While Punjab is celebrated for its agricultural wealth and cultural legacy, its business landscape boasts a quiet titan—Rajinder Gupta, the richest person in Punjab with a net worth of ₹14,800 crore ($1.8 billion). Founder of the Trident Group, his journey from making cement pipes for ₹30/day to building a global empire is a testament to Punjabi grit.
From Humble Beginnings to Industrial Powerhouse
- Early Struggles: Worked menial jobs, crafting candles and cement pipes for daily wages.
- First Venture: Launched Abhishek Industries in 1985, manufacturing textiles.
- Global Expansion: By the 1990s, his Ludhiana-based Trident Group became a world leader in:
- Textiles (Bedsheets, towels – supplies to Walmart, IKEA)
- Paper & Chemicals (Major exporter to 100+ countries)
Why He’s Called “Punjab’s Dhirubhai Ambani”
- Self-Made Success: No family legacy or political ties—just relentless hard work.
- Job Creation: Employs 25,000+ Punjabis, boosting the state’s economy.
- Padma Shri Awardee (2020): Honored for revolutionizing India’s textile industry.
Philanthropy & Low-Key Lifestyle
Unlike flashy billionaires, Gupta focuses on:
- Education: Funds schools and vocational training in rural Punjab.
- Healthcare: Built hospitals for underprivileged communities.
- Sustainability: Trident Group runs Asia’s largest zero-liquid-discharge textile unit.
“Punjab’s wealth isn’t just in its soil—it’s in stories like Rajinder Gupta’s.”
📍 Trident Group HQ: Ludhiana, Punjab
📈 Ranked #190 in India’s Rich List (Forbes)
Fun Fact: His towels adorn 5-star hotels worldwide, yet he’s rarely in the limelight. True Punjabi humility! 🚀
