TobyRamer579490: Starting biography!

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{{Short description|Indian business entrepreneur (born 1941)}}
{{Multiple issues|{{Unreliable sources|date=December 2024}}}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Dr.
| name = Lalit Kanodia <ref>{{cite web|title=Lalit Surajmal Kanodia Ph.D., M.I.T.| url= https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=1521798&privcapId=1518304|website=Bloomberg| date=7 June 2023 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web | title = Dr. Lalit Surajmal Kanodia takes over as IACC National President | url = http://prsync.com/datamatics-global-services-limited/dr-lalit-surajmal-kanodia-takes-over-as-iacc-national-president-766483/ | access-date = 26 April 2016 | archive-date = 26 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160426180242/http://prsync.com/datamatics-global-services-limited/dr-lalit-surajmal-kanodia-takes-over-as-iacc-national-president-766483/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| image = Dr. Lalit Kanodia.jpg
| alt = Lalit Kanodia
| caption = Lalit Kanodia
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1941|03|30}}
| birth_place = [[Kolkata, India]]
| citizenship =
| education = 1959-1963 [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]], India. [[Mechanical Engineering]]
1963-1967 [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]]. United States, [[MBA]] & [[Ph.D in Management]]
| spouse = Asha Kanodia (m. 1965)
| children = 4
}}

'''Lalit Surajmal Kanodia''' (born 30 March 1941) is an Indian entrepreneur. He is the founder and chairman of the Datamatics Group. He has held positions in business organisations such as the Indo-American [[Chamber of commerce|Chamber of Commerce]],<ref name="iaccindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iaccindia.com/page.asp?pageid=10|title=Indo-American Chamber Of Commerce}}</ref> the Indian Merchants Chamber,<ref name="imcnet.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.imcnet.org/media_center/listing/center/page/2|title=:: Indian Merchant Chamber ::}}</ref> and served as president of the Management Consultants Association of India.<ref name="flywithvip.com">{{cite web|url=https://flywithvip.com/celebrities/profile/104/|title=Lalit Kanodia}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

Kanodia was born in [[Kolkata|Kolkata, India]], to Surajmal Kanodia, a bullion merchant, and Chandravati Kanodia, a homemaker. His family moved to [[Mumbai]] in 1942.

Kanodia attended the [[Bombay Scottish School]] in [[Mumbai]], where he captained the football team and competed in athletics. He studied science at [[Elphinstone College]], [[Bombay University]], for two years and then was admitted to the [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]] to study [[Mechanical Engineering]].<ref>{{Cite web| title=Indian Institute of Technology Bombay - Alumni update | url=http://www1.iitb.ac.in/Newsletter3.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410114257/http://www.iitb.ac.in:80/Newsletter3.pdf | archive-date=2011-04-10}}</ref> After graduating in 1963, he earned a Master of Science in Management from [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] in 1965, supported by a [[Ford Foundation|Ford Fosndation]] Fellowship,<ref>{{Cite web| title=The Ford Foundation - Annual Report 1965 | url=https://fordfoundcontent.blob.core.windows.net/media/2435/1965-annual-report.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406231923/https://fordfoundcontent.blob.core.windows.net/media/2435/1965-annual-report.pdf | archive-date=2017-04-06}}</ref> and returned to MIT in 1966 to complete his [[PhD in management]] in 1967 Kanodia was a member of [[Project MAC]] at [[MIT]], which developed the [[Compatible Time-Sharing System]] and [[MULTICS]] (early multi-user computer [[operating systems]] and precursors to [[UNIX]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e44jCgAAQBAJ&q=Project+MAC+at+MIT+lalit+kanodia&pg=PA141|title=The Outsourcer|isbn=9780262028752|last1=Sharma|first1=Dinesh C.|date=6 March 2015|publisher=MIT Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiaculturelab.org/blog/11-indian-mit-graduates-that-you-must-know-about/|title=Godrej India Culture Lab - Indian Graduates from MIT Who Have Changed the Face of Technology|access-date=26 April 2016|archive-date=8 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508205033/http://indiaculturelab.org/blog/11-indian-mit-graduates-that-you-must-know-about/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Teaching==

While at [[MIT]], Kanodia taught a course on [[Decision theory|statistical decision theory]] to [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] students (1964–65). He also taught [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] students for two years (1968–70) at the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies]], [[Bombay University]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rpglifesciences.com/downloads/annualreports/annualreport_2007-08.pdf| title = rpglifesciences annual report}}</ref>

==Tata Consultancy Services==

In 1965, [[J. R. D. Tata|J.R.D. Tata]], then chairman of the Tata Group, tasked Kanodia with studying the feasibility of computerisation within the Tata Group. Kanodia's work resulted in:{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

# The automation of Tata Electric Companies’ Load Dispatch System by Westinghouse,
# The computerisation of the company’s electricity billing system,
# The establishment of a software development centre.

Kanodia returned to [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] for his doctorate<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/printpage.php?idno=2670296&sr_no=0|title=Print :India and MIT: How we became a technological force to reckon with|access-date=26 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314101457/http://www.firstpost.com/printpage.php?idno=2670296&sr_no=0|archive-date=14 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and later rejoined the [[Tata Group]] to lead its newly proposed software division. In 1967, he founded the Tata Computer Center, which was renamed [[Tata Consultancy Services]] (TCS) in 1968.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}}

==Consulting==

While in the [[United States]], Kanodia consulted for Arthur D. Little and the [[Ford Motor Company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/officerProfile?symbol=RPGL.BO&officerId=1661185|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509053832/http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/officerProfile?symbol=RPGL.BO&officerId=1661185|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-05-09|title=Rpg Life Sciences Ltd (RPGL.BO)|work=Reuters India}}</ref> He also consulted for the [[State Bank of India]], the Somani Group, and the Kamani Group of companies.<ref>http://www.rpglifesciences.com/downloads/annualreports/annualreport_2007-08.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

==Datamatics==

In 1975, Kanodia founded Datamatics, an IT company. By 1979, the company had established an offshore development center for [[Wang Laboratories]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} In 1991, Datamatics implemented a satellite link for software development between [[Mumbai]] and [[Bell Labs|AT&T Bell Labs USA]]; this contributed to the early development of [[Business process outsourcing|BPO]] services in India. Kanodia then started "Datamatics Technologies Limited," focusing on BPO and KPO services. Expansion into BPO services led Datamatics to acquire US-based companies SAZTEC in 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/datamatics-technologies-limited-to-acquire-saztec-international-inc-72481732.html|title=Datamatics Technologies Limited to Acquire SAZTEC International, Inc.|author=SAZTEC International, Inc.|date=13 October 2003}}</ref> and CorPay in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2004-04-08/news/27371501_1_datamatics-technologies-corpay-acquisition-plans|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509084115/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2004-04-08/news/27371501_1_datamatics-technologies-corpay-acquisition-plans|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2016|title=Datamatics plans to buy overseas BPO firms|work=timesofindia-economictimes}}</ref> Datamatics has continued to acquire other international companies since then. Kanodia is Group Chairman of Datamatics<ref name="datamatics.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.datamatics.com/about-us/company-overview|title=Company Overview - Datamatics Global Services Ltd|website=Datamatics}}</ref> which comprises:
* Datamatics Global Services Ltd<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.datamatics.com/|title=A Digital Technologies, Operations & Experiences Company|website=Datamatics}}</ref> (A listed Company with BSE/NSE)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nseindia.com/live_market/dynaContent/live_watch/get_quote/GetQuote.jsp?symbol=DATAMATICS#|title=NSE - National Stock Exchange of India Ltd.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bseindia.com/stock-share-price/datamatics-global-services-ltd/datamatics/532528/|title=Stock Share Price | Get Quote | BSE|website=www.bseindia.com}}</ref>
* CIGNEX Datamatics Technologies Ltd<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cignex.com/|title=Open Source Enterprise Solutions - Portals, ECM, eCommerce, Big Data Analytics|website=CIGNEX Datamatics}}</ref>
* Lumina Datamatics Ltd<ref>{{cite web|url=http://luminadatamatics.com/|title=Online Publishing - Retail Solutions - Publishing Services - Content Development|website=Lumina Datamatics}}</ref>
* Datamatics Staffing Services Ltd<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.datamaticsindia.com/ |title=Home |website=datamaticsindia.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Kanodia has four children with his wife, Asha. His eldest son, Rahul Kanodia is the vice chairman and CEO of Datamatics Global Services,<ref name="datamatics.com"></ref> and his youngest son, Sameer Kanodia, is an Executive Director. He also has two daughters, Aneesha and Amrita.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ILYn5SqUTI|title=Dr. Lalit Kanodia addressing Building India's Smart Cities – Challenges & Opportunities Part 1|date=4 October 2015|via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Recognition==

# Indian Affairs Indian of the Year Award for IT, Consulting and BPO services<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://network7mediagroup.blogspot.com/2015/10/indian-affairs-india-leadership.html?view=timeslide|title=Indian Affairs India Leadership Conclave Awards conferred by Satya Brahma at ILC 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://breakfastnews.tv/history-of-indian-affairs-india-leadership-conclave-indian-affairs-business-leadership-awards/|title=History of Indian Affair's India Leadership Conclave & Indian Affairs Business Leadership Awards|work=Breakfast News TV}}</ref>
# Special Achievement Award at Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianentrepreneur.org/apea-new-delhi-2015-award-winners/|title=APEA New Delhi 2015 Award Winners|date=3 April 2015|work=The Asian Entrepreneur}}</ref>
# Global Achiever Award for Business Excellence<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pr.com/press-release/607306|title=Datamatics Wins Global Achievers Award for Business Excellence|website=PR.com}}</ref>
# Award from the Prime Minister of India for the most innovative software product<ref name="nazerry">{{cite web|url=http://enterpriseasia.org/apea/india/awards/in-2015/dr-lalit-s-kanodia/|title=APEA / INDIA / DR LALIT S KANODIA|author=nazerry|work=Enterprise Asia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/officerProfile?symbol=DATC.NS&officerId=825922|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409001239/http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/officerProfile?symbol=DATC.NS&officerId=825922|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-04-09|title=Officer Profile - Quotes|work=Reuters India}}</ref>

Kanodia was president of the Management Consultants Association of India.<ref name="flywithvip.com"></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gatewayhouse.in/author/lalit-kanodia/|title=Lalit S. Kanodia, Author at Gateway House|website=Gateway House}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.pressreleasepoint.com/dr-lalit-surajmal-kanodia-takes-over-iacc-national-president|title=Dr. Lalit Surajmal Kanodia takes over as IACC National President |website=PressReleasePoint}}</ref> He is the president of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.<ref name="iaccindia.com"></ref> He is the vice president of Indian Merchants Chamber and chairman of its IT committee.<ref name="imcnet.org"></ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://globalnewsonnetwork.com/2016/03/17/deepak-premnarayen-to-be-imcs-president-dr-lalit-kanodia-vice-president-for-2016-17/|title=Deepak Premnarayen to be IMC's President, Dr. Lalit Kanodia Vice-President for 2016-17}}</ref> He was a member of the executive committee of [[NASSCOM]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://instantpublish.blogspot.com/2014/01/dr-lalit-surajmal-kanodia-is-chairman.html|title=Dr. Lalit Surajmal Kanodia is the Chairman of IT Committee of IMC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://prsync.com/datamatics-global-services-limited/dr-lalit-surajmal-kanodia-takes-over-as-iacc-national-president-766483/|title=Dr. Lalit Surajmal Kanodia takes over as IACC National President|access-date=26 April 2016|archive-date=26 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426180242/http://prsync.com/datamatics-global-services-limited/dr-lalit-surajmal-kanodia-takes-over-as-iacc-national-president-766483/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has been the chairman of Electronic & Computer Software Export Promotion Council (Western Region).<ref name="nazerry"></ref> He joined the Sloan School of Management's executive board at MIT in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web| title=MIT Sloan Regional Executive Boards | url=http://mitsloan.mit.edu/alumnimagazine/pdf/Spring2010-Executive%20Boards.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512191138/http://mitsloan.mit.edu/alumnimagazine/pdf/Spring2010-Executive%20Boards.pdf | archive-date=2016-05-12}}</ref> He served as the Honorary Consul General of Chile in India from 2002 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chile.gob.cl/nueva-delhi/en/sobre-el-consulado/consulados-honorarios/|title=Sección Consular de Chile en Nueva Delhi|author=AyerViernes S.A.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy21156/|title=Consulate of Chile in Mumbai, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswithlatinamerica.com/Contacts3.html|title=Business with Latin America}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanodia, Lalit Surajmal}}
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:MIT Sloan School of Management alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Haryana]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian industrialists]]
[[Category:IIT Bombay alumni]]
[[Category:Indian business executives]]
[[Category:Indian company founders]]
[[Category:Indian management consultants]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Indian chief executives]]
[[Category:Indian technology company founders]]
[[Category:Indian expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:People from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Elphinstone College alumni]]
[[Category:Tata Consultancy Services people]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Indian diplomats]]

Lalit Surajmal Kanodia - Revision history

TobyRamer579490: Starting biography!