Vijaypat Singhania, Ex-Raymond Chairman, Dies at 87 in Mumbai
Vijaypat Singhania, Ex-Raymond Chairman, Dies at 87 in Mumbai
Former Raymond Group chairman Vijaypat Singhania dies at 87 in Mumbai, leaving a legacy of business expansion and aviation feats that shaped Indian industry.
Vijaypat Singhania, the former chairman and managing director of the Raymond Group, died at 87 in Mumbai, with his son Gautam Singhania announcing the news on social media. Singhania steered the textile giant for two decades, from 1980 to 2000, a period when India’s economy began liberalising and consumer brands faced new pressures. After stepping down, he handed over the reins to his son and transferred his entire 37 percent stake in Raymond, underscoring a familial legacy at the helm.
Under his leadership, Raymond expanded beyond textiles into synthetic fabrics, denim, steel, industrial files and cement, broadening its footprint in a rapidly changing market.
A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Singhania was also known for his love of aviation and adventure. He logged more than 5,000 flying hours and earned the honorary rank of Air Commodore from the Indian Air Force in 1994. In 2005, at the age of 67, he set a world record by ascending to nearly 69,000 feet in a hot air balloon, and in 1988 he completed a solo microlight flight from London to New Delhi over 23 days, cementing his reputation as an avid aviator.
In public life, he was appointed Sheriff of Mumbai in 2006, a mark of his broader role beyond the company. His dual identity as a business leader and adventurer left a distinctive imprint on India’s corporate and aviation landscapes.
