The Builder Who Made It Big

NAME: K.P. SINGH

AGE: 75

DESIGNATION: Chairman

GROUP: DLF

Kushal Pal Singh is making headlines once again. His flagship,DLF, has filed a revised prospectus for its proposed Rs 13,500-croreinitial public offer (IPO) with market regulator SEBI. The IPO, whenit does take place, will catapult Singh into the top position amongIndia's uber rich set with an estimated personal net worth of Rs1,15,019.45 crore.

It has been a long and chequered journey, which began in the1940s, when he set sail for the UK for higher studies. While there,he appeared before the British Officers Service and was selected tojoin the British Indian Army, and was subsequently commissioned intoThe Deccan Horse, a cavalry regiment. He began his life as abusinessman in 1960, when he joined American Universal ElectricCompany, a joint venture between Universal Electric Company of the usand his family. Subsequently, Singh promoted another company, WillardIndia, in collaboration with ESB of the US to manufacture industrialbatteries in India and became its Managing Director. But his crowningglory was still some years away.

In the 1960s, Gurgaon was a sleepy, barren village on theoutskirts of Delhi, but Singh sensed an opportunity here-he began tobuy up large tracts of land in anticipation of Delhi expanding infuture. That move paid off and how! Gurgaon is now considered one ofthe hottest real estate destinations in the country and Singh isuniversally acknowledged as its creator.

He has had his brush with controversies, too. DLF, which plannedto launch its IPO in September, 2006, had to withdraw it when someminority shareholders raised the banner of revolt over rights issue.But that is now behind him. Once his company lists, and depending onhow its scrip behaves, he could even challenge L.N. Mittal's positionas the richest Indian on the planet.

-Amit Mukherjee