IT Services pioneer F.C. Kohli joins the Board of The Else Institute

Author: Sudarshan Murthy

I am pleased to announce the appointment of F.C. Kohli to the Board of Directors of The Else Institute. Made at the institute's recently-concluded annual board meeting, this appointment enhances the institute's influence world-wide, particularly in the IT services sector.

I first met Mr. Kohli a few years ago when I attended a meeting of the board of India's Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) program: He was the board chair; I was a newbie member. Frankly, before that meeting, I had wondered if much of what I had heard about Mr. Kohli's accomplishments could be true. I had especially wondered how one person could have accomplished so much in one lifetime. Well, seeing Mr. Kohli in action in that meeting clarified it all for me: If there is anyone that could accomplish a lot, it had to be Mr. Kohli.

Here are some reasons why Mr. Kohli joining the institute's board enhances the institute's influence:

• He is a recipient of the Padma Bhushana award, India's third highest civilian honor
• He is considered the Father of Indian Software Industry
• He founded Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a world-leader in IT services
• He is (or was) on the board of many successful businesses both inside and outside the Tata umbrella
• He has received many honorary degrees, awards, and other recognition from universities, professional bodies, and governments

In addition to being accomplished, Mr. Kohli is warm, humble, caring, industrious, and highly ethical. His current passion is to provide quality education (in local languages) to the masses.

On behalf of the staff, volunteers, donors, and friends of the institute, it is my honor and pleasure to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Kohli as a Director.