WHO IS CAPTAIN GOPINATH
Captain Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar Gopinath, is the founder of "Air Deccan", and a retired captain of indian army.
He wrote his autobiography, 'SIMPLY FLY', which has been made into a tamil film called "Soorarai potru".
EARLIER LIFE OF GOPINATH
He was born in Melkote, a Mandya District in Karnataka on 13 November 1951.
He was the second son of eight children.
After his schooling he completed education from the National Defense Academy. He then went on to graduate from the Indian Military Academy.
He earned a commission in the Indian Army, earning the rank of Captain. He spent eight years in the army and fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
After serving for 8 years he took early retirement from Indian Army, at the age of 28.
Capt.Gopinath established an ecologically sustainable sericulture farm.
For his innovative methods it earned him the Rolex Laureate Award in 1996.
Next, he started the Malnad Mobikes (Enfield dealership) and opened a hotel in Hasan.
INDIA'S FIRST LOW COST AIRLINE
In 1995, the Indian government started the reforms process by encouraging entrepreneurship. In the next year he started a private sector commercial helicopter service, Deccan Aviation.
In 2003 he launched India's first low-cost airline, Air Deccan which was later purchased and merged into Kingfisher Airlines.
He sold flight tickets at rupee 1.
His only aim in Deccan was not just to make the air fares as cheap as he could to make it possible for a common man to fly but a venture capital project made into motion and made huge profit by selling entire enterprise to UB Group.
In 2009 Gopinath started Deccan 360 freight and logistics operation.
In July 2013, Deccan 360 was ordered to wind up by the Karnataka High Court order based on petitions filed by Dubai-based United Aviation Services.
In 2009 Gopinath contested as an independent candidate in Bangalore South constituency at the Lok Sabha elections but was defeated
In 2014, he unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections on the ticket of Aam Aadmi Part.
AWARDS & HONORS
1996 - Rolex awards for Enterprise
2005 - Rajyotsava Award (Karnataka)
2007 - Chevalier de la legion d'Honneur (France)
Personality of the Decade Award (K.G. Foundation)
Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial Award (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry)
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