Who is Rajarshi Bhupendra Modi?

We stopped by 17 Heathcote Road to take a look at a new sign which is the subject of much curiosity in Scarsdale.

It’s remarkable because while most try to conceal their homes and identities this sign does just the opposite. The large royal blue sign with gold lettering at the foot of the driveway announces the name of the new owner, where he’s from and provides the identity of the designer who ostensibly designed the house. It looks more like signage for a business than for a residence.

Property records show that Rajarshi Bhupendra Modi purchased the 9,886 square foot home on just over 4 acres in May 2021 from local developer Shlomo Freidfertig for $8,500,000. The house was built in 1928 and has 7 bedrooms, 8 full baths and 2 half baths as well as a pool, a tennis court and a 4-car garage.

Information on the internet says that the new owner is a 74 year-old Singaporean businessman who is looking to invest $1 billion in the U.S. over the new few years. The home is held in the name of Beyond 100, which is possibly the name of one of the Modi’s businesses.

His profile on Wikipedia says, “Bhupendra Kumar Modi (born 2 January 1949), known informally as Dr. M is an Indian-born Singaporean businessman, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder-chairman of Smart Group of companies, the founder of the Global Citizen Forum and the global chairman of the Foreign Investors India Forum.  He is also the Honorary President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

In January 2023, Modi was bestowed with the title of Raja-Rishi on the occasion of his 74th birthday. The title means “royal sage” and describes “a person who has attained all material possessions but has a high level of spiritual knowledge that enables him to remain detached. This is an acknowledgement of the life and work of Dr Bhupendra Kumar Modi who has been known as the ‘Man of Many Firsts’ for bringing several new technologies such as India’s first mobile call, first photocopier etc. These technologies have revolutionized the office automation and mobility landscape of the country, laying the foundation for a digital India.”

On Heathcote Road, just beyond the large blue sign, the gates to the house have also been painted blue and gold, perhaps the work of designer Sussanne Kahan. Her website says, Her website says, “Sussanne Khan has practiced the art of design for 15 years. She is the founder of India’s leading conceptual interior design store, “The Charcoal Project”. The store came to life in 2011 and changed the meaning of curated interior design in India. A victim of a curious mind, Sussanne used her imagination and talents to create diverse design stories inspired by the history of art and architecture through the ages. Her signature is a seamless blending of industrial masculine tone with feminine classical shabby chic. Sussanne Khan obtained an Associate Art Degree in Interior Design from Brooks College, Long Beach, California in the year 1995.

Has anyone met Mr. Modi in Scarsdale? Does he intend to live in the house? Do tell!