Journey of Shiv Nadar, Visionary behind HCL: From Small Beginnings to a Tech Titan

Who is Shiv Nadar?

Shiv Nadar is the Founder of India's most groundbreaking technology firms HCL Enterprise and the Chairman Emeritus and strategic Advisor to the Board of HCL Technologies, India's third-largest IT firm. He has left an indelible mark on both the IT industry and the philanthropic world. Nadar's journey is a powerful story of innovation, resilience, and generosity, inspiring generations in India and beyond.

Who were the initial founders of Microcomp Limited (later HCL)?

The initial founders of HCL are Ajay Chowdhry, Arjun Malhotra, DS puri, Subhash Arora, Yogesh Vaidya, Mahendra Pratap and S. Raman.

Early Life and Education

Nadar was born on July 14, 1945, in Moolaipozhi in Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a middle-class family in Tamil Nadu, raised by parents Sivasubramanian Nadar and Vamasundari Devi. He attended Elango Corporation Higher Secondary School and Kumbakonam's Town Higher Secondary School. Nadar completed his pre-university education at the American College in Madurai before earning an electronics engineering degree from PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore. Despite a Tamil-medium education, Nadar’s determination led him to overcome his language barriers, and he did not learn English until he was 21. This foundation instilled in him a drive to succeed against all odds, setting the stage for his future endeavours.

The Early Steps in Career

In 1967, Nadar began his career at the Walchand Group's Cooper Engineering Ltd. However, the standard 10-12-hour workday in the corporate world didn’t satisfy his aspirations, and he soon set out to forge his own path. In 1976, with just an initial investment of Rs. 1,87,000 and the support of friends like Ajai Chowdhry, Arjun Malhotra, and others, Nadar founded Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) from a small garage in Delhi. This small company, which initially produced teledigital calculators under the brand name Televista, would eventually grow into HCL Technologies, a global leader in IT services.

The Rise of HCL and the Indian IT Revolution

Like every start-up they were also facing short of funding. Luckily at that time the Uttar Pradesh government was supporting entrepreneurs towards IT ventures. Nadar took his idea to UP electronics corporation limited, a public limited company. The government invested in his idea and held 26  percent stake. This gave them extra capital to run the company.

The 1970s in India was a time of economic restrictions under the License Raj, making it difficult for companies to innovate freely. However, Nadar’s vision for computers in India coincided with IBM’s departure from the country. This created a gap in the market, and Nadar seized the opportunity to introduce HCL’s first personal computer, the HCL 8C, in the early 1980s. Unlike its contemporaries, HCL was bold in its approach, even developing a UNIX-based personal computer—three years before HP and Sun Microsystems followed suit.

By the 1980s, HCL was making a name for itself in India and took its first steps into the international market by introducing computers in Singapore in 1980. This marked the beginning of HCL’s journey as a global technology company. In 2019, HCL Technologies made a landmark $1.8 billion acquisition of IBM's software products, solidifying its global presence.

Today, HCL Technologies has over 1,37,000 employees and operates in 42 countries, generating an annual revenue of approximately $9.9 billion.

A Visionary Leader and Mentor

Shiv Nadar’s bold leadership extended beyond strategy and product innovation. In 2007, he handed over the CEO position to Vineet Nayar, who led HCL through the 2008-2009 financial crisis with an employee-first, customer-second policy. This groundbreaking approach showed Nadar's understanding of the strategic importance of a loyal workforce, a philosophy that has helped HCL thrive.

In 2020, Nadar formally stepped down as chairman, passing the reins to his daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra. She became the first woman in India to lead a publicly traded IT company, underscoring Nadar's commitment to empowering capable leaders. According to Forbes, Roshni’s leadership has since continued HCL’s legacy, making her one of the most influential women in the world.

The Shiv Nadar Foundation: Giving Back to Society

Shiv Nadar’s journey was not solely about building an IT empire. A firm believer in education’s transformative power, he established the Shiv Nadar Foundation in 1994, which focuses on improving education and rural development in India. The Foundation has launched numerous initiatives, including the establishment of the SSN College of Engineering in Chennai and Shiv Nadar University in Noida, a multidisciplinary private research institution that has earned a strong reputation.

Nadar’s contributions to education and social causes reflect his commitment to shaping future generations. In 2022-2023, Nadar was recognized as India’s most generous philanthropist by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List, donating Rs. 2,042 crore (over Rs. 5.6 crore daily) to charitable causes.

Awards and Recognition

Over the years, Shiv Nadar has received numerous awards recognizing his contributions. In 2008, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Indian government. Other notable accolades include the Global Leadership Award by the US India Business Council in 2021, the Corporate Citizen Award in 2014, and CNBC TV18’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

A Legacy Beyond IT

Shiv Nadar’s legacy is more than HCL and his contributions to India’s technology landscape. His philanthropic efforts and focus on education have paved the way for countless opportunities for young Indians. According to Vineet Nayar, Nadar’s close associate, if Shiv Nadar had been born in Silicon Valley, HCL would likely be a $500-billion company today. But Nadar chose to succeed in India, navigating a landscape riddled with challenges and making HCL a name synonymous with India’s tech revolution.

In his lifetime, Shiv Nadar has transformed his humble beginnings into a billion-dollar legacy, empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators. His story serves as an enduring inspiration, proving that with vision, tenacity, and a commitment to giving back, one individual can indeed change the world.