I did my schooling from Aligarh, where both my parents worked as teachers. Always a topper in school, I got admission in IIT Delhi (Chem. Engg.) in 1965, without much preparation – perhaps the family genes showing. My academic graph in IIT changed from topper to above average, but I became popular due to participation in dramatics, debates and poetry competitions. The high point, was my humorous satirical take on campus life in stand-up news bulletins “Radio IITstan”.

​

After IIT, I joined Hindustan Copper, Khetri, as G.E.T. with a 5-year service bond together with Rajendra Surana, who was also my class mate at IITD. Got married to Nirmala in 1973. While working at HCL, secured admission in IIMA in 1974 together with Rajendra (again without much preparation – after all the family genes were at play). In a display of major daring, both of us jumped the bond and literally ran away from Khetri to join IIMA.

​

In Ahmedabad, Nirmala and I shared a flat near the campus with the Suranas. Some of the Gems used to visit us here to have “ghar ka khana”. We also hosted friends for Holi celebrations. While my academic graph in IIM continued its southward trend, from above average to average, I remained in the limelight with my participation in dramatics and my “Radio IIMstan” acts. We consider those two years at IIMA as one of the most enjoyable periods of our life.

​

Our first daughter (Sonal) was born in Feb ’76, second one (Neha) in Mar ’78 and our youngest son (Anuj) was born in May ’80.

​

Post IIM, I had a long and successful stint in the corporate world lasting almost 25 years, starting with Ballarpur Industries (BILT) at their HO in the Projects & Development Division. Here I handled several projects for multiple products ranging from wire nails to soap stone to high tech chemicals and paper manufacturing. I was promoted to head the company’s starch manufacturing unit (one of the youngest to be appointed a unit head) in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, where I served from 1985-88.

​

Subsequently, I moved back to the HO in Delhi in the company’s glass division reporting to the divisional head and involved in a wide spectrum of functions. I played a crucial role in negotiations and diligence in the formation of a JV between the glass division and a US MNC. At the JV firm, I headed a host of functions including HR, Commercial, Admin, Legal, LRP, budgeting etc. During this period, I also had a stint as the MD of BILT’s Glass JV in Malaysia for about a year where I was able to bring about all round improvement in a short period of time.

​

After retiring as Sr. V.P., I dabbled in projects & HR consultancy, mainly involving placement, displacement and replacement of personnel! I also conducted soft-skills training programs for several companies.

​

During my 25 years of corporate stint, I had the opportunity of visiting 20+ countries and almost all the states in India. I have also written numerous poems (all unpublished), in Hindi & mostly philosophical in nature.

​

And now since the last few years we are leading a peaceful retired life. We recently shifted to Gurugram from Dwarka, New Delhi.

​

All our children and their spouses are highly educated from leading institutions in India and abroad (such as IITs, St. Stephen’s, Oxford, NYU, CMU etc.) and are very well placed in their professional lives. Incidentally, most of them have continued my tradition of doing a post- graduation after marriage. We are blessed with five loving grandchildren, aged 4 to 16 years.

 

Lastly, following lines were penned by me on the occasion of our RR Goa 2016 expressing my feelings -
लगता है कईं बरसों को खो दिया हमने
मगर आज अनगिनत लम्हों को जी लिया हमने
हालांकि इस सफर में कुछ दोस्त बिछड़ गए 
पर आज बहुत से खोए हुए फिर मिल गए।