Entry to IIMA was a decision taken, funnily, after unhappiness with first job post-Engineering at ECIL in Hyderabad. Found out soon after joining that PSU/Government jobs were a waste of time and career. Also realised not going to IIT after school, though got admission with a fairly decent all India rank, was a mistake. 

 

With little guidance at 16 after school, decided to stay in Delhi (Delhi College of Engineering) and study a branch of my liking. And also started getting impressed by the flashy marketing types and thought an MBA from IIMA will improve my profile. All this sounds a little silly when I look back. Shiv Nadar, my boss for 21 years at HCL, graduated from PSE College of Engineering at Coimbatore and never did an MBA.

 

Getting into IIMA in those days wasn't too difficult. With today's competition and CET etc, I would never have got in. Getting back to studies, after working for two years, was not a popular decision. Today things are different. So stayed academic focussed. Again looks silly, when I look back. Perhaps would have done better academically if one had got into some active extra curricular activities.

 

First WAC submission and First Semester half term Man Acc 1 grades were an eye opener. Got a C Minus in both. That is where the real learning started in life and I am thankful for those grades. The last WAC grade was B Plus. Never got an A but the learning continued. 

 

Eventually made a career in Marketing but WAC was one course which really helped. I wish there was an Oral version of WAC as well. Man Acc 1 laid the foundation for understanding business, per se, for someone who was supposed to be a hard core techie.

 

Name (almost) and identity changed after coming to professional life. From a Kitty at IIMA, became RP in professional life. Looks changed, obviously, as you can see in the photograph.

 

I am married to Lily, a gynaecologist by profession. We have a son, Kunal and a daughter, Sidhika. I spend seven to eight months in a year in UK (Maidenhead) and four to five months in Bangalore.