Ajit Singh Randhawa was an Indian-American academic and businessman, best known as the father of former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Born in Punjab, India, he immigrated to Canada in the 1960s to pursue higher education, earning a doctorate in biology from the University of British Columbia. Randhawa later moved to the United States, settling in South Carolina, where he founded Exotica International, a successful business importing women's clothing from India. This enterprise became a cornerstone of his family's economic success and community involvement in Bamberg, South Carolina. In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Randhawa had a distinguished career in academia, serving as a professor of biology for over 30 years and eventually retiring as Chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences at Voorhees College, a historically Black college in Denmark, South Carolina. His professional life reflected a commitment to education and science, while his personal life was marked by his Sikh faith and emphasis on family values, which influenced his daughter Nikki's upbringing and public persona. Randhawa was known for his quiet demeanor and support for his daughter's political career. He passed away on Father's Day, June 16, 2024, at the age of 83, in Charleston, South Carolina, and is survived by his wife, Raj Kaur Randhawa, and their children, including Nikki Haley.