Early Life
Shiv Nadar was born in Moolaipozhi village, Madras Presidency (present-day Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu), into a Tamil Hindu family. He received his early education at Town Higher Secondary School in Kumbakonam, Elango Corporation Higher Secondary School in Madurai, and St. Joseph Boys Higher Secondary School in Trichy. He then attended the American College in Madurai and earned a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, in 1967.
Rise to Success
Nadar began his career at Walchand Group's Cooper Engineering Ltd. in Pune. He then started his own venture, Microcomp, before founding HCL in 1976 with a team of engineers. HCL initially focused on making calculators and microprocessors. Nadar's leadership transformed HCL from an IT hardware company into a major IT enterprise. He expanded operations internationally, opening Far East Computers in Singapore in 1980 to sell IT hardware. HCL Technologies was publicly listed in 2000.
Key Business Strategies
HCL Technologies focused on software and services, expanding capabilities into various sectors, including medical devices, aerospace, and financial services. The company expanded its software development capacities to the US, European, and APAC markets. Key business strategies included pioneering Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM) and signing significant engagements with major companies. HCLTech has a strong presence in over 60 countries.
Philanthropy
Shiv Nadar is known for his commitment to philanthropy, particularly through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, established in 1994. The Foundation focuses on education and has invested over $1.7 billion in various institutions and initiatives. Nadar has committed over $1 billion to charitable causes. He founded SSN College of Engineering in Chennai in 1996.
