Vijay Kumar Alimchandani

Vijay passed away peacefully, surrounded by love and prayers at home in Westlake Village on July 5, 2024 at 78 years old. A visionary entrepreneur, Vijay's charisma and warmth touched countless lives. His fun-loving spirit, brilliant mind, and generosity will live on in his wife Manu, daughter Natasha, son Rahul, son-in-law Suneel, grandchildren Zaden and Daxon, sister Pravina, and all his dear family and friends. Vijay's life was filled with love, excitement, travel, tennis, great food and lifelong learning.

Born in Karachi, he was the son of Gopaldas Hiranand and Lila Alimchandani. His family fled during partition of India and Vijay grew up in Mumbai with his parents and younger sister Pravina.

His maternal grandfather Tikamdas Vadumal had a law degree from Oxford in England, and was a prominent politician, he became the Mayor of Karachi. He had 12 children, the eldest was Vijay’s Mom who often accompanied him on social visits with government officials. But they left everything behind, land, wealth, their prominent existence, during partition.

His father was raised by his Uncle, Jairamdas Daulatram, and was essentially Vijay’s paternal grandfather. He incorporated the Sindhi language into one of the 14 languages of India at the time. He was a political activist and freedom fighter alongside Gandhi and actually went to jail several times with Gandhi. He became the Governor of Assam, and a member of India’s parliament in the top cabinet of the Rajya Sabha.

As a young kid, Vijay was always at the top of his class in school, and on the top of his game in tennis, table tennis and was even a championship roller skater! Tennis became a lifelong sport he played regularly. From a young age, he was very social and made friends easily. Pravina recounts his big parties and tons of friends. Vijay earned engineering degrees from Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) Pilani and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

He began his professional career in New York where he soon met his wife Manu Uttamsingh at a party. She had moved from Delhi to New York to pursue a life in America and was working at Thomas Cook travel agency for the United Nations. Vijay had a car and their relationship started with him “chauffeuring” Manu and her friends around the city. They had a lot of fun, going to parties, outings and road trips with friends to upstate New York, New Jersey, Niagara Falls and Michigan. He proposed about a year later at the glamorous Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. They rented a car and drove around Europe together for 3 months, and traveled in the Middle East en route to India for the wedding. An amazing unconventional love story was being made…

Vijay and Manu were married in Mumbai at The Taj Hotel on Republic Day, January 26th in 1972. A year later, Natasha was born in India and then two years later they went back to the U.S. to pursue careers abroad. Vijay worked in finance and his job provided them short stints in New York, Florida, Virginia and Minnesota before they moved to California when he got a job leading the implementation of the first ATMs for Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles.

They moved to Westlake Village and Rahul was born. He was always an early adopter of new technologies, getting the first portable phones, car phones (the size of a briefcase!), computers and the internet. He thrived on learning new things everyday. Vijay co-founded several businesses Super-Intelligent Systems (an “AI” company in the 1980’s), Central Software Services, Central Technologies and a few limited partnerships. He proved to be strategic, sharp and intuitive in business. He was a true connector and always happy to meet people and make introductions. He orchestrated business deals focusing on mergers and acquisitions. He was always there to help a friend think through creative solutions to business challenges. Vijay and Manu traveled across the U.S. for Rahul’s soccer games as he excelled in the sport. They also crossed over 40 countries off their bucket list via trains, planes, automobiles, RVs and cruise ships!

He was extremely devoted to his parents and moved mountains for both of them when they were ill. Very much a family man, he cherished his closest relationships and had a huge soft spot for his grandchildren. He would have loved to have had a joint family compound here and looked into buying places that could accommodate everyone comfortably. He inspired the kids to think creatively, be strategic, bold, and strive for more. He was proud of his family.

While we are heartbroken, we are fortunate to have had such a wonderful person in our lives and will think of him and his broad influence everyday.

Words cannot express how deeply we appreciate all the love and support shown to our family during this difficult time. We are incredibly grateful and will always remember your kindness.