These nine first-generation Indian entrepreneurs started from humble beginnings, but turned around their fortune with the right mix of intelligence, ambition, determination and perseverance. Long before India's startup boom, their stories of hardship, labour and success set new benchmarks, and serve as an inspiration to everyone.
Dhirubhai Ambani
Dinodia Photos/Getty Images
Radhakishan Damani
DMart
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
Hemant Msihra/Mint/Getty Images
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Kalpana Saroj
Hemant Mishra/Mint/Getty Images
CP Krishnan Nair
Satish Bate/Hindustan TimesGetty Images
Pratap C Reddy
The India Today Group/Getty Images
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Devi Prasad Shetty
Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images
Narayana Murthy
Reuters
Karsanbhai Patel
Bhavresh Gajjar/BCCL
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