WEMBruce20 at 15:02, 27 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian businessperson}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = K I Varaprasad Reddy
| image = DR K VARAPRASAD REDDY.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|11|17}}
| birth_place = Papireddy Palem, [[Nellore district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| occupation = Chairman of [[Shantha Biotechnics|Shanta Biotechnics]]
| years_active =
| known_for = Founder of vaccine manufacturing company [[Shantha Biotechnics]]
| notable_works =
| mother = Shantamma
| father = Venkata Ramana Reddy
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]]
}}
'''Koduru Ishwara Varaprasad Reddy '''(born 17 November 1948) is an Indian [[entrepreneur]] and founder of vaccine manufacturing company [[Shantha Biotechnics]], which developed the first [[recombinant vaccine]] in [[India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://1nellore.com/931/dr-koduru-varaprasad-reddy-shantha-biotechnics-ltd/|title=Padma Bhushan Dr. Koduru Varaprasad Reddy, Shantha Biotechnics Ltd|date=2011-12-03|work=1nellore.com|access-date=2017-10-11|language=en-US}}</ref> The Govt of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan award in 2005 for his contribution in the fields of science and engineering.<ref name=nellore>{{cite web|url=http://1nellore.com/931/dr-koduru-varaprasad-reddy-shantha-biotechnics-ltd/|title= Padma Bhushan Dr. Koduru Varaprasad Reddy, Shantha Biotechnics Ltd}}</ref> He received an honorary doctorate from Sri Venkateshwara University, Gitam University, and Vignan University for his pioneering efforts.<ref name =bus_std_1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/lunch-with-bs-varaprasad-reddy-110011200024_1.html|title=Lunch with BS: Varaprasad Reddy|first=Business|last=Standard|website=www.business-standard.com}}</ref>

==Early life==
K.I Varaprasad Reddy was born in an agriculture family from Papireddy Palem village in [[Nellore district]]. He was the only child of his parents Venkata Ramana Reddy and Shanthamma.<ref name=bus_std>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/leaving-its-troubles-behind-shantha-makes-a-fresh-start-115031601112_1.html | title=Leaving its troubles behind, Shantha makes a fresh start}}</ref>

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Sri Venkateshwara University in 1967, and studied Engineering (Electronics & Communication) at Andhra University, finishing in 1970. He pursued a Diploma in Computer Sciences from Biblingen University, West Germany in 1971. He earned his master's degree in Business Administration from Osmania University.<ref name="bookadda">{{cite web |url=https://www.bookadda.com/books/people-nellore-k-varaprasad-reddy-books-group-1158262256-9781158262250 |title=People from Nellore: K. I. Varaprasad Reddy, Mahe Jabeen, G. V. Prasad, Pattabhirami Reddy Tikkavarapu, Duvvoori Ramireddy}}{{Dead link|date=February 2025|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

== Career ==
An electronics engineer by profession, Varaprasad worked as a defense scientist for 7 years.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/science-and-technology/story/19981019-scientists-show-how-wildest-of-ideas-can-become-moneyspinners-827222-1998-10-18|title= Day of the dreamer|date= 19 October 1998}}</ref> He then worked at Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation. He became an entrepreneur, joining Hyderabad Batteries Ltd in 1985. This company developed and produced batteries for high technology batteries for defence applications.<ref name="bookadda" />

=== Shantha Biotechnics Limited ===
In 1990, he attended a [[WHO]] conference and heard others claim that India was not capable of developing a vaccine for [[Hepatitis B]]. The disease kills around 350,000 people every year in the country.<ref name="bus_std_1" /> He started Shantha Biotechnics Ltd in response in 1993, with a mission to produce cost-effective vaccines that would be available for the common man, while still maintaining international quality standards.<ref name="kkmachi">{{cite web |url= http://www.kothikommachi.com/varaprasad.php |title= Dr.Varaprasad Reddy |access-date= 18 June 2017 |archive-date= 28 February 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170228191911/http://www.kothikommachi.com/varaprasad.php |url-status= dead }}</ref>

[[Shantha Biotechnics]] Ltd developed India's first indigenously developed recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. The Shanvac-B vaccine was launched in 1997.<ref name="bus_std" />

==Other activities==
He supported yoga, training many yoga teachers. He launched a magazine, ''Haasam'', and it ran for 5 years. The main aim was to propagate the spirit of [[Telugu language|Telugu]] art, literature, humour, and music. Haasam Publications published many books on music, humour, and spirituality. Successful projects include ''Autobiography of Bharta Ratna M S Subbulakshmi'' and ''Mullapudi Venkataramana's Kothi Kommachi''.

== Recognition ==

* Life Time Achievement Award (2018) - HMTV Business Excellence Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=India |first=The Hans |date=2018-02-13 |title=This award makes me happy: Varaprasad Reddy |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Business/2018-02-13/This-award-makes-me-happyVaraprasad-Reddy/358714 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reddy, K. I. Varaprasad}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Indian publishers (people)]]
[[Category:People from Nellore]]
[[Category:Indian company founders]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the pharmaceutical industry]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian industrialists]]
[[Category:Living people]]

K. I. Varaprasad Reddy - Revision history

WEMBruce20 at 15:02, 27 February 2026