Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 26: Late TT Jagannathan, popularly known as the ‘Kitchen Mogul’ and a towering figure of the TTK Prestige Group, has been awarded the Padma Shri posthumously in the trade and industry category, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sector.

Jagannathan, who passed away in October last year at the age of 77, headed the TTK Prestige Group for several decades and played a transformative role in shaping India’s kitchenware industry. He is credited with inventing the GRS safety mechanism for pressure cookers and taking Indian cookware to global markets.

According to an official government statement issued on Sunday, Jagannathan also made notable contributions to healthcare, sanitation and education. At the time of his death, he was serving as chairman emeritus of TTK Prestige.

A board member of TTK Prestige for nearly 50 years, Jagannathan was instrumental in making the Prestige pressure cooker a household name across India. He played a key role in turning around the TTK Group and successfully steering it towards becoming debt-free.

Under his leadership, Prestige expanded beyond pressure cookers to emerge as a comprehensive kitchen solutions brand, offering a wide range of cookware and electrical appliances. The company also strengthened its presence in international markets, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Jagannathan was also the author of the well-known book ‘Disrupt And Conquer – How TTK Prestige Became A Billion Dollar Company’, which chronicled the brand’s growth story.

A gold medallist from IIT Madras and a PhD holder in operations from Cornell University, USA, Jagannathan was known for his passion for cooking. He often remarked that his drive to innovate always began in the kitchen, a philosophy that defined his legacy in Indian industry.