Suzlon Energy founder Tulsi Tanti died of cardiac arrest at 64 on Saturday. He was popularly known as India’s ‘wind man.’

A few hours before his death, Tanti held a media interaction in which he said Suzlon Energy plans to repay its debt and reduce its interest liabilities.

Ashwani Kumar, CEO, Suzlon Energy Ltd addressed the employees of the company in a letter and said, “This is by far the most heart-breaking communication I have ever sent…”

“While the world will remember Tulsibhai as the pioneer of wind energy and a warrior against climate change, we know him better as the champion of creating a better world for our future generations. If there was anything that our CMD taught us it was resilience, the will to fight back and the strength to stand up tall in our worst times.”

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Tanti’s estimated net worth was close to $5.7 billion as of 2022.

He is survived by his wife Gita, son Pranav, and daughter Nidhi.

Born in 1958 in Rajkot, Tanti graduated from Gujarat University with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. Tanti spearheaded the wind revolution in India with the founding of Suzlon Energy in 1995.

He started his career with his textile business, Sulzer Synthetics P Ltd in Surat, Gujarat. But it turned to be rough due to unavailability of power. In 1990, he invested in two Vestas wind turbines and realised their huge potential. In 1995, he formed and exited the textile business.

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Tanti was also the chairman of Belgium-based turbine part maker ZF Wind Power Antwerpen since May 10, 2006 and the president of Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association.