As I write this, it has still not sunk in that Dr. Fakir Chand Kohli (#FCKohli) has left us to be with God. My first boss, my mentor, the person I wanted to be every single day for the good part of 14 years.
He not only created the Indian Software industry but literally invented remote software development. In the 60s and 70s, when most computer manufacturers were American companies and Software was written inhouse, he saw the potential of software as the driver and more importantly, the pivotal role India can play as a software powerhouse. He put together a few unrelated macro trends – rapid innovations in computer science, industries relying on software en masse, Indian kids being good at math, flexible hard working young generation – and was the first visionary to put a roadmap for building an industry that defined (and continues to even today) India’s prominent role in global business.
After completing his masters from MIT in 1948, he came back and joined Tata Power. After nearly 2 decades there, he was given charge of TCS in 1968. TCS grew and its model was adopted by many others. In 2016, TCS was India’s most valuable public company with a value of 650,000 Crores. Leading IT services companies of India were created and followed TCS, giving rise to the industry that has given India wealth, jobs, global outlook and confidence. This software industry that Dr. Kohli pioneered also showed the way to other part of the world such as Ireland, Europe, Asia and Latin America. In a way, not just India but the world owes him gratitude for creating this massive industry.
He embodied gargantuan intellect, a global outlook, vision for future, people development, focus on R&D and the confidence to do things ‘first time at global level’ against extreme odds. Problem solving and helping India were his denominators. Looking back, we didn’t much discuss topline, bottom line, targets etc. that consume most of the conversation in today’s corporate world. TCS was about fundamental intrinsics, cutting edge innovation, developing distinctive people, and serving clients with world class solutions.
We didn’t differentiate between Indian and overseas clients. He once remarked, “Whether its Bank of America or Bank of India, our solutions ought to be top class”. We didn’t work on just writing code but owned the entire lifecycle of systems and operated those for clients. The foundations laid by Mr. Kohli are so strong that TCS towers over all others in the industry. That is the power of his leadership and the successors he carefully created.
He taught us how to not worry about job titles and hierarchies, to work collaboratively and spend time on professional development of self and others. Led by him, the atmosphere was deeply intellectual and academic. LC Singh, Founder & Chairperson of Nihilent and a close friend from TCS says, “The intellectual atmosphere was intense, almost scary at times”. I agree with him. But there was amazing freedom, devoid of politics, focused on meritocracy.
He was deep, intense, committed and set very high standards for himself. Nothing was impossible for him and he expected the same from all of us. Once you figured out that his often-unreal expectation was his way of showing confidence in you, it became a powerful motivator. If you took an initiative and led it, he would back you beyond your expectations. He took pride when people with management degrees were deeply technical and engineers excelled in commercial and managerial roles. He built some world class generalist talent.
Mr. Kohli was an academic and a researcher at heart while he led TCS as CEO. He played a pivotal role in founding of IIT Kanpur. He believed that existing institutions like College of Engineering, Pune and NITs should be upgraded in addition to creating new IITs. His work with COEP is proof of this idea. Though not that well known yet, the ‘software for adult literacy’ initiative that he led post his retirement is a torch bearer on what computers can do for humanity. Every time we met, he would ask me how much time I was spending on teaching. Coming to TCS from IITB, academics never left me and Dr Kohli was the biggest reason for that.
I was among four people selected by Mr. Ramadorai and Dr. Kohli to expand TCS in US in 1985. We never looked back. Once on a visit to Dallas, I told him about the research on object technology taking place at Bell Labs and Texas Instruments. When I returned to India towards end of 1988, he asked me to join TCS Research (known as TRDDC) to create Object Technology group. Later I founded AI group for which many ideas came from him. Imagine doing AI more than 30 years back. Many people who heard of AI in past few years can’t believe this. Prof. Kesav Nori at TCS Research had created vibrant research program on compilers, program understanding and automatic software generation. We created an interesting fusion of compiler tools and data models to give birth to new software development architecture that is still the genesis of some of the TCS research today. Dr. Kohli supported us to the point where we would feel guilty of using company resources for R&D. Imagine marshalling your people through hardcore business development and then into R&D. I was amazed by how well he balanced commercial goals and R&D pursuits. He could zoom in grassroot detail and immediately zoom out and think 30,000 feet – both with alarming clarity and simultaneously. His cerebral fluidity was majestic.
For me, the benefits of exposure to him after a college degree have been life long and immense. I feel equally close to R&D and business. Compilers technology and its application to software analysis and migration tools, technology for software lifecycle tools big data platforms, local area networks, cybernetics, concurrent engineering, software metrics, computer human interactions and AI are some of the areas in which TCS did significant and world class R&D.
He came across as a tough and a demanding person. But underneath that tough exterior, Dr. Kohli was extremely soft at heart. One incident comes to mind, Our son Shantanu was born in Dallas in 1987. Dr. Kohli and Mr. Ramadorai were in US and had a meeting in Houston. My wife Rajani and I were in hospital post-delivery and suddenly saw Ram and Dr Kohli come in the room! Not only did they come all the way (a Houston Dallas detour in those days was not easy) but had a wonderful pram and some toys as a gift for us. Till date, Rajani and I remember how both Dr. Kohli and Ram both sat next to her on the bed and spoke softly and affectionately. Another incident comes to mind which I just cannot forget. I was 28 or 29 at the time and Dr. Kohli sat in on one of my presentations. This was one of our first interactions. After it got done, he asked me to see him and I knew it can’t be good news. I walked into his intimidating corner office. It turned out Dr. Kohli just wanted to get to know me personally! He asked about my experience till then at TCS, my family, where I’m from, what hobbies I had. Finally, he asked about my father and I told him I lost him at age 7. He asked me how old my father would have been, and I told him. After a few thoughtful moments, he looked at me and said, ‘I am the same age as your father’. He left it at that, and I felt the room fill up with his affection toward a young employee he was getting to know. Of course, he used the ‘Don’t argue with me, I am like your father’ argument often in disagreements thereafter, but one gets a sense of his empathy and generosity in a few words.
Dr. Kohli had a great a sense of humour. During founding of the AI group, he once quipped, “While you build artificial intelligence, don’t ignore natural intelligence!”.
When I joined TCS in 1978 after IITB, I had no clue that I will get an opportunity to work with a global visionary, a top-class human being and contribute my tiny bit in creating a global industry. It is terrific luck.
Dr. Kohli, Sir you have contributed immensely to the industry, to India and earned your place high up in the heavens. 42 years of knowing you, learning from you, and being friends – I could not ask for more. While I will sorely miss you, we will continue to relish your memories and carry forward your mission.
Salute to a true leader who selflessly shaped our nation.
