HCL, initially Hindustan Computers Limited, was established on November 11, 1976, by Shiv Nadar and his group of people, including Arjun Malhotra, Ajai Chowdhry, and others. It began as a modest IT hardware company in India with an emphasis on microprocessors and computer technology. It contributed significantly to the technological growth of India by developing and designing indigenous computers even before the entry of global giants into the market. HCL created India's first microcomputer-based commercial computer in 1978, which made it a pioneer in the new IT industry.
In the years since, HCL ventured out from hardware into software services, IT consulting, and digital transformation solutions. HCLTech is now a global IT services behemoth with operations in more than 50 countries, working with Fortune 500 firms in various industries. Its growth is fueled by innovation, research, and an aggressive emphasis on next-gen technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. HCL continues to be one of India's top IT companies, vying with biggies from across the world.