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| '''Shiv Nadar''' (born 14 July 1945) is an Indian billionaire businessman and philanthropist who founded HCL Technologies, one of India's largest IT services companies, and built it from a "garage startup" in a Delhi barsati (rooftop apartment) in 1976 into a global technology giant with $13+ billion in annual revenue and 225,000+ employees. With an estimated net worth of $34.1 billion as of March 2025, Nadar ranks among the world's wealthiest individuals and is India's third-richest person behind Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani. | | '''Shiv Nadar''' (born 14 July 1945) is an Indian billionaire businessman and philanthropist who founded HCL Technologies, one of India's largest IT services companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=HCL Technologies Profile |url=https://www.hcltech.com/about-us |publisher=HCL Technologies |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> With an estimated net worth of $34.1 billion as of March 2025, Nadar ranks among India's wealthiest individuals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shiv Nadar Forbes Profile |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/shiv-nadar/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| Born in a small village in Tamil Nadu to a Tamil Hindu family, Nadar earned an electrical engineering degree before working at DCM Data Products, where he met the co-founders who would join him in starting HCL. His vision—that microprocessors would revolutionize the world—drove HCL's transformation from hardware manufacturing to IT services, becoming India's third-largest IT company after TCS and Infosys. | | Born in a small village in Tamil Nadu, Nadar founded HCL in 1976 from a Delhi rooftop apartment with Rs. 187,000 (approximately $20,000).<ref>{{cite news |title=HCL Founding Story |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/hcl-technologies-shiv-nadar-interview-299912-2021-08-29 |newspaper=Business Today India |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> His vision that microprocessors would revolutionize computing drove HCL's transformation from hardware manufacturing to IT services, becoming India's third-largest IT company after TCS and Infosys.<ref>{{cite news |title=HCL Among Top Indian IT Companies |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/hcl-technologies-overtakes-wipro-to-become-indias-third-largest-it-company/articleshow/69093456.cms |newspaper=Economic Times |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| Nadar is married to Kiran Nadar, an Asian Games bridge champion and one of Asia's most prominent art collectors. Their daughter Roshni Nadar Malhotra succeeded her father as HCL chairperson in 2020, becoming the first woman to chair a listed Indian IT company and marking a rare successful generational transition in Indian business.
| | Nadar has distinguished himself as India's most generous philanthropist, donating over $1.2 billion through the Shiv Nadar Foundation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shiv Nadar Philanthropy |url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/shiv-nadar-s-foundation-has-committed-1-billion-to-education-11663044697445.html |newspaper=Mint |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| Beyond business, Nadar has distinguished himself as India's most generous philanthropist, donating over $1.2 billion through the Shiv Nadar Foundation to transform India's educational system. He has been named "India's Most Generous" multiple times, contributing Rs. 2,042 crores ($245 million) annually to education initiatives including establishing universities, schools, and scholarships impacting over 39,000 students.
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| As of 2025, Nadar has largely stepped back from day-to-day management, focusing on philanthropy while his daughter Roshni leads HCL. His legacy encompasses not only building a technology empire but demonstrating that Indian entrepreneurs could compete globally while maintaining commitment to social responsibility—a model distinct from both American shareholder capitalism and Indian family business dynasties.
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| == Early life and education == | | == Early life and education == |
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| Shiv Nadar was born on 14 July 1945 in Moolaipozhi, a small village in Thoothukudi district (then part of Madras Presidency, now Tamil Nadu state) in southern India. He came from a Tamil Hindu family of modest means—his father was a district judge, providing middle-class stability but not wealth. | | Shiv Nadar was born on 14 July 1945 in Moolaipozhi, Tamil Nadu, India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shiv Nadar Biography |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shiv-Nadar |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| Growing up in post-independence India during the 1950s, Nadar witnessed the country's early industrialization efforts and Nehru's emphasis on science and technology for national development. This context shaped his later conviction that technology could transform India.
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| Nadar attended local schools in Tamil Nadu before enrolling at the prestigious American College in Madurai for his pre-university degree. The American College, founded by American missionaries in 1881, provided English-medium education emphasizing science, mathematics, and Western pedagogy—giving Nadar strong technical foundation and English fluency crucial for his later global business.
| | He attended American College in Madurai and earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore in 1967.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nadar Education |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/business/companies/hcl-founder-shiv-nadar-story-15310931.htm |newspaper=CNBC TV18 |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| He subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore in 1967. PSG was among India's top engineering institutions, known for rigorous technical training. Electrical engineering was a practical choice in 1960s India—providing skills applicable to manufacturing, power generation, and emerging electronics industries.
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| After graduation, Nadar worked briefly at Cooper Engineering and Walchand Group before joining DCM Data Products in Delhi—a pivotal decision that would define his career.
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| == Personal life ==
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| Shiv Nadar is married to Kiran Nadar, an extraordinary figure in her own right. Kiran is an Asian Games bronze medalist in bridge (a card game requiring mathematical skill and strategic thinking) and has represented India internationally in bridge competitions. She is also one of Asia's most prominent contemporary art collectors, founding the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in New Delhi—one of India's leading private contemporary art museums.
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| The couple has one daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, born in 1982. Roshni earned degrees from Northwestern University (USA) and went on to earn an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. She married Shikhar Malhotra, a businessman, and they have two sons.
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| In 2020, Roshni succeeded her father as chairperson of HCL Technologies, making her the first woman to chair a major listed Indian IT company and one of India's most powerful businesswomen. The succession was carefully planned over years, with Roshni gradually assuming responsibilities while Shiv transitioned to strategic advisory roles.
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| The Nadar family maintains residences in Delhi and owns properties internationally. Despite enormous wealth, associates describe Shiv as relatively modest and private—focused on work and philanthropy rather than celebrity lifestyle. He is known to be a voracious reader, particularly interested in technology trends, management philosophy, and educational policy.
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| Kiran's art museum and Shiv's educational foundations reflect the family's commitment to cultural and social contributions beyond business—a values-driven approach to wealth management.
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| == Career == | | == Career == |
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| === Early career at DCM Data Products (1967–1976) === | | === DCM Data Products (1967-1976) === |
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| After earning his engineering degree, Nadar joined DCM Data Products, a Delhi-based company manufacturing computer peripherals and digital equipment. DCM was part of the larger DCM (Delhi Cloth Mills) industrial group—one of India's established business houses.
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| At DCM, Nadar worked on early computing projects and gained exposure to emerging microprocessor technology. Critically, he met Arjun Malhotra, Subhash Arora, Ajai Chowdhry, Yogesh Vaidya, and DS Palsule—the engineers who would become HCL's co-founders.
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| Working in India's nascent computing industry during the early 1970s, Nadar and his colleagues recognized that microprocessors—the "computers on a chip" just emerging from Intel and other Silicon Valley companies—would revolutionize computing by making it affordable and accessible. This conviction drove their decision to start HCL.
| | After graduation, Nadar joined DCM Data Products in Delhi, where he met the co-founders who would join him in starting HCL.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nadar at DCM |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/hcl-infosystems-shiv-nadar-the-quiet-achiever/article28668936.ece |newspaper=The Hindu Business Line |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| === Founding HCL (1976) === | | === Founding HCL (1976) === |
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| In 1976, Shiv Nadar and five co-founders established Microcomp Limited (later renamed HCL—Hindustan Computers Limited) in a Delhi barsati (rooftop apartment)—comparable to the famous Silicon Valley garage startups. Initial capital was Rs. 187,000 (approximately $20,000), pooled from the six co-founders. | | In 1976, Shiv Nadar and five co-founders established Microcomp Limited (later renamed HCL) in Delhi.<ref>{{cite news |title=HCL Founding |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20210830-hcl-technologies-shiv-nadar-cover-story-1845067-2021-08-20 |newspaper=India Today |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| The company's first product was a microprocessor-based programmable calculator—demonstrating that sophisticated electronics could be designed and manufactured in India rather than simply imported. This was significant in 1970s India, where most technology was foreign-built and Indian companies primarily assembled or resold imported products. | | The company's first product was a microprocessor-based programmable calculator. HCL later expanded into personal computers and IT services.<ref>{{cite news |title=HCL Early Products |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/hcl-tech-journey-from-garage-to-150-billion-valuation-121070600252_1.html |newspaper=Business Standard |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| HCL's early years were challenging:
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| * Limited capital and access to components (India's import restrictions made sourcing chips difficult)
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| * Skepticism from customers about Indian-made electronics
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| * Competition from established foreign brands
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| * Infrastructure limitations (unreliable electricity, poor telecommunications)
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| However, the team's technical competence, entrepreneurial drive, and timing (as computers began penetrating Indian businesses and government) enabled survival and gradual growth.
| | Shiv Nadar is married to Kiran Nadar, an Asian Games bronze medalist in bridge and founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kiran Nadar Profile |url=https://www.knma.in/about-kiran-nadar |publisher=Kiran Nadar Museum of Art |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| === Transformation to IT services (1980s–1990s) === | | Their daughter Roshni Nadar Malhotra succeeded her father as HCL chairperson in 2020, becoming the first woman to chair a listed Indian IT company.<ref>{{cite news |title=Roshni Nadar Becomes HCL Chair |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53447153 |newspaper=BBC News |date=July 17, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2025}}</ref> |
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| Through the 1980s, HCL evolved from hardware manufacturing to IT services. India's 1991 economic liberalization opened opportunities: multinational corporations entering India needed IT infrastructure, and Western companies began discovering India's engineering talent could provide software services at lower cost than domestic labor.
| | == See also == |
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| Nadar recognized that services offered higher margins and growth potential than low-margin hardware manufacturing. HCL gradually shifted focus:
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| * Software development for domestic and international clients | | * [[Roshni Nadar Malhotra]] |
| * Systems integration helping businesses implement enterprise software
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| * IT consulting advising companies on technology strategy
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| * Business process outsourcing handling back-office operations
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| By 2000, HCL Technologies (the services subsidiary) had become the company's core business, generating the majority of revenue and profits.
| | == References == |
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| === Global expansion and competition (1990s–2010s) ===
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| As India's IT services industry exploded, HCL competed with TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) and Infosys to capture global market share. The competition was fierce: all three companies recruited aggressively from India's engineering colleges, opened offices in the United States and Europe, and pursued large outsourcing contracts from Fortune 500 companies.
| | == External links == |
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| HCL differentiated through: | | * [https://www.hcltech.com HCL Technologies official website] |
| * Technical depth in complex infrastructure and engineering services | | * [https://www.shivnadarfoundation.org Shiv Nadar Foundation] |
| * Willingness to take on challenging integration projects rivals avoided
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| * Faster decision-making versus larger, more bureaucratic competitors
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| * "Employees First, Customers Second" philosophy emphasizing worker satisfaction
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| Under Nadar's leadership, HCL grew into a multi-billion dollar enterprise:
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| * Over 225,000 employees globally
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| * Offices in 60+ countries
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| * $13+ billion annual revenue
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| * Serving clients including Microsoft, Google, Boeing, Walmart
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| === Transition and succession (2020–present) ===
| | [[Category:1945 births]] |
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| In August 2020, Shiv Nadar stepped down as HCL Technologies chairperson, succeeded by his daughter Roshni. In July 2021, he also relinquished the role of managing director.
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| The succession was carefully managed: Roshni had served on HCL's board since 2013, led the family's philanthropic foundation, and gradually assumed responsibilities. The transition demonstrated Nadar's strategic planning and willingness to empower the next generation—contrasting with many Indian business patriarchs who cling to control.
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| As of 2025, Nadar serves as chairman emeritus and strategic advisor, focusing primarily on philanthropy while Roshni leads the company. The succession has been generally successful, with HCL continuing to grow and compete effectively.
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| == Philanthropy and Shiv Nadar Foundation ==
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| Since the mid-1990s, Nadar has focused extraordinary attention and resources on transforming India's educational system through the Shiv Nadar Foundation. As of 2025, he has invested over $1.2 billion through the foundation—among the largest philanthropic commitments by any Indian individual.
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| Foundation initiatives include:
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| '''Shiv Nadar University''' (established 2011): A private multidisciplinary research university in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in sciences, humanities, engineering, and management. The university aims to create a world-class institution comparable to top American universities, with need-blind admissions and substantial scholarships.
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| '''Shiv Nadar Schools''': A network of K-12 schools providing high-quality education across India, serving students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds with significant scholarship support.
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| '''VidyaGyan Schools''': Residential schools for talented rural students from economically disadvantaged families, providing world-class education completely free—enabling social mobility for children who otherwise would have limited opportunities.
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| '''Scholarships and fellowships''': Supporting thousands of students annually for higher education in India and abroad.
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| Nadar's philanthropic philosophy emphasizes:
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| * Education as the foundation for individual and national development
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| * Merit-based selection with need-blind support
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| * Creating institutions of excellence rather than simply distributing money
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| * Long-term commitment (multi-decade funding vs. one-time grants)
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| His consistent generosity has earned him the title "India's Most Generous" multiple times, with annual charitable contributions exceeding Rs. 2,000 crores ($245 million)—representing a significant portion of his wealth deployed for social benefit.
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| == Net worth and compensation ==
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| Shiv Nadar's net worth is estimated at $34.1 billion as of March 2025 (Forbes), making him:
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| * India's third-richest person (after Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani)
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| * Among the top 40 wealthiest individuals globally
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| His wealth derives primarily from ownership of approximately 61% of HCL Technologies through various holding structures. As HCL's stock price has appreciated, Nadar's net worth has grown substantially—though he has also donated significant portions to philanthropy.
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| Unlike some Indian billionaires who extract wealth through dividends or asset sales, Nadar has largely kept his wealth invested in HCL while drawing modest compensation relative to his ownership value—focusing on long-term company growth.
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| == Awards and recognition ==
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| * **Padma Bhushan** (2008): India's third-highest civilian honor, awarded for contributions to trade and industry
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| * **Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year** (1996): Recognition for building HCL
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| * **Listed among Forbes Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy**: Honoring educational initiatives
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| * **Various lifetime achievement awards**: From industry associations and business organizations
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| Nadar has generally avoided seeking publicity or accolades, preferring to let HCL's results and foundation's impact speak for themselves—contrasting with more publicity-seeking business leaders.
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| == Legacy ==
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| Shiv Nadar's legacy rests on three pillars:
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| **Building HCL**: Demonstrating that Indian entrepreneurs could build globally competitive technology companies from scratch, competing successfully with Western giants and later Chinese competitors.
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| **Generational succession**: Successfully transitioning leadership to daughter Roshni, showing that family businesses could professionalize and empower capable next-generation leaders regardless of gender.
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| **Transformative philanthropy**: Deploying wealth to create lasting educational institutions rather than simply accumulating dynastic wealth—setting an example for Indian billionaires regarding social responsibility.
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| Whether history ultimately judges Nadar as among India's greatest business leaders likely depends on whether HCL maintains competitiveness in coming decades and whether his educational initiatives deliver transformative social impact. Early indications suggest both outcomes are plausible.
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| == References ==
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| <references>
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| * "Shiv Nadar." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiv_Nadar
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| * Shiv Nadar Foundation, https://www.shivnadarfoundation.org/
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| * HCL Technologies corporate website and annual reports.
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| * Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
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| * Forbes India articles on Shiv Nadar.
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| * "Who is Shiv Nadar? Founded HCL In A Garage, Donates Rs. 5.6 Cr Daily To Charity." Bollywood Shaadis.
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| * "Shiv Nadar: Founder & Chairman of HCL Corporation." StartupTalky.
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| </references>
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| [[Category:Chief_executive_officers]] | |
| [[Category:Indian chief executives]] | |
| [[Category:Indian billionaires]] | | [[Category:Indian billionaires]] |
| | [[Category:Indian businesspeople]] |
| [[Category:HCL Technologies]] | | [[Category:HCL Technologies]] |
| [[Category:1945 births]]
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| [[Category:Living people]]
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| [[Category:PSG College of Technology alumni]] | | [[Category:PSG College of Technology alumni]] |
| [[Category:Indian technology businesspeople]] | | [[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]] |
| [[Category:Indian philanthropists]] | | [[Category:Indian philanthropists]] |
| [[Category:Padma Bhushan recipients]]
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| [[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]] | | [[Category:Chief executive officers]] |
Shiv Nadar (born 14 July 1945) is an Indian billionaire businessman and philanthropist who founded HCL Technologies, one of India's largest IT services companies.[1] With an estimated net worth of $34.1 billion as of March 2025, Nadar ranks among India's wealthiest individuals.[2]
Born in a small village in Tamil Nadu, Nadar founded HCL in 1976 from a Delhi rooftop apartment with Rs. 187,000 (approximately $20,000).[3] His vision that microprocessors would revolutionize computing drove HCL's transformation from hardware manufacturing to IT services, becoming India's third-largest IT company after TCS and Infosys.[4]
Nadar has distinguished himself as India's most generous philanthropist, donating over $1.2 billion through the Shiv Nadar Foundation.[5]
Early life and education
Shiv Nadar was born on 14 July 1945 in Moolaipozhi, Tamil Nadu, India.[6]
He attended American College in Madurai and earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore in 1967.[7]
Career
DCM Data Products (1967-1976)
After graduation, Nadar joined DCM Data Products in Delhi, where he met the co-founders who would join him in starting HCL.[8]
Founding HCL (1976)
In 1976, Shiv Nadar and five co-founders established Microcomp Limited (later renamed HCL) in Delhi.[9]
The company's first product was a microprocessor-based programmable calculator. HCL later expanded into personal computers and IT services.[10]
Personal life
Shiv Nadar is married to Kiran Nadar, an Asian Games bronze medalist in bridge and founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi.[11]
Their daughter Roshni Nadar Malhotra succeeded her father as HCL chairperson in 2020, becoming the first woman to chair a listed Indian IT company.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ <ref>"HCL Technologies Profile".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Shiv Nadar Forbes Profile".Forbes.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"HCL Founding Story".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"HCL Among Top Indian IT Companies".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Shiv Nadar Philanthropy".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Shiv Nadar Biography".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Nadar Education".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Nadar at DCM".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"HCL Founding".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"HCL Early Products".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Kiran Nadar Profile".{Template:Newspaper.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
- ↑ <ref>"Roshni Nadar Becomes HCL Chair".{Template:Newspaper.July 17, 2020.Retrieved December 15, 2025.</ref>
External links
Template:Authority control
