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{{short description|Indian entrepreneur}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| name = G. R.
| image = Captain GR Gopinath - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg|Biopic movie Surari potru
| alt =
| caption = G. R. Gopinath, left, 2010
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|11|13}}<ref name=gulf/>
| birth_place = [[Gorur, Hassan|Gorur]], [[Mysore State]]
At present Karnataka State. India
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| allegiance = {{IND}}
| rank = [[File:Captain of the Indian Army.svg|22px]] [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
| alma_mater = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Sainik School, Bijapur]]|[[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy, Pune]]|[[Indian Military Academy|Indian Military Academy, Dehradun]]}}
| known_for = Founder of [[Air Deccan]]
| occupation =
| Movie = Biopic movie Soorarai Pottru (சூரரைப் போற்று)
}}

[[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] '''Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar Gopinath''' (born 13 November 1951)<ref>{{Cite web|title=GR Gopinath: Latest News & Videos, Photos about GR Gopinath {{!}} The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/gr-gopinath|access-date=2020-11-12|website=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=The Unstoppable Indians: Capt. G R Gopinath, founder, Air Deccan (Aired: March 2009)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw12bEPWpsc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/yw12bEPWpsc |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2020-01-20}}{{cbignore}}</ref> is an Indian entrepreneur,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mybtechlife.com/the-list-of-great-entrepreneurs-in-india-2015/ |title=The List of Great Entrepreneurs of India in 2015 |publisher=MyBTechLife |author=Srikar Muthyala |date=29 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114000446/http://mybtechlife.com/the-list-of-great-entrepreneurs-in-india-2015/ |archive-date=2016-01-14 }}</ref> the founder of [[Air Deccan]], a retired Captain of the [[Indian Army]], an author and a politician.<ref name=gulf/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theweekendleader.com/Success/221/he-hops-on,-simply.html|access-date=1 May 2012|date=1 May 2012|publisher=The Weekend Leader|last=Bengaluru|first=Sudha Narasimhachar|title=Adored by millions, Capt Gopinath is a man of many faces}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Matpal.com|url=http://www.matpal.com/2012/02/captain-gr-gopinath-founder-of-air.html|access-date=1 May 2012|date=8 February 2012|title=Captain G R Gopinath: Founder of Air Deccan}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Gopinath was born in [[Gorur, Hassan]], and was brought up in small village in Gorur in the [[Hassan district]] of [[Karnataka State]].<ref name=gulf/>

Gopinath's father Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, a school teacher (not to be confused with Novelist [[Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar]] who is his mother's uncle), believed that schools were systems of regimentation and was resolved to teach Gopinath at home.

However, Gopinath was admitted to a [[Kannada]] medium school quite late and straight away he joined Standard V. In 1962, Gopinath cleared the admission test and joined [[Sainik School, Bijapur]]. The school helped and prepared Gopinath to clear the [[National Defence Academy|NDA]] entrance exams.

After 3 years of vigorous training, Gopinath completed education from the National Defence Academy, Pune. He then went on to graduate from the [[Indian Military Academy|Indian Military Academy, Dehradun]].<ref name=gulf/>

==Career==
After school, he earned a commission in the [[Indian Army]], earning the rank of [[Army ranks and insignia of India|Captain]]. He spent eight years in the army and fought in the 1971-72 [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}{{Failed verification|date=April 2021}}

The army life seemed to somehow tie him down. He took early retirement from Indian Army, at the age of 28. Upon retirement from the armed forces, he established an ecologically sustainable sericulture farm; his innovative methods earned him the [[Rolex Awards for Enterprise|Rolex Laureate Award]] in 1996.<ref name=gulf/> Next, he started the Malnad Mobikes (Enfield dealership) and opened a hotel in Hassan.<ref>{{Cite book |isbn = 978-93-5029-155-9|title = Simply Fly : A Deccan Odyssey|date = 9 May 2011}}</ref>

In 1997 he co-founded Deccan Aviation, a charter helicopter service. In 2003, Gopinath founded [[Simplifly Deccan|Air Deccan]], a low cost airline; Air Deccan merged with Kingfisher Airlines in 2007. In 2009 he founded [[Deccan 360]], a freight flight business. 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 (UAS) and another by M/s Patel Integrated Logistics (PIL) Pvt. Ltd. — seeking recovery of amounts due to them by winding up the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/its-curtains-for-deccan-360/article4912777.ece |title=It's curtains for Deccan 360 |newspaper=The Hindu |date=2013-07-14 |access-date=2016-01-07}}</ref>

In May 2006, he was knighted with "[[Legion of Honour|Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur]]" the civilian award conferred by the French Government. He has received many awards for Air Deccan.<ref name=gulf/>

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 the [[Aam Aadmi Party]].
<ref>{{cite web|author=ET Bureau 27 Mar 2009, 04.30am IST |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-03-27/news/28459242_1_ls-seat-captain-gopinath-budget-carrier |title=Captain Gopinath to fight LS elections - timesofindia-economictimes |publisher=Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com |access-date=2016-01-07}}</ref>

== Aviation career ==

=== Deccan Aviation ===
Gopinath moved to Bengaluru in 1992 where he bumped into Captain K.J. Samuel, who was his friend in the army. Samuel was a freelance pilot and was planning to set-up a commercial Helicopter service. In 1995, when the Indian government started a regulatory reforms process to encourage entrepreneurship, Gopinath partnered with Samuel and established Deccan Aviation.<ref name=gulf/>
Deccan's helicopters were chartered by most politicians and the company also got involved in many rescue missions in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Kabul and South India.
The Company grew to become one of the largest private air charter companies in India and Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite book|title = New Age Marketing: Emerging Realities|last = Dhar|first = Upinder|publisher = Excel Books|year = 2008|location = New Delhi|page = 71}}</ref>

Inspired by the success of [[Southwest Airlines]] in the United States and [[Ryanair]] in Europe, Deccan Aviation launched India's first low-cost airline, [[Air Deccan]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Air Deccan plans 'very low-cost' flights |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/jul/02spec1.htm |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |date= 2 July 2003 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>
Deccan Aviation went public in May 2006,<ref name= HBL>{{cite news|title=Deccan Aviation IPO on May 18, price band Rs. 150-175 |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-markets/deccan-aviation-ipo-on-may-18-price-band-rs-150175/article1733555.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |date= 12 May 2006 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> however by then the airline was losing money.<ref name= LMT>{{cite news|title=Speculation in the air as Deccan Aviation scrambles for new cash |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/cZNvBEb4dniT28nsdCkWnN/Speculation-in-the-air-as-Deccan-Aviation-scrambles-for-new.html |publisher=[[Live Mint]] |date= 19 May 2007 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> The following year, the [[Vijay Mallya]] lead UB group purchased a strategic 26 per cent stake in Deccan Aviation.<ref name= HBL2>{{cite news|title=Vijay Mallya lands 26% stake in Deccan Aviation |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/vijay-mallya-lands-26-stake-in-deccan-aviation/article1659803.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |date= 1 June 2007 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>
At the time of purchase, Air Deccan connected sixty nine cities around India.<ref name=gulf>{{cite web|publisher=Gulf News|access-date=1 May 2012|title=Adopting a revolutionary approach|date=8 April 2011|last=Pathak|first=Nilima|url=http://gulfnews.com/life-style/people/adopting-a-revolutionary-approach-1.786853}}</ref>
Mallya merged the two airlines soon after<ref name= HBL3>{{cite news|title=Kingfisher Airlines, Deccan decide to merge |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/kingfisher-airlines-deccan-decide-to-merge/article1677985.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |date= 20 December 2007 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref> and Capt. Gopinath sold most of his stake in the company in 2009.<ref name= LM2>{{cite news|title=Gopinath reduces stake in Kingfisher to 1.75% |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/t3pa48Rd4JxzW1lI66AHML/Gopinath-reduces-stake-in-Kingfisher-to-175.html |publisher=[[Live Mint]] |date= 17 September 2009 |access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>

=== Deccan Charters ===
During the merger process of Kingfisher with Air Deccan, the Charter services division of Deccan Aviation was transferred into a new company named [[Deccan Charters]] Limited after it received its Non-Scheduled Air Operator Permit (NSOP) from the DGCA on 10 October 2008. During that period, the Charter operations continued to perform satisfactorily and increased its presence in off shore flying for the oil sector.<ref>{{cite web|title = Director Report Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. |url = https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/directorsreport.cms?companyid=276&year=2008 | website = ET Markets.com |access-date = 19 December 2017}}</ref>

Gopinath used the money from the UB Group deal to start [[Deccan 360]], a cargo airline, in May 2009. But that enterprise too was squeezed by a severe cash crunch and shut shop in 2011. The same year, Gopinath became the 100% owner of Deccan Charters by purchasing the stake Mallya held in the company as part of the 2007 deal.<ref name= ET1>{{cite news|title=GR Gopinath's Deccan Charters faces severe crisis; puts entire fleet of aircraft on sale |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/gr-gopinaths-deccan-charters-faces-severe-crisis-puts-entire-fleet-of-aircraft-on-sale/articleshow/17620998.cms |publisher=[[The Economic Times]] |date= 15 December 2012 |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>
The following year, Gopinath launched daily charter flights in the state of Gujarat under the brand name of Deccan Shuttles. The flights connected Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Kandla using a nine-seater Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft.<ref name= LM1>{{cite news|title=Deccan Shuttles to launch operations in Gujarat on Monday |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/HctiI7me9Xgp7Le5qCyfiM/Deccan-Shuttles-to-launch-operations-in-Gujarat-on-Monday.html |publisher=[[Live Mint]] |date= 18 August 2012 |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> The service wound up in 2013.
In April 2017, Deccan charters bid for and won 34 regional Indian routes under the UDAN scheme.<ref name= BS>{{cite news|title=Captain Gopinath back in the game; Deccan Charter to fly on regional routes |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/captain-gopinath-back-in-the-game-deccan-charter-to-fly-on-regional-routes-117032700106_1.html|publisher=[[Business Standard]] |date= 27 March 2017 |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>
Operating under the brand name Air Deccan, it will commence operations in December 2017 with flights between Mumbai and Nashik.{{Needs update|date=June 2022|reason=The date of the predicted event near this tag has passed.}} Air Deccan will operate 19-seater [[Beechcraft 1900D]] turboprop aircraft that are suitable for short-haul flights. The airline has plans to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Shillong to regional towns in the vicinity of these cities.
<ref name= BT>{{cite news|title=Aviation pioneer GR Gopinath makes comeback with Air Deccan, to start disruptive Re 1 tickets |url=http://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/aviation/gr-gopinath-air-deccan-re-1-tickets-low-cost-airlines-cheap-flights/story/266075.html |publisher=[[Business Today (India)]] |date= 15 December 2017 |access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==
* 1996 - [[Rolex Awards for Enterprise]]<ref>[http://rolexawards.com/en/the-laureates/gorurriyengargopinath-home.jsp Rolex awards for Enterprise] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921190738/http://rolexawards.com/en/the-laureates/gorurriyengargopinath-home.jsp |date=2010-09-21 }}</ref>
* 2005 - Rajyotsava Award ([[Karnataka]])<ref>{{cite web|title = Karnataka / Bangalore News : 127 persons get Rajyotsava Award|url = http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/30/stories/2005103008810400.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080131185607/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/10/30/stories/2005103008810400.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2008-01-31|website = [[The Hindu]]|date = 2005-10-30|access-date = 2015-11-17}}</ref>
* 2007 - [[Legion of Honour|Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur]] ([[France]])<ref name=gulf/>
* Personality of the Decade Award (K.G. Foundation)<ref name=hero>{{cite web|publisher=Indian Heroes|title=Captain Gopinath|url=http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/captain-gopinath.html|access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>
* Sir M Visvesvaraya Memorial Award (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry)<ref name=hero/>

== In popular culture ==

The 2020 Indian Tamil-language film ''[[Soorarai Pottru]]'' was partly inspired by events from the life of Gopinath and is based on his memoir ''Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sudha Kongara invested 10 years for Soorarai Pottru: Suriya |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/sudha-kongara-invested-10-years-for-soorarai-pottru-suriya--news-tamil-ucoeivhaajcdd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625072821/https://www.sify.com/movies/sudha-kongara-invested-10-years-for-soorarai-pottru-suriya--news-tamil-ucoeivhaajcdd.html |archive-date=25 June 2021 |access-date=25 June 2021 |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

==Books by Gopinath==
* ''Simply Fly: A Deccan Odyssey'', Collins Business, 2010, {{ISBN|978-81-7223-842-1|978-93-5029-155-9}}
* "You Cannot Miss This Flight: Essays on Emerging India", Harper Collins, 2017, {{ISBN|9789352644797}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|G. R. Gopinath}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopinath, G.R.}}
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Karnataka]]
[[Category:People from Hassan district]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian aviation businesspeople]]
[[Category:Sainik School alumni]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2005]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]

G. R. Gopinath - Revision history

Bot at 14:42, 1 October 2022