Shiv Nadar, the esteemed chairman of HCL Technology, resigned from his position in July 2020. His daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, will now take over this significant role. HCL, a giant in the tech industry, was founded by Shiv Nadar in a garage in August 1976.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1945 in the village of Moolaipozhi, located in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, Shiv Nadar’s early life was rooted in simplicity. His parents were Shivasubramanya Nadar and Vamsundari Devi. Nadar is the proud father of a single daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra.
Shiv Nadar’s educational journey began at Town Higher Secondary School in Kumbakonam and continued at Alango Corporation Higher Secondary School in Madurai. He later attended St. Joseph’s Boys Higher Secondary School in Trichy, where he completed his high school education. For his higher education, Nadar earned a Pre-University degree from American College, Madurai, followed by a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.
Early Career
Shiv Nadar commenced his professional career in 1967 at the Walchand Group’s College of Engineering in Pune (COEP). However, he soon left this job to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. In August 1976, with the support of friends Ajay Chaudhary, Arjun Malhotra, Subhash Arora, Yogesh Vaidya, S.K. Raman, Mahendra Pratap, and DS Puri, he founded HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited) Enterprises in a garage.
HCL initially focused on manufacturing calculators and microprocessors. By 1980, the company had expanded into the international market, selling IT hardware in Singapore. In its first financial year, HCL reported an income of Rs 10 lakh, and the company has continued its upward trajectory, achieving a profit of Rs 2925 crore in the first quarter of the financial year 2020.
Today, HCL Technologies boasts revenues of $9.7 billion, positioning it as one of India’s largest software services providers.
Awards and Recognition
In 2008, Shiv Nadar was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his significant contributions to the IT industry. He has frequently been listed among the most powerful people in India and globally by various prestigious publications. Beyond his professional success, Nadar is also known for his philanthropy, having donated $1 billion to social welfare initiatives.
Although Shiv Nadar has stepped down as chairman, he will continue to serve as the managing director and Chief Strategy Officer of HCL. His ongoing involvement is expected to bring continued success and innovation to the company, marking yet another remarkable chapter in his illustrious career.
