Guru Dakshina: Donated 100 crores to IIT Kanpur, who is the donor Rakesh Gangwal? know here

April 4, 2022 / By

Expansion

Rakesh Gangwal, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, has set an example by donating 100 crores to IITs as Guru Dakshina. IIT Kanpur Director Abhay Karandikar told that this is the largest individual donation till date. It will be used to build the School of Medical Research and Technology to be built on the IIT campus. Let’s know everything about who is Rakesh Gangwal-

Advertisement

Co-founder of IndiGo’s proprietary company

Rakesh Gangwal, who came into the limelight by donating 100 crores to IIT Kanpur, is a famous Indian-American entrepreneur. His identity is well known not only as an alumnus of IIT Kanpur but also as the co-founder of affordable flight service company Indigo Airlines. The family of Rakesh Gangwal, co-founder of IndiGo’s parent company Inter Globe Aviation, holds about 37 per cent stake in the company.

Early education from Don Bosco School, Kolkata

Rakesh Gangwal was born in 1953. He did his entire schooling from Don Bosco (Park Circus) School, Kolkata. He then completed his mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 1975. Later he also did an MBA from the Wharton School of the famous University of Pennsylvania in America.

Journey to CEO at United Airlines

In September 1980, IITian Gangwal started a new journey in the field of airlines industry. He was then an associate with Booz Allen and Hamilton Inc. He then joined United Airlines, where he worked as Manager, Strategic Planner. Later Gangwal also became the CEO of United Airlines. Served in US Airways Group from 1998 to 2001. Thereafter, Gangwal also held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Worldspan Technologies from 2003 to 2007.

Indigo Airlines launched

After this, Rakesh Gangwal, along with one of his billionaire business friend Rahul Bhatia, founded Indigo Airlines in 2006 with an aircraft. However, in 2009, considerable differences emerged between the two on issues of corporate governance. After the initial few years, he resigned from the board as a non-executive, non-independent director.

Advertisement

Related Posts