Shiv Nadar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shiv Nadar
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| Born | 14 July 1945 Moolaipozhi, Madras Presidency, British India
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| Alma mater | PSG College of Technology |
| Occupation | Founder, HCLTech, SSN College of Engineering, Shiv Nadar University, and Shiv Nadar University, Chennai |
| Spouse(s) | Kiran Nadar |
| Children | Roshni Nadar Malhotra |
| Relatives | S. N. Balakrishnan (brother) |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2008) |
Shiv Nadar (born on July 14, 1945) is a very successful Indian businessman. He is also known for his kindness and for giving money to good causes. He started a big technology company called HCL Technologies. He is also in charge of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which helps with education.
Shiv Nadar started HCL in 1976. Over the years, he turned it from a company that made computer parts into a huge technology business. In 2008, he received the Padma Bhushan award. This is one of India's highest honors, given for his important work in the technology world. Since the mid-1990s, he has worked hard to improve education in India. He does this through his Shiv Nadar Foundation.
According to Forbes magazine, he is one of the richest people in the world. In October 2024, his wealth was estimated to be about US$42 billion.
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His Early Life
Shiv Nadar was born in a village called Moolaipozhi. This was in a part of India then known as Madras Presidency. Today, it is in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. His parents were Sivasubramaniya Nadar and Vamasundari Devi. His mother's brother, S. P. Adithanar, started the famous Dina Thanthi newspaper.
Nadar went to school in different places. He studied at Town Higher Secondary School in Kumbakonam. He also attended Elango Corporation Higher Secondary School in Madurai. Later, he finished high school at St. Joseph Boys Higher Secondary School in Trichy. He then went to The American College in Madurai for a pre-university degree. After that, he earned a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He got this degree from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore.
Building a Tech Company
Shiv Nadar started his career in 1967 at a company called Cooper Engineering Ltd. in Pune. But he soon decided to start his own business. He teamed up with several friends and colleagues. These partners included Ajai Chowdhry, Arjun Malhotra, and others.
Their first company was called Microcomp. It focused on selling calculators in India. Then, in 1976, they founded HCL. They started HCL with an investment of Rs. 187,000.
In 1980, HCL started to work internationally. They opened Far East Computers in Singapore. This company sold computer hardware. It made Rs 1 million in its first year. Shiv Nadar remained the biggest owner of the company.
In July 2020, Shiv Nadar passed on his role to his daughter, Roshni Nadar. She became the first woman to lead a big Indian IT company. In July 2021, he also stepped down as managing director of HCL Technologies. C Vijayakumar, the CEO of HCL Tech, took over this role.
His Passion for Education
In 1996, Nadar started the SSN College of Engineering in Chennai. He named it after his father, Sivasubramaniya Nadar. Shiv Nadar was very involved in the college. He even gave HCL shares worth Rs.10 lakh (1 million) to the college. In 2006, he said the college would focus on research. It would also help students connect with foreign universities.
Nadar joined the board of the Indian School of Business in 2005. In 2008, his SSN Trust announced plans for two Vidyagyan schools. These schools would be in Uttar Pradesh for students from rural areas. They would offer free scholarships to 200 students. In 2011, he visited his old school, Town Higher Secondary School. He donated computers and other equipment worth Rs. 80 lakh. He also served as the chairman of the board for Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur until 2014.
About His Family
Shiv Nadar's daughter, Roshni Nadar, is now the chairwoman of HCL. She took over this important role from her father.
His wife, Kiran Nadar, loves art and helps many charities. Both Shiv and Kiran Nadar enjoy playing bridge. They also support the HCL Bridge Tournament in India. In 2024, Shiv Nadar was named the most generous donor. He gave almost rupees 6 crore every day that year.
Awards and Recognition
- In 2008, the Government of India gave him the Padma Bhushan. This is India's third-highest civilian award. He received it for his great work in the IT industry.
- In 2007, Madras University gave him an honorary doctorate degree.
- He was named E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 for his services.
- In 2011, Forbes magazine included him in their list of 48 Heroes of Philanthropy in Asia Pacific.
- In April 2017, India Today magazine ranked him #16th in India's 50 Most Powerful People list.
- Shiv Nadar has given more than $1 billion to help others through his charity work.
