Early Life
Shiv Nadar was born on July 14, 1945, in Moolaipozhi village, Madras Presidency (present-day Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu), into a Tamil Hindu family. His parents were Sivasubramaniya Nadar and Vamasundari Devi. He received his early education at Town Higher Secondary School, Kumbakonam, and later attended Elango Corporation Higher Secondary School, Madurai. Nadar received a pre-university degree from American College, Madurai, and a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, in 1967.
Rise to Success
Nadar began his career at Cooper Engineering Ltd. in Pune. In 1976, he founded HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited) with an initial investment of Rs. 187,000. Under his leadership, HCL transformed from an IT hardware company into a global IT enterprise. In 1991, HCL entered the software services business, with HCL Technologies being spun off. Nadar ventured into the international market by establishing Far East Computers in Singapore in 1980.
Key Business Strategies
Nadar's key strategy involved constantly reinventing HCL's focus to adapt to changing market dynamics. He expanded the company's offerings and global presence, establishing offices in 60 countries and employing over 220,000 people. HCLTech has a strong presence in India and contributes to nation-building through advanced technology solutions. HCLTech has been recognized as the fastest-growing IT services brand with a significant year-over-year growth.
Philanthropy
Since the mid-1990s, Nadar has focused on developing the educational system in India through the Shiv Nadar Foundation. He founded SSN College of Engineering in Chennai in 1996. The Foundation has invested over $1.7 billion in educational and art institutions and initiatives.