Ananda Krishnan facts for kids

Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan (born April 1, 1938 – died November 28, 2024) was a very successful businessman from Malaysia. People often called him A. K. He started important companies like Usaha Tegas and the Yu Cai Foundation (YCF).

He was known for being one of the richest people in Malaysia and even the world. Despite his wealth, he preferred to stay out of the public eye.

Early Life and Education

Ananda Krishnan was born on April 1, 1938, in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. His family originally came from Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

He went to Vivekananda Tamil School in Brickfields. Then, he studied at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur. Later, he received a special scholarship called the Colombo Plan scholarship. This allowed him to study in Australia.

He attended the University of Melbourne in Australia. There, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors, focusing on political science. After that, he went to Harvard Business School in the United States. He graduated in 1964 with a Master of Business Administration degree.

Ananda Krishnan followed the Buddhist faith. He had three children: two daughters and one son. His son, Ven Ajahn Siripanyo, became a Theravada Buddhist monk.

Ananda Krishnan's Career

Ananda Krishnan started his business journey with a company called MAI Holdings Sdn Bhd. This was a Malaysian consulting firm. He then created Exoil Trading, which bought rights to drill for oil in different countries.

In the early 1990s, he began to expand his businesses. He invested in many different areas, especially in multimedia.

His business interests included:

• Media, like Astro.
• Satellites, through MEASAT.
• Oil and gas, with companies like Bumi Armada.
• Telecommunications, such as Maxis and Sri Lanka Telecom.

He also owned parts of Tanjong Public Limited Company. This company had businesses in entertainment, like TGV Cinemas, and property.

Ananda Krishnan first became well-known when he helped organize the Live Aid concert in the mid-1980s. This was a huge music event to raise money for charity.

In the early 1990s, he started building a large multimedia business. This included two major telecommunication companies: Maxis Communications and MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems. He also had three communication satellites orbiting Earth.

He bought a large part of Maxis Communications, which is Malaysia's biggest mobile phone company. This increased his ownership to 70%. Maxis has many millions of customers in Malaysia. He also owned a part of Sri Lanka Telecom.

Ananda Krishnan also worked with India's Sun Network through his company Astro. They planned to create TV channels for the Indian market. These channels would especially serve Tamil-speaking people in places like the US, Europe, and the Middle East. He also wanted to offer TV services that used the internet. Ananda Krishnan also owned parts of TVB.com and the Shaw Brothers movie collection.

His Passing

Ananda Krishnan passed away peacefully in Kuala Lumpur on November 28, 2024. He was 86 years old.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

Ananda Krishnan was very generous. He supported education, the arts, sports, and helping people in Malaysia. He did this through his company Usaha Tegas and its related businesses.

In 2003, his company Usaha Tegas started the Harapan Nusantara education fund. Since 2004, this fund has helped 100 students each year. It supports them to attend special programs at local private universities that work with foreign universities. In the same year, the company also started the Yu Cai Education Foundation. They gave $6.6 million to help Chinese ethnic groups with their education.

In 2006, Ananda Krishnan's media company, Astro, started its own scholarship program. They promised to give RM2 million each year. This money helps promising Malaysian students who are studying media and broadcasting.

In 2008, he helped open the Montfort Girls Centre. This center helps orphaned and underprivileged girls learn useful skills for jobs.

In 2010, Forbes magazine recognized him as one of their "48 Heroes of Philanthropy." This list highlights people who are very generous.

In January 2015, Ananda Krishnan and the Usaha Tegas Group launched the Yu Cai Foundation (YCF). YCF provides scholarships for students attending Mandarin-based schools. It also gives money to schools that teach local languages, especially Mandarin and English.

See also

• List of Tamil businesspeople