Shiv Nadar, is a prominent Indian billionaire, businessman, and philanthropist. He is recognized as the founder and chairman of HCL Technologies, as well as the chairman of the Shiv Nadar Foundation. Nadar established HCL in 1976 and successfully transformed the company from a hardware-focused entity into a comprehensive IT enterprise over the subsequent thirty years. In recognition of his significant contributions to the IT sector, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan award in 2008. Known affectionately by his peers as Magus, a term derived from Old Persian meaning “wizard,” Nadar has dedicated his efforts since the mid-1990s to enhancing India’s educational system through the initiatives of the Shiv Nadar Foundation. As of July 2024, Forbes estimates his net worth to be approximately US$36.5 billion.

Early Life and Education of Shiv Nadar

Nadar was born born on July 14, 1945 in the village of Moolaipozhi, located in the Madras Presidency, which is now part of the Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu. He hailed from a Tamil Hindu family, with his parents being Sivasubramaniya Nadar and Vamasundari Devi.

Notably, his mother, Vamasundari Devi, was the sister of S. P. Adithanar, the founder of the prominent Dina Thanthi newspaper.

Nadar’s educational journey began at Town Higher Secondary School in Kumbakonam. He later attended Elango Corporation Higher Secondary School in Madurai.

He commenced his formal education in the first form (Sixth Standard) in June 1955 and continued at Town High School until June 1957.

Subsequently, he transferred to St. Joseph Boys Higher Secondary School in Trichy, where he completed his high school education.

Nadar then pursued a pre-university degree at the American College in Madurai, followed by a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore.

 

Professional Journey and Leadership of Shiv Nadar

Founding and Growth of HCL

 

Nadar commenced his professional journey at Cooper Engineering Ltd., a subsidiary of the Walchand Group, located in Pune, in 1967.

Shortly thereafter, he decided to leave this position to establish his own enterprise in collaboration with several associates and friends.

Among these partners were notable figures such as Ajai Chowdhry (former Chairman of HCL), Arjun Malhotra (CEO and Chairman of Headstrong), Subhash Arora, Yogesh Vaidya, S. Raman, Mahendra Pratap, and D.S. Puri.

The first initiative undertaken by Nadar and his collaborators was Microcomp, a firm dedicated to marketing teledigital calculators within the Indian marketplace. In 1976, they founded HCL, with an initial investment of Rs. 187,000.

By 1980, HCL expanded its operations internationally, establishing Far East Computers in Singapore to distribute IT hardware. This venture achieved revenues of Rs 1 million in its inaugural year and continued to manage operations in Singapore. Nadar maintained his status as the largest shareholder, although he did not exercise management control.

Leadership Transition and Recognition

In July 2020, Nadar transferred leadership to his daughter, Roshni Nadar, who made history as the first woman to chair a publicly listed Indian IT company. Subsequently, in July 2021, Nadar resigned from his role as managing director of HCL Technologies, with C Vijayakumar, the CEO of HCL Tech, succeeding him for a five-year term.

 

Financial Status and Projections for Shiv Nadar’s Company

 

As of October 2021, Forbes magazine recognized him as the third wealthiest individual in India, with an estimated net worth of US$31 billion.

In 2024, the financial projections for Shiv Nadar’s company reveal significant growth. Revenue is expected to rise by ₹111,408 crore (approximately US$13 billion), while operating income is forecasted to increase by ₹20,967 crore (around US$2.5 billion).

Net income is anticipated to grow by ₹16,565 crore (about US$2.0 billion). Additionally, total assets are projected to expand by ₹99,777 crore (approximately US$12 billion), and total equity is set to increase by ₹68,271 crore (around US$8.2 billion). Shiv Nadar, the owner of the company, holds a substantial 60.77% stake.

The company’s workforce, as of 2024, comprises 227,481 employees. The parent company of this enterprise is the HCL Group.foundins

Philanthropic Efforts and Educational Contributions

Donation to Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund:

Shiv and Roshni Nadar presented a cheque amounting to Rs. 4 crore to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund in New Delhi on January 17, 2005.

Establishment of SSN College of Engineering:

In 1996, Nadar established SSN College of Engineering in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in honor of his father, Sivasubramaniya Nadar.

He actively participated in the college’s initiatives, including a significant donation of HCL shares valued at Rs. 10 lakh. In 2006, he declared that the institution would not only focus on education but also foster research and facilitate partnerships with foreign universities.

Indian School of Business :

Nadar became a member of the executive board of the Indian School of Business in 2005.

VidyaGyan Schools:

In March 2008, his SSN Trust announced the establishment of two Vidyagyan schools in Uttar Pradesh, aimed at providing free scholarships to 200 rural students from 50 districts.

Contribution to Town Higher Secondary School:

In February 2011, he visited Town Higher Secondary School, where he contributed computers and other resources worth Rs. 80 lakh.

Chairmanship at IIT Kharagpur:

He held the position of chairman of the board of governors at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur until 2014.

 

Personal Life, Honors, and Philanthropy

Shiv Nadar and his family are also known for their philanthropic work. According to the news published in Mint, he donated about Rs 2,042 crore (about Rs 5.6 crore daily) during the financial year 2022-2023.

Due to donating so much, he has received the title of ‘the most generous person in the country’ for three consecutive years in the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023.

Apart from donating money, Nadar started the SSN College of Engineering in Chennai and supported several educational institutes through HCL Technologies.

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