Shiv Nadar (born 14 July 1945) is an Indian industrialist and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of HCL and the Shiv Nadar Foundation. Nadar founded HCL in the mid-1970s and transformed the IT hardware company into an IT enterprise over the next three decades by constantly reinventing his company’s focus. In 2008, Nadar was awarded Padma Bhushan for his efforts in the IT industry. Nadar, nicknamed by friends as Magus (Old Persian for “wizard”), since the mid-1990s has focused his efforts on developing the educational system of India through the Shiv Nadar Foundation. He is the brother of Tamil novelist Ramanichandran.
Early life and education
Nadar was born in 1945 in Moolaipozhi Village, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district (present ), Tamil Nadu, India. His parents were Sivasubramaniya Nadar and Vamasundari Devi. Nadar’s mother, Vamasundari Devi, is the sister of S. P. Adithanar, founder of Dina Thanthi newspaper.
Nadar studied at Town Higher Secondary School, Kumbakonam. He got admission in the first form (Sixth Standard) on 29 June 1955 and continued his education in Town High School until 1 June 1957. Nadar received a pre-university degree in the American College, Madurai and a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.
His garage startup is now $5.7 billion (revenues) HCL Group, among India’s top five software firms.Flagship HCL Technologies bagged a $500 million outsourcing contract from American drugmaker Merck & Co , its largest order ever. Last June, he sold 2.5% stake in HCL Technologies for $131 million, donating money to his Shiv Nadar Foundation. Daughter Roshni is chief executive of holding entity HCL Corporation.His wife Kiran, an avid art collector, has an art museum in Delhi.
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