5398 - PERSON OF THE WEEK Nandan Nilekani - THE HINDU

March 28, 2014

Updated: March 28, 2014 19:01 IST

PERSON OF THE WEEK

Nandan Nilekani

A short bio about whoever hogs the limelight in a week

Nandan Nilekani 58, former co-chairman of Infosys and former chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India, is contesting in the Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore. An IIT-Bombay graduate, he co-founded Infosys along with N.R. Narayana Murthy in 1981.

Nilekani joined the Congress party earlier this month, which has fielded him from the prestigious Bangalore South constituency.

Having turned down a plum offer after his graduation in 1978 with just Rs. 200 in his pocket, Nilekani has now declared assets worth Rs. 7,700 crores. He is one of the richest candidates in the fray. Much of his wealth is in the form of shares in Infosys.

Nilekani left Infosys in 2009 to serve as the chairman of the UIDAI at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. A Cabinet Minister-ranking position, he was responsible for implementation of the multipurpose national identity card (UID or Aadhar Card) project. The card will help provide a unique identification number for all residents and will be used for efficient delivery of welfare schemes.

He is also a board member of several reputed research institutions. He has also penned a book Imagining India: The idea of a Renewed Nation.

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