Early Life and Education
Nandan Nilekani was born on June 2, 1955, in Bangalore, India. He attended Bishop Cotton Boys’ School and St. Joseph’s High School before moving on to the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering in 1978.
Career at Infosys
Nilekani co-founded Infosys in 1981 with N.R. Narayana Murthy and others. Infosys quickly became a major player in the global IT services industry. Nilekani served in various capacities at Infosys, including as CEO from 2002 to 2007, steering the company through rapid growth and making it a billion-dollar enterprise.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
In 2009, Nilekani was appointed as the Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He was the driving force behind the Aadhaar project, which aimed to provide a unique identity number to every Indian resident. The initiative has been credited with transforming India’s approach to public services and welfare distribution.
Political Aspirations
Nilekani entered politics by joining the Indian National Congress and contested in the 2014 general elections from the Bangalore South constituency. Despite a well-fought campaign, he lost the election. Post-politics, he returned to Infosys as the non-executive chairman in 2017 to help stabilize the company during a period of leadership turmoil.
Authorship and Thought Leadership
Nilekani has authored several books, including “Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation” and “Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations.” These works reflect his vision for leveraging technology to address India’s developmental challenges.
Recognitions and Awards
Throughout his career, Nilekani has received numerous accolades. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2006, one of India’s highest civilian honors. He has also been named Businessman of the Year by Forbes Asia, and he received the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prize for Economic and Business Innovation in 2017.
Personal Life
Nandan Nilekani is married to Rohini Nilekani, a noted philanthropist and writer. They have two children. The couple is known for their significant contributions to various social causes, including education and healthcare.
Nandan Nilekani’s journey from a tech entrepreneur to a public servant exemplifies his commitment to leveraging technology for societal good, making him a pivotal figure in modern India’s narrative.
