Vijaypat Singhania: The complete man who wore many hats

Singhania held an honorary PhD from the London Institute of Technology & Research, was Honorary Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force, and received the coveted Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour.

Mumbai: The legendary Vijaypat Singhania wore many hats.

The 87-year-old was not only a successful businessman and textile magnate who headed the Raymond Group from 1980 to 2000, but also an ace aviator, adventure sports enthusiast, philanthropist, management professor and photographer.

He was as comfortable in boardrooms as in cockpits.

He held an honorary PhD from the London Institute of Technology & Research, was Honorary Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force, and received the coveted Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honour.

Besides, he had served as Sheriff of Mumbai.

The soft-spoken Singhania was a trailblazer, celebrity and inspiring personality in the true sense.

In fact, ‘The Complete Man’, the iconic branding of the textile and apparel giant, took shape when Singhania was at the helm.

Announcing Singhania's death on Saturday evening, his son Gautam Singhania said: “With profound grief and deep sorrow, we inform the passing of Padma Bhushan Dr Vijaypat Kailashpat Singhania. A visionary leader, philanthropist, and an inspiring personality, whose legacy will continue to guide and inspire generations.”

He is survived by his wife Ashadevi Singhania and children Madhupati Singhania, Shephali Ruia and Gautam Singhania.

Born on October, 4 1938 into the illustrious Singhania family, custodians of one of India’s oldest business houses, he inherited not just an enterprise but a legacy of industrial nationalism.

After taking charge of Raymond as its Chairman in 1980, Dr Singhania rapidly expanded the company’s business. Prior to assuming leadership of the firm, Singhania had ventured into new areas such as synthetic fabrics, denim, engineering, steel, and and cement.

Because of his vision and branding, Raymond became a large, robust company and a household name in India. His journey was not merely one of inheritance; he carved his own identity—expanding operations, modernising production, and strengthening brand equity in a competitive global market.

After stepping down in 2000 following two decades at the helm, he handed over the reins of the company to Gautam Singhania and transferred his entire 37 per cent stake in the firm to his son.

A keen aviator—his icons were Howard Hughes, the legendary aerospace engineer, business magnate and film producer, and JRD Tata, the industrialist, philanthropist, aviator and former Chairman of the Tata Group—he held several records.

In 1988, he completed a solo microlight flight from London’s Biggin Hill Airport to Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi over 23 days, setting a speed-over-time endurance record. Six years later, he won a gold medal at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale’s around-the-world air race, flying with American co-pilot Daniel Brown in a Cessna Conquest aircraft. The microlight aircraft was displayed for a few years at the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai.

His adventures in flying are captured in his 2005 book, ‘An Angel in the Cockpit: The True Story of a Death-Defying Flight Across 5000 Miles of Land and Sea.’

Dr Singhania was conferred the rank of Honorary Air Commodore by the IAF in recognition of his achievements in flying.

In November 2005, Singhania, then 67, created a world record by ascending to approximately 69,000 feet in a hot air balloon. The balloon took off from the Mahalaxmi Racecourse.

The Government of India conferred upon him the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for Lifetime Achievement.

In 2006, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award. He also briefly served as the Sheriff of Mumbai in 2005.

Vijaypat Singhania and his son Gautam Singhania were embroiled in legal disputes some years ago, however, the issues were later settled. The episode highlighted the often-unspoken complexities within business families.

His candid reflections on legacy, control, and succession sparked wider conversations about generational transitions in Indian corporate houses. Despite personal setbacks, Singhania remained a figure of resilience—uncompromising in his views and unapologetically independent.

Singhania also went on to write the memoir ‘An Incomplete Life’.