August 18th, 2025

Arjun Malhotra Recognized with IITKGP's Inaugural HALL of FAME Award During Foundation Day Celebrations

IITKGP Foundation

In a momentous and well-deserved accolade, IITKGPF Board Member and serial entrepreneur Arjun Malhotra has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the IIT Kharagpur Hall of Fame Award. This honor is a fitting tribute to a remarkable alumnus whose career has shaped not only the Indian IT industry but also the ethos of innovation and philanthropy at IIT Kharagpur.

Arjun's visionary journey began in 1975 when he co-founded the HCL Group in a humble garage. Under his leadership, the company grew to become one of India's largest IT corporations. He was a trailblazer—not only expanding HCL nationally but also establishing its first U.S. operations in 1989 and growing them to nearly $100 million in annual revenue.

His leadership extended to strategic ventures such as the HCL-HP joint venture in 1992 and another with Deluxe Corporation in 1996. He also played a pivotal role in expanding operations across Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. Later, he served as CEO and Chairman of TechSpan, which merged with Headstrong—where he also chaired the board.

Arjun’s excellence has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards: the Albert Einstein Technology Medal (2001), the Dataquest Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), and designation as an Eminent Engineering Personality by the Institution of Engineers (India).

His contributions to education and his alma mater are profound. A Life Fellow of IIT Kharagpur since 2003, he personally endowed the Prof. G.S. Sanyal School of Telecommunications at IITKGP, founded impactful institutions like SPIC-MACAY, and served on several boards, including the Institute’s US-based Foundation, ISB Hyderabad, and Doon School’s governing council.

Arjun's journey reflects the entrepreneurial grit, global ambition, and philanthropic spirit that define IIT Kharagpur’s legacy. He has not only built successful enterprises but also continually reinvested in the future—through mentoring, institutional building, and generous endowments.

This award marks the culmination of decades of pioneering achievements. It honors a leader who has inspired countless KGPians, advanced the institute’s mission, and embodied the values we strive to embody.

Congratulations, Arjun! Your legacy is etched in every generation of Kgpians who dare to dream bigger and give back stronger.

In a momentous and well-deserved accolade, IITKGPF Board Member and serial entrepreneur Arjun Malhotra has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the IIT Kharagpur Hall of Fame Award. This honor is a fitting tribute to a remarkable alumnus whose career has shaped not only the Indian IT industry but also the ethos of innovation and philanthropy at IIT Kharagpur.

Arjun's visionary journey began in 1975 when he co-founded the HCL Group in a humble garage. Under his leadership, the company grew to become one of India's largest IT corporations. He was a trailblazer—not only expanding HCL nationally but also establishing its first U.S. operations in 1989 and growing them to nearly $100 million in annual revenue.

His leadership extended to strategic ventures such as the HCL-HP joint venture in 1992 and another with Deluxe Corporation in 1996. He also played a pivotal role in expanding operations across Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. Later, he served as CEO and Chairman of TechSpan, which merged with Headstrong—where he also chaired the board.

Arjun’s excellence has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards: the Albert Einstein Technology Medal (2001), the Dataquest Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), and designation as an Eminent Engineering Personality by the Institution of Engineers (India).

His contributions to education and his alma mater are profound. A Life Fellow of IIT Kharagpur since 2003, he personally endowed the Prof. G.S. Sanyal School of Telecommunications at IITKGP, founded impactful institutions like SPIC-MACAY, and served on several boards, including the Institute’s US-based Foundation, ISB Hyderabad, and Doon School’s governing council.

Arjun's journey reflects the entrepreneurial grit, global ambition, and philanthropic spirit that define IIT Kharagpur’s legacy. He has not only built successful enterprises but also continually reinvested in the future—through mentoring, institutional building, and generous endowments.

This award marks the culmination of decades of pioneering achievements. It honors a leader who has inspired countless KGPians, advanced the institute’s mission, and embodied the values we strive to embody.

Congratulations, Arjun! Your legacy is etched in every generation of Kgpians who dare to dream bigger and give back stronger.