Nandan Nilekani
Encyclopedia
Nandan Nilekani born (June 2, 1955) is an Indian entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Chairman of the new Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI), after a successful career at Infosys Technologies Ltd
. He is also now heading Government of India's technology committee, TAGUP
.
town in Uttara Kannada
district of Karnataka
, as the younger son of Durga and Mohan Rao Nilekani in a Hindu
family. His father worked as a General Manager of Mysore and Minerva Mills. His father, who subscribed to Fabian Socialist ideals, had an influence on Nandan during his early years. He has an elder brother, Vijay, who works in the Nuclear Energy Institute
.
He studied at St. Joseph's High School Dharwad
,studied at the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and later in Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
, Mumbai
where he graduated with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1978. His early years were marked by his father’s job transfers and re-locations. He spent the first twelve years at Bangalore, and then moved in with his uncle’s family in Dharwad
, after his father had been transferred.
.
Nilekani became the Chief Executive Officer
of Infosys in March 2002, taking over from Murthy. Nilekani served as CEO of the company from March 2002 to April 2007, when he relinquished his position to his colleague Kris Gopalakrishnan
, becoming Co-Chairman. He left Infosys on 9 July 2009 to serve as the chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India, in the rank of a cabinet minister under invitation from the Prime Minister of India
, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
He co-founded India’s National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM
) as well as the Bangalore Chapter of The IndUS Entrepreneurs
(TiE).
He appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on March 18, 2009 to promote his book "Imagining India." He spoke, at a TED conference, about his ideas for India's future.
He has an estimated net worth of the Indian rupee equivalent of US$1.3 billion. In 2009, Time
magazine placed Nilekani in the Time 100
list of 'World's Most Influential People'
Nilekani has been extensively quoted in Thomas Friedman
's book The World is Flat
.
.
Unique Identification Authority of India
The Unique Identification Authority of India , is an agency of the Government of India responsible for implementing the AADHAAR scheme, a unique identification project. It was established in February 2009, and will own and operate the Unique Identification Number database...
(UIDAI), after a successful career at Infosys Technologies Ltd
Infosys
Infosys Limited, formerly Infosys Technologies Limited is a global technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is the second largest IT exporter in India with 133,560 employees as of March 2011. It has offices in 33 countries and development centers in India, China,...
. He is also now heading Government of India's technology committee, TAGUP
TAGUP
TAGUP or Technology Advisory Group for Unique Projects is a government of India advisory group to look into technology part of 5 large financial sector projects...
.
Early life
Nandan Manohar Nilekani was born in SirsiSirsi
-Geography:Sirsi is located at . It has an average elevation of 590 metres , and is situated in the heart of the Western Ghats. Sirsi is about 425 km from Bangalore. The nearest airport is located in Hubli, about 102 km from Sirsi....
town in Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada
Uttara Kannada also known as North Canara or North Kanara, is a district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is bordered by the state of Goa and Belgaum District to the north, Dharwad District and Haveri District to the east, Shimoga District and Udupi District to the south and the...
district of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, as the younger son of Durga and Mohan Rao Nilekani in a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family. His father worked as a General Manager of Mysore and Minerva Mills. His father, who subscribed to Fabian Socialist ideals, had an influence on Nandan during his early years. He has an elder brother, Vijay, who works in the Nuclear Energy Institute
Nuclear Energy Institute
The Nuclear Energy Institute is a nuclear industry lobbying group in the United States.- Synopsis :According to its website, the NEI "develops policy on key legislative and regulatory issues affecting the industry. NEI then serves as a unified industry voice before the U.S...
.
He studied at St. Joseph's High School Dharwad
Dharwad
Dharwad, also known as Dharwar, is a city and a DISTRICT PLACE in India's Karnataka state.Dharwad is the administrative seat of the Dharwad District. The municipality of Hubli-Dharwad covers an area of 200.23 km²...
,studied at the Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bangalore and later in Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay , popularly known as IIT Bombay or IITB, is a public research university located in Powai, Mumbai...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
where he graduated with a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering in 1978. His early years were marked by his father’s job transfers and re-locations. He spent the first twelve years at Bangalore, and then moved in with his uncle’s family in Dharwad
Dharwad
Dharwad, also known as Dharwar, is a city and a DISTRICT PLACE in India's Karnataka state.Dharwad is the administrative seat of the Dharwad District. The municipality of Hubli-Dharwad covers an area of 200.23 km²...
, after his father had been transferred.
Career
Nandan Nilekani, after graduating from IIT Bombay in 1978, joined Mumbai-based Patni Computer Systems where he was interviewed by N.R. Narayana Murthy. Three years later, in 1981, Murthy walked out of Patni following a disagreement with one of the Patni brothers. His entire division walked out with him. The defectors decided to start their own company, InfosysInfosys
Infosys Limited, formerly Infosys Technologies Limited is a global technology services company headquartered in Bangalore, India. It is the second largest IT exporter in India with 133,560 employees as of March 2011. It has offices in 33 countries and development centers in India, China,...
.
Nilekani became the Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Infosys in March 2002, taking over from Murthy. Nilekani served as CEO of the company from March 2002 to April 2007, when he relinquished his position to his colleague Kris Gopalakrishnan
Kris Gopalakrishnan
Senapathy Gopalakrishnan , popularly known as Kris Gopalakrishnan is the President of Infosys Technologies a global consulting and IT services company based in India. He is also one of its seven founders.- Early days :...
, becoming Co-Chairman. He left Infosys on 9 July 2009 to serve as the chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India, in the rank of a cabinet minister under invitation from the Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
He co-founded India’s National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM
NASSCOM
The National Association of Software and Services Companies of IT software and services related activities for use of both the software developers as well as interested companies overseas....
) as well as the Bangalore Chapter of The IndUS Entrepreneurs
TiE
TiE is a global nonprofit dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship. TiE has 54 chapters in 13 countries, with a total membership exceeding 13,000. TiE is most closely affiliated with the South Asian business community, and is recognized as an important networking forum for entrepreneurs and investors...
(TiE).
He appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on March 18, 2009 to promote his book "Imagining India." He spoke, at a TED conference, about his ideas for India's future.
He has an estimated net worth of the Indian rupee equivalent of US$1.3 billion. In 2009, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine placed Nilekani in the Time 100
Time 100
Time 100 is an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, as assembled by Time. First published in 1999 as a result of a debate among several academics, the list has become an annual event.-History and format:...
list of 'World's Most Influential People'
Nilekani has been extensively quoted in Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Lauren Friedman is an American journalist, columnist and author. He writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs including global trade, the Middle East, and environmental issues and has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.-Personal...
's book The World is Flat
The World Is Flat
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century is an international bestselling book by Thomas Friedman that analyzes globalization, primarily in the early 21st century. The title is a metaphor for viewing the world as a level playing field in terms of commerce, where all competitors...
.
Personal life
Nandan Nilekani is married to Rohini, whom he met at a quizzing event at IIT. They have two children Nihar and Janhavi, both studying at Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Honours and awards
- One of the youngest entrepreneurs to join 20 global leaders on the prestigious World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board in January 2006.
- Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
- Member of the review committee of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.
- Forbes “Businessman of the Year” for Asia in 2007.
- He, along with Infosys founder (and currently non-executive chairman) N. R. Narayana Murthy, also received Fortune magazine’s ‘Asia’s Businessmen of the Year 2003’ award.
- Named among the ‘World’s most respected business leaders’ in 2002 and 2003, according to a global survey by Financial Times and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
- Awarded the Corporate Citizen of the Year award at the Asia Business Leader Awards (2004) organized by CNBC.
- Joseph Schumpeter Prize for innovative services in economy, economic sciences and politics - 2005.
- Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
, one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the Government of India - 2006. - Was presented the 'Legend in Leadership Award' by the Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in November 2009. He is the first Indian to receive the top honour. - Was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Rotman School of ManagementRotman School of ManagementThe Joseph L. Rotman School of Management commonly known as Rotman School of Management is the University of Toronto's business school, located in St. George Street in Downtown Toronto. The school, named after Joseph L...
at the University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
on the 31st of May, 2011. - NDTV Indian of the YearNDTV Indian of the Year-Winners:-7th NDTV Indian of the Year:The 7th NDTV Indian of the Year was held at the Taj Palace Hotel on October 18, 2011. The winners were:* Indian of the Year – Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal* India's Heroes – India national cricket team...
's Transformational Idea of the Year Award in 2011