Aspiration is greater than resources: HCL founder

Hyderabad: Having a strong aspiration in the mind is much greater than pooling abundant resources, says Ajai Chowdhry, one of the six founder members of HCL, who began his entrepreneurial journey more than four decades ago, with a dream to give India its very own microcomputer. He started with just Rs 1.5 lakh and made a $10-billion company.

He was here to launch his book ‘Just Aspire – Notes on Technology, Entrepreneurship, and The Future’ at Tech Mahindra Learning World in Hi-Tech City on Thursday. He is known as the ‘Father of Hardware’ today. This amazing compilation covers 'everything technology' and it will act as a booster dose for all the aspiring young professionals in this sector.

CP Gurnani, MD & CEO of Tech Mahindra, engaged in a fireside chat moderated by Harshvendra Soin, Global CPO and Head Marketing, Tech Mahindra, in the presence of more than 500 young talent from the Hyderabad-based tech major. The book elicits the remarkable journey of Dr Chowdhry, who founded HCL, one of India’s earliest startups, in 1975.

On the occasion, Gurnani said, “Ajai has been at the forefront of innovation, revolution and transformation in the Indian technology ecosystem. He and his team of pioneers in digital electronics scripted three major milestones of the IT industry: the PC revolution, mobile telephony, and systems integration. This book is a must read for all entrepreneurs, who are aspiring to reach greater heights.”

Ajai Chowdhry said, “I believe it is time to give back to the society and the young minds of today. The book is all about my life’s learnings and how I was able to overcome some of the tallest challenges that were thrown my way. I hope today’s youth is able to take a leaf out of my experiences and are able to carve a winning path in their professional journey.”

In recent years, Dr Chowdhry has been nurturing and investing in startups, personally investing in more than 50 startups and serving on the board of the Indian Angel Network, the largest of its kind in India. He is also on the Investment Committee of IAN Fund, Electronic Development Fund, and Canbank Venture Capital Fund.

He continues to contribute to India's growth story as a member of the Advisory Board of India Semiconductor Mission (MEITY).