F.C.Kohli - His Lasting Legacy
The corner office on the 11th floor of the landmark Air-India building in Mumbai - Mr. Kohli’s office. The man who laid the foundation of one of the most successful global IT companies - TCS, and along with it the foundation for an entire industry that now contributes to 8% of India’s GDP and over 4 million jobs in India! Not only did he see the future, but he created it too and made it real for the thousands of people that worked for him and for everyone in the IT industry today.
My workspace at TCS, as a 21-year-old trainee fresh out of B-School, was about 20-30 meters away on the other side of the same 11th floor. An early advice I got from the more seasoned trainees was to avoid leaving office around 6.30 – 7 pm and getting into the same elevator as Mr. Kohli. “It is hard to survive the ride down answering his tough questions” I was told. He had a formidable reputation - extremely knowledgeable, demanding perfection and did not tolerate ignorance or incompetence. On the other hand, every question he asked and every comment he made, gave an insight into his thoughts and was an opportunity to learn. Even in the briefest of elevator encounters! I vividly recollect his ‘Vision’ presentation to all of us – he so clearly articulated where technology was going, what organisations/clients needed, what capabilities we should focus on and develop, the research that was needed, the tools that should be built… Mr. Kohli saw the future and painted a picture so the rest of us could see it too.
It might be hard for someone joining the industry now to truly appreciate the pioneering work, as so much of what he set up is now institutionalised and replicated countless times, becoming a model for how the industry operates. That, in itself, is the ultimate recognition. One should remember that there was no ‘peer’ to compare with at that time. He invested in research and built close association with Academia. Application of engineering principles to software development is one example of an area Mr. Kohli invested in. I remember when he invited Ron Radice from the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University to review our work and help us craft a strong process discipline - a learning of immense value that I have used time and time again.
As an institution builder, it was not just about work. For instance, he took personal interest in organising the ‘Annual Picnic’ for the employees and families. In Mumbai, it was usually at a beach resort and one year I was part of the advance party making the arrangements. I was surprised at his attention to detail even in this area - everything had to be perfect and well organised to create a great experience. He spent a good part of the day interacting with people (no tough questions) and even playing games. There was this soft side to him which showed up unguarded from time to time; especially when away from the office. Once when I was based out of Basel in Switzerland, he came to Zurich and in the rush to catch a train and go meet him, I forgot to take my coat. Later that chilly night after dinner when I was leaving, he noticed I didn’t have a coat and asked one of the guys, local to Zurich, to lend me his coat, warning me to be careful and not catch a cold. He cared.
Several years after I left TCS, I met Mr. Kohli in 2014 at an awards function in Mumbai for Women Leaders. In fact, the main reason I accepted the invitation was knowing he would be there, and nothing would give me greater pleasure than receiving the award from him. On stage, he quietly said to me ‘Those days we didn’t talk about it. We just did it’. So right. We talk so much about diversity, having enough women in the workplace, encouraging women in technology… he did all that years before it become a burning need for organisations. He created an equal opportunity workplace entirely merit based and encouraged women, making IT one of the best career options for women.
Since then I met him several times but one that stands out is his visit to NIT Calicut three years ago when I was Chairperson of the Board of Governors and Mr. Kohli was invited as the Chief Guest for the Convocation. Close to a thousand students came in person to be awarded their degrees, making it a 3-hour long function. Considering his age, we offered that he leaves the stage after his speech. But that upset him, and he pointed out that for each of these students it was such a momentous occasion, and we must give that moment the respect it deserves. Despite any strain, he stayed there for the entire event, greeting every student, inspiring everyone with his Convocation address and expressing his pleasure at the number of female graduate engineers, especially the gold medallists.
In the early years of my career, Mr. Kohli was the big big Boss. To be feared, followed and respected, while maintaining a distance. It was a formative and invaluable experience, and I continued to profit from his wisdom and advice even more in the later years, without the boundaries of a work environment. I would perhaps be presumptuous and taking too much liberty in saying he was like a family elder. In 2017, a few days before a personal celebratory event with only family and a couple of close friends, I felt this celebration would be incomplete without the one person that had a big influence on me. I called him and albeit the short notice he joined the function, making it complete for me. I hear his voice, I hear him speak, his words whether chiding or encouraging, always providing a direction. Every interaction an opportunity to learn. Mr. Kohli will be truly missed.
Disclaimer: ‘Views expressed here are personal’.
