In March 2026, Padma Bhushan awardee and former Raymond chairman Dr. Vijaypat Lala Kailashpat Singhania passed away at the age of 87 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was born on October 4, 1938 in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
- He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s 3rd highest civilian honour in 2006 in the field of Sports.
- He was widely recognised for his contributions to the textile industry and for setting multiple records in aviation.
About Vijaypat Singhania:
Leadership: He served as Chairman of Raymond Limited for nearly two decades until 2000 and later transferred his entire 37% stake in the company to his son Gautam Singhania.
Other Key Roles: He was appointed Honorary Air Commodore by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1994 and served as the Sheriff of Mumbai (Maharashtra) in 2006.
Accomplishment : In 1988, he gained global recognition by solo flying a microlight aircraft from London(the United Kingdom, UK) to Ahmedabad(Gujarat), covering over 9,000 kilometres (kms).
Aviation Record : He was a passionate aviator and held a world record for the highest altitude achieved in hot air ballooning. In 2005, at the age of 67, he set this record by reaching an altitude of 69,852 feet.
Academic Role: In March 2007, he was appointed Chairman of the Governing Council of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and served until 2012.
Autobiography: He authored an autobiography titled ‘An Angel in the Cockpit’ (2005), which chronicles his microlight aviation journey.
Award: He received the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (TNNAA) in 2001.
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