Jaiprakash Gaur

Jaiprakash Gaur (Hindi: जय प्रकाश गौर) is an Indian entrepreneur and businessman who was born in Uttar Pradesh. Gaur is the founder and chairman of Jaiprakash Associates and Jaypee Group companies.^[1] Gaur has been associated with the construction industry for more than five decades.^[1]

Education

Mr. Gaur graduated in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee as overseer in 1950.^[2]

Career

After graduation, Gaur joined the state government's irrigation department as a junior engineer.^[3] In 1958 he started his own venture as a civil contractor^[2][4] and two decades later, laid the foundation for the Jaypee Group by setting up Jaiprakash Associates, a civil engineering and construction company.^{[4] [5]} To leave a secure government job and pursue contractorship in 1958, when it was considered to be most prestigious, required courage. In 1967, the same man led and transformed a motley group of persons into a company which took pride in its cable address "Iron Will" and went on to execute:

• Sardar Sarovar Dam – India’s largest dam with 7.2 million cum of chilled concrete; larger by 75% in terms of volume than “Bhakra Nangal Dam”
• Tehri Rockfill Dam - Asia’s largest rockfill dam
• Nathpa Jhakri (Power House) - The largest underground power house in India

In 2010 he was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 48th-richest person in India, with an estimated wealth of US$1.5 billion.^[3]

Awards and honors

• Doctor of Science by Bundelkhand University in the year 1997, in recognition of his distinguished contribution in the field of Engineering and Technology.

• "Distinguished Alumni Award" by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (erstwhile University of Roorkee) in the year 2005, in recognition of his contribution in the field of corporate development/Administration/Entrepreneurship.

• Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishavidyalaya (University of Technology of Madhya Pradesh) in the year 2005, in recognition of his distinguished contribution in the field of Technical Sciences.

• "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Builders' Association of India, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian Construction Industry in 2005.

• "Udyog Ratna Award" by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in recognition of his contribution to Economic Development of the Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir & Uttaranchal States.

• “Entrepreneur of Year Award”, for his exceptional contribution in the Infrastructure & Construction sector by Ernst & Young in 2008.

• Bestowed with the Highest Civilian Honour of Bhutan (DRUK KHORLO) by the King of Bhutan. This is the Highest Civilian Honour given to any civilian and person of foreign origin and also happens to be the First Award given by the 5th King to a civilian, apart from our Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh.

• Infrastructure Leader of the Year award, conferred to Shri Jaiprakash Gaur, Founder Chairman by Shri Kamal Nath, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways during the Essar Steel ‘Infrastructure Excellence Awards 2010’ in association with E18 and CNBC TV18.

• "Lifetime Achievement Award" by Merchants’ Chamber of Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur, for creating new milestones in infrastructure development and for his achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility for the year 2010.

References