Made in India
The Story of Desh Bandhu Gupta, Lupin and Indian Pharma
A village boy who grew up without electricity or a toilet and went on to become a teacher, professor, and pharmaceutical employee before founding a company worth $10 billion.
Every entrepreneur’s blueprint for defying impossible odds.
The Journey
In a country suffocated by the License Raj, where foreign multinationals dominated and entrepreneurship was an act of rebellion, a soft-spoken teacher dared to dream differently. Desh Bandhu Gupta had no family wealth, no business pedigree, no powerful connections.
What he had was an unshakeable conviction that Indians could build world-class institutions—and that affordable medicine was a fundamental right, not a luxury.
At 13, Desh Bandhu Gupta’s friend died of Tuberculosis.
At 79, his company had reduced global TB deaths by 80 percent.
Praise for the book
“...the book went through an astonishing 28 iterations before reaching its final form—mirroring, in some ways, the persistence and reinvention that defined Gupta’s own journey.”
—HT MINT
“Made in India assiduously captures, not just how DBG (how he was fondly called) diligently built Lupin through waves of turmoil, but also captures the most exciting era of the Indian pharma industry.”
—The Economic Times
“The book traces the life of Lupin founder Desh Bandhu Gupta, who grew up in rural Rajasthan and built one of the world’s largest makers of tuberculosis medicines. His journey was described as central to the rise of Indian pharma.”
—The Indian Express
‘DBG was a visionary whose heart beat for India and for Indian patients … His relentless focus on excellence defined his personality. He was a remarkable role model for all of us and one of the true architects who helped shape India’s journey to becoming the pharmacy of the world.’
Dilip Shanghvi, Sun Pharma
‘DBG built Lupin from extremely modest beginnings, guided by determination and a deep commitment to serving patients … DBG’s life story is not only inspiring but also a reminder of how one individual’s purpose can make healthcare accessible and affordable across the world.’
Yusuf Hamied, Cipla
Made in India weaves together three interconnected narratives: the evolution of India's pharmaceutical industry from dependence to dominance, the birth and rise of Lupin against crushing odds, and the personal transformation of Desh Bandhu Gupta from teacher to titan.
This is institution-building in its rawest, most honest form. This is India's story. This is Made in India.
Half the world’s pills. Made in India.
$2 trillion saved for global consumers in a decade.
That’s not trade.
That’s life support.