Ajai Chowdhry

Ajai Chowdhary
Ajai Chowdhry
Born	29 August 1950 Mount Abu, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Jabalpur Engineering College
Occupation	Founder, HCL, Chairman: IIT Patna
Spouse(s)	Kunkun Chowdhry
Children	Kunal Chowdhry, Akshay Chowdhry
Awards	Padma Bhushan

Ajai Chowdhary is one of the six founder members of HCL. A highly decorated Indian Industry icon, today he is an inspiration for young Indians. He is currently the Chairman-Board of Governors at IIT Patna. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life and education

Ajai’s parents migrated to India, from Pakistan, during the Partition of India, along with six children. They came to a refugee camp in Delhi. Later, Ajai’s father picked up a job in Mount Abu, to get the accession of the princely states. Ajai was born in Mount Abu, on 29 August 1950. Ajai is the youngest of the seven siblings. In 1955, his father joined Indian Administrative Service.

Ajai Chowdhry did his schooling from Christ Church School, Jabalpur. He passed out of school in 1966. Thereafter, he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Telecom) degree, from Jabalpur Engineering College, in 1971. He has also completed an Executive Program from the University of Michigan, in 1994. Recently he has been appointed as Chairman, Board of Governors of IIT Patna.

Career

Beginning his career in 1972, Ajai Chowdhry worked with DCM Data Products. In 1975, he quit his job to start Microcomp.

Other activities

Ajai Chowdhry works closely with the Government of India, for various endeavors and initiatives. Ajai Chowdhry has been part of several Government of India committees. These endeavors aim at increasing IT proliferation in India, and also towards facilitating the growth of the IT and Electronics industry in India. In August 2009, the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & IT and the Government of India constituted the IT Task Force, under the leadership of Ajai Chowdhry.^[3]

Ajai Chowdhry is a member of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), which is an apex body providing advisory inputs for shaping government policy.^[4]

Ajai Chowdhry is the Chairman of CII National Committee on Technology.^[5]

Ajai Chowdhry is a panelist on the USC Forum on Globalization and Innovation.^[6]

In 2010, Ajai Chowdhry co-chaired the ‘World Economic Forum on Africa' in Tanzania.^[7]

Awards and accolades

• In 2011, Government of India awarded Ajai Chowdhry with Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award, recognizing his consistent contribution to the Indian IT industry.^[8]

• In 2010, Ajai Chowdhry was conferred the Honoris Causa, Doctorate of Science, by IIT Roorkee.^[9]

• In 2010, Ajai Chowdhry was presented the "ELCINA-EFY Electronics Man of the Year Award", by the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA).^[10]

• In 2009, Ajai Chowdhry was ranked third in the "Power List of 75 Most Powerful Brand Builders of India".^[11]

• In 2009, Ajai Chowdhry was adjudged among "India Inc’s Most Powerful CEOs" by The Economic Times.^[12]

• In 2007, Ajai Chowdhry was named the "Dataquest IT Person of the Year 2007", for his focus on the Indian domestic market, and his belief in the potential of computer hardware manufacturing in India.^[13]

• In 2006, EFY presented the "Electronics Man of the Year - 2006" to Ajai Chowdhry, for being instrumental in driving the growth of HCL Infosystems.^[14]

• Wisitek Foundation presented Ajai Chowdhry with the "Corporate Ratna – IT Industry of the Millennium" Award.^[15]

• In 2004, Skoch Consultancy awarded Ajai Chowdhry with the 'IT Man of the Year' title.^[16]

• The Foundation of Indian Industry and Economists has presented Ajai Chowdhry the "Best IT Man of the Year" award.^[17]

References

1. "IIT Patna". Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Patna. IIT Patna.
2. Asia Strategy. "India Strategy Forum".
3. Task Force, Department of Information Technology (6 January 2010). "Report of Task Force to suggest measures to simulate the growth of IT, ITES, and Electronics Hardware manufacturing industry in India" (PDF). Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India.
4. NMCC. "Ajai Chowdhry".
5. CII (May 2009). "CII Communiqué" (PDF). Confederation of Indian Industry.
6. USC (26 February 2011). "Panelists, USC Forum on Globalization and Innovation". University of Southern California.
7. World Economic Forum (5 May 2010). "Africa 2010 - Ajai Chowdhry". World Economic Forum.
8. CXOtoday (5 April 2011). "Ajai Chowdhry awarded Padma Bhushan".
9. Business Standard (15 November 2010). "IIT Roorkee’s Honorary Doctorate for Ajai Chowdhry". Business Standard.
10. EFYTimes News (24 September 2010). "35th ELCINA-EFY Awards Announced".
11. Communications Today (10 March 2009). "Ajai Chowdhry".
12. "Director Report". The Economic Times. June 2009.
13. CIOL (12 December 2007). "Ajai Chowdhry is Dataquest IT Person of the Year 2007".
14. EFYTimes News (3 February 2006). "Ajai Chowdhry, EFY `Electronics Man Of The Year' 2006".
15. Business & Economy. "The Colonial Maestro".
16. "Skoch Challenger Awards 2004". Skoch. 19 February 2004.
17. Reuters. "Ajai Chowdhry: Brief Biography". Reuters.