K. V. K. Raju
KVK Raju (born 28 November 1928), whose surname is Kanumuri, was a first generation technopreneur born in a humble agricultural family in Andhra Pradesh. He was the founder of the Nagarjuna Group of companies. He was born in a small village at Ai Bhimavaram in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. He belonged to a family which has played a part in the struggle for political freedom in India. [1]
Early life
He was born to Shri Kanumuri Venkata Narasimha Raju a Landlord and Shrimati Subbamma, a pious lady. KVK Raju had his elementary education in a local school during 1933-38. he passed Secondary School Leaving Certificate Course from Sri Rama Krishna Mission School, Tanuku in 1945. He was the first batch of Intermediate in 1945-46 at West Godavari Bhimavaram (WGB) College, subsequently renamed D.N.R College.
During 1947-49, KVK Raju studied B.Sc course in Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi and later he joined the Madras Institute of Technology at Choromepet, Madras and did Automobile Engineering. He went on to complete his Master's in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Michigan State University and the University of Minnesota, USA.
Work life
After a short stint in American he returned to India and worked for short periods at Caltex Oil Refinery, Orient General Industries and Associated Electrical Industries.
Finally, he joined Union Carbide of India and worked with them for 17 years at various places - Calcutta, Madras, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad. While working with Union Carbide, KVK Raju's deep-rooted urge to serve society through industry impelled him to start out on his own.
He started the Nagarjuna Steels Limited in 1973. Nagarjuna Group is a dream willed into reality by its visionary Founder Shri KVK Raju. The Group has since then become a diversified conglomerate with an asset base of 3.5 billion dollars.
Achievements
A recipient of various awards for his outstanding contribution to the industry and society, KVK Raju was a firm believer in the adage "practice what you preach". A self-made man KVK Raju practised simple living and high thinking. He dreamt big and worked with an unstinted focus of mind and body to make his dreams come true. KVK Raju was a visionary with firm belief in his mission to serve society through industry. It is this belief, which continues today to be the guiding light of Nagarjuna Group.