R ajinder Gupta is a self-made Indian billionaire and the founder and chairman of the Trident Group, a major textile and paper manufacturer. His is a classic rags-to-riches story. He started his career in the 1980s with a small fertilizer business. He later pivoted into the textile industry, founding Trident, which has since grown into one of the world's largest producers of terry towels and a major manufacturer of yarn and bed linens. The company is a key supplier to major global retailers like Walmart and JCPenney.

In addition to his core textile business, Gupta has successfully diversified the group into the paper industry, with a focus on producing wheat straw-based paper, which is more environmentally friendly. He has built the publicly traded company into a major industrial powerhouse and is a prominent business figure in his home state of Punjab. He is also known for his philanthropic activities, particularly in the field of education.