BWI: Ajai Chowdhry Awarded Padma Bhushan

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: HCL Infosystems Ltd
Friday, April 01, 2011 05:29 PM IST (11:59 AM GMT)
Editors: General: People; Business: Advertising, PR & marketing, Business services, Information technology, Media & entertainment; Technology
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Ajai Chowdhry Awarded Padma Bhushan


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Friday, April 01, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- Ajai Chowdhry, Founder, HCL and Chairman, HCL Infosystems, India's premier Hardware, Services and ICT System Integration, was today awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian recognition in the country, by The Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the official ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Ajai Chowdhry is one of the six founder members of HCL, India's original IT garage start-up founded in 1976, is today a Global Enterprise of over Rs. 24000 crores with a global headcount of 79000 people.

Ajai took over the reins of HCL Infosystems, the flagship company of the group, as President and CEO in 1994. He was appointed the Chairman of HCL Infosystems in November 1999. Under Ajai's stewardship, the company's turnover has grown to Rs. 12,221 crores from Rs. 400.6 crores in 1994. Employing over 7200 people, it has emerged as the country's information-enabling powerhouse.

Mr. Ajai Chowdhry has reacted, "When I got together with my friends 34 years back to start HCL, all we had was a barsati, some money and tons of passion. What we needed were people who will believe in this dream and join hands to take India on the world stage. We have come a long way and I would like to dedicate this recognition to my great country, my family of 79000 colleagues, numerous friends, partners and well-wisherswho have stood by me all these years."

HCL Infosystem Chairman Ajai Chowdhry led the list of this year's awardees named for the government's civilian 'Padma Bhushan' award, among the representatives of trade and industry. In the list of 128 awardees for Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri announced by the home ministry, members of trade and industry were represented in equal measure, accounting for some dozen honours.

The recognition adds yet another feather in his cap, after the recent Honoris Causa Doctorate of Science (D. Sc.) by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, for his remarkable contribution to the Indian IT industry. He was nominated by the The Hon'ble President of India to be the Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT Hyderabad in 2009. He has worked closely with the Government to take the cause of 'IT for the masses' forward and has been on several Government committees on IT, Electronics and Hardware. Under his leadership in 2009 'The IT Task Force' set up by the Ministry of IT & Communications, Government of India, submitted a comprehensive report to the Government. Mr. Chowdhry has also chaired the CII's National Committee for IT, ITES & E-Commerce, where he actively encouraged the deployment of IT in Indian SME sector (Small & Medium Industry), to increase their productivity and to make them globally competitive.

About HCL Infosystems Ltd:

HCL Infosystems Ltd, with revenue (LTM) of US$ 2.6 billion (Rs. 12, 221 crore) is India's premier hardware, services and ICT systems integration company offering a wide spectrum of ICT products that includes Computing, Storage, Networking, Security, Telecom, Imaging and Retail. HCL is a one-stop-shop for all the ICT requirements of an organisation. India's leading System Integration and Infrastructure Management Services Organisation, HCL has specialised expertise across verticals including Telecom, BFSI, eGovernance & Power. HCL has India's largest distribution and retail network, taking to market a range of Digital Lifestyle products in partnership with leading global ICT brands, including Apple, Cisco, Ericsson, Kingston, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Microsoft, Nokia, Toshiba, and many more. HCL today has India's largest vertically integrated computer manufacturing facility with over three decades of electronic manufacturing experience & HCL desktops is the largest selling brand into the enterprise space. With India's largest ICT services network that reaches to every corner of India, HCL's award winning Support Services makes it the preferred choice of enterprise and consumers, alike. HCL Infosystems has a 100% subsidiary that addresses the physical security technology system integration market. The subsidiary leverages technology to build a security framework called 'Safe State' that safe guard's life, infrastructure & society. For more information please visit us at www.hclinfosystems.in.

To view the photograph, please click on the given below:

Mr. Ajai Chowdhry, Founder, HCL and Chairman, HCL Infosystems receiving the Padma Bhushan award from The Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
For picture(s)/data to illustrate this release click below:

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CONTACT DETAILS
Ashutosh Bhattacharya, Head - Corporate Communications, HCL Infosystems Ltd, + 91 9811920415, ashutosh.bhattacharya@hcl.in

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