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Kedarnath Aggarwal (Bikanervala) Biography: Age, Career, Family and Ex

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 6, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1937

Age86 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceBikaner princely state, British India

ProfessionBusinessman

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNaurati Devi

FamilySix children (three sons, three daughters); father Lal Chand Aggarwal

Kedarnath Aggarwal (Bikanervala) Biography

Kedarnath Aggarwal, known affectionately as Kakaji, was an Indian businessman who built the Bikanervala and Bikano brands from modest beginnings in Bikaner

Early life and background

Kedarnath Aggarwal was born in 1937 in the Bikaner princely state of British India. He grew up in a family already connected to the sweets trade: his father, Lal Chand Aggarwal, ran a sweet shop called Bikaner Mithai Bhandar that had been established in 1905. Kedarnath began working in that family shop as a teenager, learning the craft and the rhythms of a sweets business that would shape his life.

Career

After spending time in Mumbai and Kolkata with his brother Satya Narayan Aggarwal, Kedarnath moved to Delhi in 1955. He and his brother started out selling sweets and bhujia on the streets, packing Bikaneri rasgullas and bhujia into paper packets and carrying them in buckets as they moved through the city. Those early days included short stays in local lodging, extended because of help from acquaintances from Bikaner.

Following several months of street vending, the brothers opened a small shop in Chandni Chowk on Paranthe Wali Gali. Initially called Bikaneri Bhujia Bhandar, the shop was later renamed Bikanervala after an interjection by their elder brother Jugal Kishore, who urged them to carry the fame of Bikaner with them. The shop’s menu grew to include items such as Moong Dal Halwa, Bikaneri Bhujia, Kaju Katli and the much-loved Bikaneri rasgullas. During busy festival periods, kend restrictions were sometimes needed to ensure more customers could be served.

The business expanded steadily: additional outlets opened across Delhi, beyond the city and eventually in international locations. In 1988 Kedarnath launched the Bikano brand to sell namkeens and sweets in air-tight packaged form. By the mid-1990s the company had entered a commercial tie-up with Lehar, a new brand associated with PepsiCo. Management responsibilities later passed to Shyam Sundar Aggarwal and his son Manish Aggarwal as the enterprise continued to grow. By 2023, reports indicated Bikanervala operated more than 150 national and international outlets and had substantial annual revenue.

Public profile

Kedarnath was popularly known by the nickname Kakaji. He maintained a visible role in the business for many decades and participated in openings of new shops. Outside his commercial pursuits, he served at one time as a trustee of the Akhil Bharatiya Aggarwal Sammelan. He was known to enjoy travel and in the 1970s purchased a Hindustan Ambassador car.

Personal life

Kedarnath was married to Naurati Devi. The couple had six children: three sons—Radhey Mohan (the eldest), Navratan and Ramesh—and three daughters—Krishankant, Anju and Suman. He belonged to the Vaish (Baniya) community and followed Hinduism. His immediate large family also included several elder brothers—Laxmi Narayan, Jugal Kishore, Har Narayan and Satya Narayan—and a sister, Mannu Bai.

Later years and passing

Kedarnath Aggarwal died in Delhi on 13 November 2023 at the age of 86. Reports attributed his passing to natural causes. News of his death prompted tributes from those who recalled his rise from selling snacks from buckets in Chandni Chowk to establishing a widely recognized brand.

Legacy

Kedarnath Aggarwal left behind a business that began as a single sweets shop and grew into a household name for traditional Indian sweets and namkeens. The brands he created—Bikanervala and Bikano—expanded beyond a local marketplace and became associated with packaged Indian snacks and sweets sold in multiple outlets across India and abroad. His story is often recounted as an example of entrepreneurial growth rooted in family trade and persistence.
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Recent Work

Bikano brand launch

Launched the Bikano packaged namkeen and sweets brand in 1988.

1988
Tie-up with Lehar (PepsiCo)

Commercial tie-up with the Lehar brand of PepsiCo to sell products.

1995
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded the Bikanervala shop in Chandni Chowk that grew into an international chain
  2. Created the Bikano packaged namkeen brand
  3. Expanded Bikanervala to over 150 national and international outlets by 2023
  4. Served as chairman of the business and later saw leadership pass to Shyam Sundar Aggarwal and Manish Aggarwal
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Kedarnath Aggarwal (Bikanervala) born?

1937

What is Kedarnath Aggarwal (Bikanervala) known for?

Businessman

What is Kedarnath Aggarwal (Bikanervala)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Kedarnath Aggarwal (Bikanervala) married to?

Naurati Devi