Jaiprakash Gaur
Jaiprakash Gaur (Hindi: जय प्रकाश गौर) (born c.1930) is an Indian entrepreneur. He founded and, until his retirement in 2010, was the chairman of Jaypee Group, a conglomerate with a heavy emphasis on engineering and construction (particularly for infrastructure and power projects), cement, and hydropower production. In 2012 he was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 70th-richest person in India, with an estimated net worth of US$855 million.[1] Gaur has been associated with the construction industry for more than five decades.[2]
Biography
Early life
Gaur was born in a village in District Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, where his father was an agricultural inspector. He graduated in civil engineering from the University of Roorkee as overseer in 1950.[3][4]
Career
After graduation, Gaur joined the state government's irrigation department as a junior engineer.[5] Subsequently he started his own venture as a civil contractor.[4][6] Two decades later, he laid the foundation for the Jaypee Group by setting up Jaiprakash Associates, a civil engineering and construction company.[6][7] To leave a secure government job and pursue contractorship in 1958, when it was considered to be most prestigious, required courage. In 1967, he led and transformed a motley group of persons into a company which took pride in its cable address "Iron Will" and went on to execute:
- Sardar Sarovar Dam – India’s largest dam with 7.2 million cu.m. of chilled concrete; larger by 75% in terms of volume than Bhakra Nangal Dam
- Tehri Dam - Asia's largest rockfill dam
- Nathpa Jhakri (power house) - The largest underground power house in India
In 2010 he was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 48th-richest person in India, with an estimated wealth of US$1.5 billion.[5]
Awards and honors
- 2005 "Distinguished Alumni Award" by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (erstwhile University of Roorkee), in recognition of his contribution in the field of corporate development/administration/entrepreneurship[8]
- 2005 "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Builders' Association of India, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Indian construction industry[9]
- 2005 "Udyog Ratna" award by the Progress Harmony Development (PHD) Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in recognition of his contribution to the economic development of Madhya Pradesh[10]
- 2008 "Entrepreneur of Year Award", by Ernst & Young, for his exceptional contribution in the infrastructure and construction sector[6]
- 2010 "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Merchants' Chamber of Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur, for creating new milestones in infrastructure development and for his achievement in corporate social responsibility[11]
References
- ↑ "Jaiprakash Gaur". Forbes. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ↑ "Jaiprakash Gaur: Executive Profile & Biography". Bloomburg Business. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ↑ Karmali, Naazneen (12 April 2010). "Road to Riches". Forbes. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- 1 2 "History". Jaypee Group. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- 1 2 Karmali, Naazneen (ed.). "India's Richest: #48 - Jaiprakash Gaur". Forbes. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
- 1 2 3 "Entrepreneur of the Year: Jaiprakash Gaur". Ernst & Young. Archived from the original on 12 December 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ↑ "Jaiprakash Gaur Opts Out of Company's Board". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ↑ "Distinguished Alumni Awardees - 2005". Sampark. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ↑ Hiscock, Geoff (2008). India's Global Wealth Club: The Stunning Rise of Its Billionaires and Their Secrets of Success. Wiley. ISBN 9780470822388. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ↑ "Chief Minister felicitates the Udyog Ratnas". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. 25 April 2005 – via Highbeam. (subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Achievements". Jaypee Group. Retrieved 12 March 2015.