Ramalinga Raju

Soft enterpreneur



His is one of the most unlikely success stories in the Indian IT industry.
Unlike some of his entrepreneurial peers, Ramalinga Raju was born with a

proverbial silver spoon. Coming from a rich agricultural family, there were no

real indications that he would one day be an IT doyenne. His trip to the US for

his education changed his destiny. He came back to start an IT venture with 20

or so people in 1988. This year Satyam joined the billion dollar club as its

youngest Indian member. In the meantime, he had also spawned Sify, one of the

India's most successful Internet ventures. But the soft-spoken Raju has not

forgotten his roots. As Nasscom chairman, he oversees the growth of Indian IT.

And under the Byrraju foundation, he shares some of his good fortunes with the

not-so-fortunate masses.