabbatical traveling from Europe to India, learning Hath yoga in an ashram in India, and practicing meditation in the Himalayas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/write-well-before-your-pompous-promotions-82183.html|title=Write well before your pompous promotions |date=13 August 2015 |publisher=The Statesman }}</ref><ref name="Kirkus">{{cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karan-bajaj/the-yoga-of-maxs-discontent/ |title= The Yoga of Max's Discontent |publisher=Kirkus Reviews}}</ref>

Bajaj's works have been noted and reviewed by various publications and literary critics, including [[Kirkus Reviews]],<ref name="Kirkus"/> [[Publishers Weekly]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59463-411-6|title=The Yoga of Max's Discontent |publisher=Publishers Weekly }}</ref> [[Chicago Tribune]]<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/> and [[Indiaplaza]],<ref name="Indiaplaza">{{cite web|url=http://blog.indiaplaza.com/2010/04/indiaplaza-editorial-review-johnny-gone.html|title=Indiaplaza Editorial Review: Johnny Gone Down by Karan Bajaj |publisher=Indiaplaza }}</ref> among others. His book "Keep off the Grass" reached the semi-finals of the [[Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award]] and was on the shortlist of the [[Indiaplaza Golden Quill Book Awards]] in 2008.<ref name="Indiaplaza"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://lithub.com/the-yoga-of-maxs-discontent/|title=The Yoga of Max's Discontent |publisher=Literary Hub}}</ref>

Kevin Nance from the Chicago Tribune wrote on "The Yoga of Max's Discontent": "If being a Wall Street banker doesn't seem conducive to a life of stillness, solitude and meditation — if the concept of selflessness, in all its implications, seems foreign to the ethos of New York City — then the course of "The Yoga of Max's Discontent," by the Indian-American novelist Karan Bajaj, will seem natural, if not inevitable."<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/>
== Publications ==
===Books===
*{{cite book |title=Keep Off the Grass |date=2008 |isbn=978-9-350-29287-7|last1=Bajaj |first1=Karan |publisher=Harper Collins }} by [[HarperCollins]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s1FLDQAAQBAJ|title=Keep Off The Grass |date=December 2013 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=9789350292877 }}</ref>
*{{cite book |title=Johnny Gone Down |date=2010 |isbn=978-9-350-29494-9|last1=Bajaj |first1=Karan |publisher=Harper Collins }} by HarperCollins<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ql6XECxdt0EC|title=Johnny Gone Down |date=13 April 2010 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=9789350294949 }}</ref>
*{{cite book |title=The Seeker |date=2015 |isbn=978-9-352-14037-4|last1=Bajaj |first1=Karan |publisher=Penguin Books Limited }} by [[Penguin Random House]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u5mcCQAAQBAJ|title=The Seeker|date=15 June 2015|publisher=Penguin Random House |isbn=9789352140374}}</ref>
*{{cite book |title=The Yoga of Max's Discontent |date=2016 |isbn=978-0-698-19204-1|last1=Bajaj |first1=Karan |publisher=Penguin }} by Penguin Random House<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mGVYCgAAQBAJ|title= The Yoga of Max's Discontent |date= 3 May 2016 |publisher=Penguin Random House|isbn= 9780698192041 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/yoga-maxs-discontent|title=The Yoga of Max's Discontent: A Novel |work=New York Journal of Books }}</ref>
** Translated into [[Czech language|Czech]] as *''Max a hledání vyšší pravdy''<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.knihydobrovsky.cz/kniha/joga-maxovy-nespokojenosti-26525507 |title=Max a hledání vyšší pravdy' |year=2017 |publisher=Edice Knihy Omega |isbn=9788073906368 }}</ref>

===Adaptations===
The copyrights for the'' Keep off the Grass'' screen adaptation were sold to [[Mosaic Media Group]] in 2009 with [[Ben Rekhi]] signed up as director.<ref name="Times" /> In 2017, Ronnie Screwvala and Ashi Dua were signed on as co-producers for the screen adaptation of ''Johnny Gone Down''.<ref name="The Mumbai Mirror">{{cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ronnie-screwala-ashi-dua-to-make-a-film-on-karan-bajajs-book-johnny-gone-down/articleshow/61760925.cms |title=Ronnie Screwala, Ashi Dua to make a film on Karan Bajaj's book|publisher=The Mumbai Mirror}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Karan has two daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/travel/article/Indian-origin-novelist-and-his-wife-s-soul-trip-around-the-world-16506195|title=Indian-origin novelist and his wife's soul trip around the world |publisher=Midday }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.karanbajaj.com/ Author's website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090204092359/http://www.naachgaana.com/2009/02/01/it-is-all-about-quality-content/ Film Interview]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bajaj, Karan}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Boston Consulting Group people]]
[[Category:American novelists of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Management Bangalore alumni]]
[[Category:American management consultants]]

Karan Bajaj - Revision history

SherleneGirardi at 20:50, 1 May 2026