Dr. Bithal Das Mundhra, Chairman – Emeritus, Simplex Infrastructures Limited
Born in 1942, Dr. Mundhra started his construction career at the age of 19 at various construction sites of Simplex. He was inducted in the Board of Simplex in 1969 and became Managing Director in 1987. Under his long leadership of over 50 years, Simplex today is one of the leading construction companies in India executing every year innumerable construction projects all over the country and abroad.
In recent past, Singhania University, Rajasthan conferred Dr. Mundhra with the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) for his outstanding contribution to the field of Infrastructure & Construction Industry in India.
Dr. Mundhra has professional association with some notable institutions such as, Honorary Life Fellow of Institution of Engineers (India); Fellow Member of The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, UK; The Indian Concrete Institute; A Founder Member and Trustee of National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR), Pune; Member of Board of Governors of Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC) and also Member of Builders Association of India (BAI). Dr. Mundhra has also been selected as the First and Founding Chairman of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Dr. B.D. Mundhra is a laureate of a number of many prestigious awards for his invaluable contributions to the industry. Some of the awards include: "Life Time Achievement Award" by BAI in 2008; "Vishwakarma Award" by CIDC in 2009; "World Leader Business Person 2010" by World Confederation of Business in 2010; "Hall of Fame" Infrastructures in 2012; "Life Time Achievement Award" in 2012 and Hony. Doctor of Literature in Oriental Language by Indian Institute of Oriental Heritage in 2014.
Besides engineering & construction, Dr. Mundhra's deep understanding of the Indian culture has prompted him to be associated with various social & cultural associations as well as academic institutions, such as President of Bharatiya Samskriti Samsad & Nagarik Swasthya Sangh, Kolkata; Principal Trustee in Bharatiya Vidya Mandir; Trustee of Pt. Jasraj Music Academy and several other associations.
In addition to devoting time in pursuit of construction business, Dr. Mundhra has made considerable contribution to the fields of literature, modern science and classical music. Under his guidance, some of the eminent literatures have been published by Bharatiya Vidya Mandir namely, Indian Culture-Encyclopaedic Survey in Eight Volumns, Bharatiya Chitrakala, Bharatiya Murtikala, Rosary of Hymns; Selected poems of Surdas, Kamayani and various other topics. He has also published and is advisory editor of research oriented Hindi bi-Monthly magazine "Vaichariki".
Dr. B D Mundhra, a philanthropist, is actively involved with various welfare activities.
