“They said I’m not a Hindu, Tata, Birla, Ambani”: Rajeev Chandrasekhar reveals the story of India’s first tech unicorn | Today’s news
Former union minister and entrepreneur Rajeev Chandrasekhar has looked back on one of the biggest risks of his early career: leaving Intel at 27 to go into business and build one of India’s first wireless cellular networks.
In a post on X on Monday, Chandrasekhar recalled facing skepticism from those around him when he tried to enter India’s burgeoning telecom industry in 1991.
‘I was told I would fail’
Chandrasekhar said his decision to leave a corporate career was met with doubts, including from family members.
“Most, including my family, told me not to,” he wrote.
He remembered being told that he did not come from such an established business family associated with the biggest industrial houses in India.
“They said I am not a Hinduja or a Tata or a Birla or an Ambani,” he wrote, adding that he was told he had to get used to hearing “no”.
Read also | Tim Cook’s 15-Year Apple Legacy: From Jobs Successor to $4 Trillion Giant
According to Chandrasekhar, the Indian telecom sector was particularly challenging for the young startup as Delhi offered a difficult environment for obtaining licenses and business opportunities.
Building with Indian talent
Despite the backlash, Chandrasekhar said he remains focused on building a major mobile network using India’s expertise.
“I was just a 27-year-old entrepreneur building one of India’s largest mobile networks, working with Indian talent from the defense and telecom sectors and not relying on expensive expats.”
His report highlights his emphasis on tapping into Indian engineering and technical talent at a time when the country’s telecom industry was still taking shape.
Read also | ‘Babita Singh Reporting’ Review: Nimisha Sajayan presents a gritty crime drama
Why he brought Neil Armstrong to Bombay
Chandrasekhar also recalled turning to an extraordinary figure to motivate his young team: Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.
He invited Armstrong to Mumbai to talk to the team about his experiences and the challenges of carrying out complex engineering projects.
“To inspire my team and myself to embrace complex engineering and huge risks, I invited Neil Armstrong to Mumbai to share his experience as the first man to ever walk on the moon.”
“It was an unforgettable experience that inspired us deeply,” wrote Chandrasekhar.
A photo shared with the post shows Chandrasekhar with Armstrong, who appears to have signed a personal message on the photo.
“Even the moon is within reach”
Chandrasekhar said his team subsequently went on to build what he described as “India’s first technology unicorn”.
He combined these experiences with a career that later took him across sectors including semiconductors, technology and media.
Read also | Actor Anshuman Jhas Om Ka Hari to be titled Hari-Om
Addressing younger entrepreneurs, he said the experience reinforced the importance of focus and a committed team.
“Young India, remember: with the right focus and tireless team, even the moon is within reach,” he wrote.
‘Keep Building’
Reflecting on his career decades after his first entrepreneurial leap, Chandrasekhar said the building process continues to motivate him.
“Many years – I’ve done many things in my life from semis to mediums. Being a builder and being among the true pioneers is what keeps me inspired!”
He ended the post with a message to budding entrepreneurs: “Keep building! 💪🏻🤘🏻”
