Why the Heck Not?

Every professional and budding entrepreneur should ideally have three types of mentors. One who has been incredibly successful, one who is genuinely respected and well liked and one who has incredible courage. To me, the almost ninety-five-year-old Kushal Pal Singh (K.P. Singh), chairman emeritus of DLF, is the perfect embodiment of all three.From the Foreword by Aparna JainThe riveting saga of DLF is inextricably linked to the entrepreneurial genius of K.P. Singh, a man whose name has become synonymous with housing and urban real estate infrastructure in India.Known affectionately as KP, Singh was born in the small town of Bulandshahr. He began his career as an officer in the Indian Army before circumstances nudged him into the family business. Starting off at the Qutab Stud Farm and American Universal Electric (India), KP's greatest challenge emerged when his wife, Indira, and sister-in-law, Prem, persuaded him to helm DLF, a real estate company founded by his father-in-law, Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh. In a sector marred by nefarious repute, KP remained head and shoulders above other players, and strictly adhered to the prevailing laws and regulations. Within a few decades, KP had transformed DLF and set new standards for urban development in India.KP’s pivotal role though was in catalysing the transformation of a barren Gurgaon into a knowledge city that reshaped the nation’s future. He persuaded Jack Welch of General Electric to explore and invest in India across multiple sectors―locomotives, power, aviation, medical systems, and eventually BPOs. This attracted significant investment and positioned Gurgaon as a hub of innovation and growth for a number of Fortune 500 companies.Through captivating anecdotes and insights, Why The Heck Not delves into Padma Bhushan awardee KP’s interactions with industry leaders, policymakers, farmers and communities. Learn how he navigated challenges, fostered collaborations, and revolutionised the Indian real estate landscape. A