Shiv Nadar
Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, HCLShiv Nadar's Journey so far...
- Shiv Nadar completed his engineering in Electricals and Electronics from the PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore after which he shifted to Delhi
- Hailing from Tamil Nadu's Nadar community, he had a keen sense for business. In 1975, Nadar quit a high-paying job with the Delhi Cloth Mills (DCM), teamed up with six of his colleagues and pooled in Rs 1.87 lakh
- With this seed capital, they set up a company called Microcomp in a small room that manufactured digital calculators and microprocessors
- Nicknamed as Magus, the Persian word for a wizard, Nadar and his team acquired a licence from the Uttar Pradesh government to start a computer company; thus Hindustan Computers Limited or HCL was born in August 1976
- HCL started with manufacturing hardware mainly computers and under the guidance of Nadar, the company expanded into various domains and today is one of India's top software services providers. In the 20 years since its founding HCL entered the Rs 10,000 crore revenue club
- Over the last four decades, the bearded entrepreneur has guided HCL into a multi-billion dollar tech behemoth with presence in 46 countries and more than 150000 employees. Nadar stepped down as Chairman in July 2020
- One of the pioneers of India's IT industry, Nadar in 1981 provided the capital to set up NIIT, a company that started a chain of computer training institutes across the nation
- He played a key role in 2018 when HCL acquired the IP assets of technology major IBM for $1.8 billion
- Right from an early age, Nadar believed that quality education plays a transformational role and it is this belief that led him to establish a philanthropic arm. In 1994 he set up the Shiv Nadar Foundation with a windfall from HP exiting a joint venture with HCL
- Over the last decade, Shiv Nadar Foundation's philanthropic initiatives have expanded into the fields of art, education and healthcare. Through this foundation, Nadar has donated over $800 million thereby helping over 30,000 students
Before you go...
- Nadar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008 for his pioneering role in India's IT sector and philanthropy
- In 2015, he launched Project Samuday, under which HCL adopted villages to transform them
- Shiv married Kiran, an Asian Games medalist and a well-recognised Bridge player; the Nadars have a daughter Roshni. Kiran Nadar is one of India's top art collectors and has set up two museums in Delhi-NCR
Shiv Nadar News
- India’s most generous women gave over ₹600 cr in 2025; Rohini Nilekani tops the list with ₹204 crRohini Nilekani has been named India's most generous woman philanthropist, contributing ₹204 crore in the past year. Her focus on social innovation spans education, climate action, governance, and gender equity. Other prominent women philanthropists like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Bina Shah also made significant contributions, supporting various social causes.
- Billionaire family offices face deeper scrutiny in IndiaIndia's markets regulator is considering bringing family offices under its oversight due to their increasing market influence. Proposed rules include mandatory disclosures of assets and investment returns, aiming for greater transparency and risk management. SEBI is also exploring granting them Qualified Institutional Buyer status for preferential IPO access.
- HCL's Roshni Nadar Malhotra becomes India’s richest woman with Rs 2.84 lakh crore wealth: Hurun reportRoshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies, emerged as India’s richest woman, debuting at third on the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025 with Rs 2.84 lakh crore. This marks a historic first for a woman in the top three, underscoring the growing influence of tech-driven wealth and women's leadership in Indian industry.
- Rs 40,000 crore dividend boom! How Ambani, Adani & India's top billionaires got richer in FY25India's top billionaires, including the Ambanis, Adanis, and Shiv Nadar, collectively amassed over ₹40,000 crore in dividends in FY25, showcasing India Inc's strong cash generation. Shiv Nadar led the pack with ₹9,902 crore, followed by Anil Agarwal's Vedanta at ₹9,591 crore. The surge in dividend income spanned across various sectors, highlighting generous payout policies.
- Hurun Global Rich List 2025: HCL's Roshni Nadar becomes fifth richest woman globally, first Indian woman in Top 10Roshni Nadar, Chairperson of HCL Technologies, ranks fifth in the Hurun Global Rich List 2025, with a net worth of Rs 3.5 lakh crore. She is the first Indian woman to break into the top 10 wealthiest women globally. Nadar, also involved in philanthropy through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, has been leading HCL since 2020.
- Who is Roshni Nadar Malhotra, third richest Indian and daughter of HCL founder Shiv NadarRoshni Nadar Malhotra has ascended to the position of India’s third-richest individual after receiving a 47% stake in HCL Corporation and Vama Sundari Investments from her father, Shiv Nadar. This strategic succession ensures the continued control of the Nadar family over HCL’s operations. With this transition, Roshni now commands a key leadership role in the $12 billion technology giant, HCLTech. Her elevation in wealth rankings follows Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, reinforcing her influence in India’s business landscape.
- Shiv Nadar gifts 47% stake in HCLTech promoter firms to daughter RoshniThis makes Roshni Nadar Malhotra the majority shareholder with a 57.33% ownership, along with an increase in voting rights, while Shiv Nadar’s stake in the promoter entities will decrease to 4%. Together, these promoter entities hold a combined 44.34% stake in HCL Technologies as of the end of December 2024.
- Shiv Nadar, Ahlcon International and several other schools in Delhi, Noida receive bomb threat; police initiate probeSeveral schools in Delhi and Noida received bomb threats via email, prompting thorough investigations by the police and bomb disposal teams. Schools like Ahlcon International in Delhi and Shiv Nadar in Noida closed as a precaution. St. Stephens College also received a threat. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm while cyber teams investigate.
- Hurun India Philanthropy list: Meet the most generous donor in India. It's not Ambani or TataHurun India recently unveiled its list of top philanthropists for 2024, with Shiv Nadar and family maintaining the top position, contributing Rs 2,153 crore. Mukesh Ambani and family followed with a donation of Rs 407 crore. The top 10 donors collectively contributed Rs 4,625 crore in FY24, making up nearly 53% of the total donations on the list. Notably, Krishna Chivukula and Susmita & Subroto Bagchi made their debut in the top 10, securing the 7th and 9th spots, respectively.
- Dabur, Jubilant owners bid for stake in Coca-Cola's India bottling arm HCCBParent Coca-Cola Co will decide if the deal will involve one or two co-investors, or if negotiations lead to creation of an investor consortium. A decision is likely by the end of this fiscal year. ET was first to report on June 18 that Coca-Cola had sounded out a group of Indian business houses and family offices of billionaire promoters to buy into HCCB, an arm it eventually wants to take public to cash in on the bullish domestic capital markets.
- HCLTech eyes new revenue streams to diversify risksTo capitalise on new growth avenues, Shiv Nadar-founded IT services company HCLTech is looking to strategically expand its presence in markets like India, Africa, and the Middle East. HCLTech outlined its growth strategies to more than 100 analysts who attended an ‘Investor Day 2024’ meet in Mumbai.
- India plays key role in solving global challenges, driving positive impact: Desmond Kuek, CEO, Temasek TrustDesmond Kuek, CEO of Temasek Trust, remarked on Asia’s importance in addressing climate change due to its significant emissions. India’s role is crucial in this effort. Temasek Trust, focusing on sustainability, partners with global and Indian organizations to drive systemic changes and foster intentional philanthropy, especially among millennials.
- Not as $trong, but $till $ignificantRecent reports suggest that Saudi Arabia has shifted away from the US dollar in its oil trade agreements, deviating from the petrodollar system. Though these reports lack concrete evidence, they stir speculation in the global financial system. BRICS nations have also signaled intentions to reduce their dependence on the dollar, advocating the use of local currencies in cross-border transactions among member states.
- Ludhiana: Punjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar brutally attacked with swords by NihangsPunjab Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar, descendant of martyr Sukhdev Thapar, was attacked by Nihangs with swords outside Ludhiana Civil Hospital despite police protection. Rajiv Tandon, Shiv Sena Punjab President, reported Thapar was assaulted after attending a memorial function. Perpetrators fled; Thapar was hospitalized. Shiv Sena leaders protested at both hospitals, criticizing police response.
- Every city deserves a universityA campus can be the placenta between cutting-edge technology and hi-tech startups. A swift survey of what universities can do for a town would be instructive. Even traditionally, just the presence of one or more universities in the vicinity could create vital business for a town. This is as true for Bologna in Italy as it is for Aligarh and Manipal in India.
- Giving away Rs 5.6 cr a day, Shiv Nadar top donor in 2023 philanthropy rankings; total contributions surge 56%Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Tech, remains India's top philanthropist, donating Rs 2,042 crore in 2023. Azim Premji of Wipro follows with Rs 1,774 crore. Indian philanthropy surges, with 119 donors contributing Rs 8,445 crore, showing a 60% increase from last year. Education, art, culture, heritage, and healthcare were the preferred causes.
- Mukesh Ambani regains Asia's richest person spot: ForbesDespite declining demand for Covid-19 vaccines, India's vaccine king Cyrus Poonawalla -- whose portfolio includes listed financial services firm Poonawalla Fincorp as well as privately held vaccine giant Serum Institute of India -- held onto his spot as the country's fourth richest person, though his net worth fell 7 per cent from a year ago to USD 22.6 billion.
- Gautam Adani among 3 Indian billionaires on Forbes Asia Heroes of Philanthropy listAdani's Rs 60,000 cr pledge when he turned 60 in June this year makes him one of India's most generous philanthropists, the press release said. The money will address healthcare, education, and skill development and will be channelled through the family's Adani Foundation, which was founded in 1996.
- HCL founder Shiv Nadar most generous person; Premji slips to second position: Hurun India Philanthropy List 2022HCL founder Shiv Nadar on Thursday was named as the most generous person in the country with an annual donation of Rs 1,161 crore, the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2022 revealed on Thursday. Nadar, 77, has reclaimed the 'India's most generous' title with a donation of Rs 3 crore per day, according to the report.
- Mountaineer Santosh Yadav to be first woman chief guest at RSS event on DussehraThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has invited celebrated mountaineer Santosh Yadav as the chief guest at its annual Vijayadashami utsav in Nagpur. This is the first time that the RSS in its 97 years of existence has invited a woman chief guest to the occasion. The RSS was founded on the Vijayadashami day in 1925, and on this day every year, the RSS chief delivers a public address, in front of lakhs of swayamsevaks, outlining the vision for the RSS for the year.