India’s IT sector pioneer FC Kohli dead – Times of India

MUMBAI: The father of Indian IT industry Faqir Chand Kohli on Thursday afternoon breathed his last at his house at the age of 96. Kohli, who died of a heart attack, led the inception of the global tech behemoth TCS, thereby sowing the seed of India’s IT industry.
Kohli’s pioneering journey started early on when he joined Tata Electric (now Tata Power) in 1951, immediately upon completing his post-graduation in electrical engineering from MIT, US. He was soon part of a team setting up perhaps India’s first-of-its-kind computer system to control the electric line between Mumbai and Pune, making Tata Electric the world’s third utility to adopt computers.
In 1968, the technocrat was cherry-picked by JRD Tata to set up TCS—a startup founded as a management consultancy and transformed into a software development giant over the next two decades by the IT visionary.
“He (Kohli) guided the company (TCS) in its early years and defined the vision for its growth. This early vision played an important role in creating the outstandingly successful global IT company that TCS has become today,” said Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts. TCS, which today is the world’s third largest IT services company, is the jewel in the Tata group’s crown, contributing more than 70% to the conglomerate’s profits. He retired from TCS in 1999 at the age of 75.
He was a tough taskmaster and TCSers described him as a man of few words, who would refuse to stand fools or those who spoke without doing their homework. However, he never shied away from lending an ear to dissenting views that were backed with facts.
“I have had the honor and privilege of working with and learning from Kohli from the day he hired me as a trainee in TCS,” said former TCS CEO and now Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran. “Despite his momentous achievements, his simplicity and thoughtfulness is a lesson for us all. His enduring optimism and his ability to make ambitious bets leaves a legacy—one that has advanced a nation.”
Known to be a master strategist, Kohli (known as FCK in the IT circuit) not only laid the bricks for TCS but also pioneered the rise of India’s $190-billion software services sector.
“Kohli was the true pioneer of Indian IT. We have all followed in his footsteps. His contribution to the IT industry and thus to India is immeasurable,” said Wipro founder-chairman Azim Premji.
“Sad day for Indian IT. He was not just the 1st CEO of TCS but someone who laid the foundation of India’s greatest growth story,” tweeted Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani.
Throughout his career, the visionary leader, who was also the chairman of NASSCOM in 1994-1995, maintained close ties with academics—from designing India’s first course on control systems to being in-charge of establishing IITs in Mumbai and Kanpur. Even after his retirement, Kohli continued to lead India’s IT story but this time he took it upon himself to use technology to tackle the problem of adult illiteracy in India.
Kohli is survived by his wife Swarn, and three sons, Sanjay, Madhuri and Aniruddh. “He was gracious, unassuming, and always willing to help,” Tata summed up.
( With inputs from Shilpa Phadnis)