My
Dear Student Friends,
Greetings!
This is Dr. Ravi Saripalle, Founder, Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling
Movement. Welcome to “Letter
to Student Series- Volume 2 and Issue 4”. Hope you enjoyed reading my
previous letter. These letters are e-transmitted across the country, for one
good cause, spreading inspiring stories of amazing people. Our mission is to inspire
youth by sharing positive stories of people who made difference in life in
various domains. Today these letters are reaching all 686 districts of our
country. These letters are helping to
build positive dreams and act as catalyst to youth aspirations.
Why should you read this letter? Your
time is most precious.
We are writing to you for a cause of
individual and global importance. We request you to give us 5 minutes of your
valuable time by reading this letter and consider for implementation if you
find any merit in this. Today, children of 10-21 age group are highly
aspirational. If these aspirations are not properly supported by inspirational
information and support system, these aspirations deviate. After through
research and multiple observations, we are confident that following solution
may work for this critical problem. We humbly appeal to you to implement
following 2 steps systematically.
1.
Read / hear one
inspiring story per week of any individual / situation
2. Write a physical
post card letter / formal mail to someone you trust in every 6 months. Request you
to share your dreams and hurdles. It helps in setting up vision for life.
Trust me, continue this process for
some time, it impacts reticular activating system of human brain. We can
expect amazing results. I truly wish your story becomes another inspirational
story and positively influence all of us.
To facilitate this process, we
devised vision setting survey form. You can answer survey form at https://goo.gl/vgyD54 and help yourself setting up your own vision. I
encourage you to respond.
In the previous issue, we discussed
about Ethan Bloch from United States of America, who developed an
App called Digit which manages personal finances in painless way, Stan
Lee, who introduced most successful character called Spider-Man, Jack Arnold Weil (Cowboy Dresser inventor), Grandma Moses, a renowned
American folk artist, Abraham Lincoln's
bio-profile, Chandra Shekar Ghosh who started journey with small sweet
shop to altogether running a new Bank now, Savjibhai Dholakia, a
diamond merchant from Surat who gives variety of gifts to deserved employees as
part of Diwali gifts.
In this Issue, I would like to share
about fantastic personalities who succeeded in their respective fields.
Recently I attended CII Vizag Interactive session with Mr. Vikram Kirlosakar, Director
of Kirlosakar Brothers Ltd on Nov 22 2016. There I got an opportunity to meet
an interesting personality and wonderful person, Mr. L.V.V.Kamalakar, CEO
of Power Dynamics( Vizag
based company). Consequently, I had a long conversation with him about his
professional journey and growth story (29/11/2016, 2:18PM). With due permission
of Kamalakar, I would like present our conversation with you so that his
experiences might inspire and help you to achieve your goals in your life.
Kamalakar born in a middle class family which was not having any business
background. Once his father experimented business and lost everything invested
including his Kamalakar mother's savings. Post financial turmoil, father left
home. During that period, Kamalakar was hardly 5 years old and his sisters were
3 years and one month old. In that tender age itself, he decided to earn from
where he lost and prove the world that, with a strong desire and determination,
one can be a successful entrepreneur. The seed to his entrepreneurship got
planted at that time itself. Interested in automobile & Aerospace, originally he wanted to become an engineer.
But due to financial and family constraints,
Kamalakar completed his ITI (Just +2) in Electrical & Electronics
Engineering with the help of some relatives, self funding and earning from various
sources. All relatives and neighborhood suggested him to get into regular job
and support family. However, the entrepreneurship bug in him did not make him
to accept the norm. He thinks out of box and develops solutions to various
technical problems. With support of few friends, he used to take-up small
contracts and start solving them. During 1995 timeframe, he used to charge
5000/- rupees per visit (critical technical problems). Though working as
freelancer since 1990, he officially registered his company "Power
Dynamics" in the year 1999 in Vizag after getting little confidence. He
used to solve problems of various organizations like Vizag Steel plant,
Telecom, Navy, Hindustan Shipyard and various other industries around. Infact
he got involved in developing some products for Hindustan Shipyard in year
2000. They are still procuring these products and he is getting royalty out of
those products even today! Having belief in him, General Electric (GE USA) and
Kirloskar Electric have appointed Power Dynamics as their Associate. He is
instrumental in indigenizing the Electrical systems for several Defense ships
and other naval systems. Today Power Dynamics is one of the core companies
having credentials to offer some critical solutions to Indian Defense and other
industries. Great Ideas never die! They spin off money. This is all proof. He
could made both sisters marry to good alliances. Even today Kamalakar parks
portion of his revenue as his salary and gives it to family every month. Rest,
he invests back to fulfill his passion. Kamalakar loves travelling and meet
people. He learns from Culture & Nature, people, experiences and circumstances.
This is how we get new ideas and better solutions. Infact he suggests, all students
should take one year break after completion of their graduation and go for
travel. This process gives worldly knowledge. This helps in transition from
Word to World! He loves technology and gadgets. He is keen observer of
advertisements. He advises young generation to learn and keenly observe various
advertisements rather sticking to TV / Movies. He says "Ads teach you how
to present problems, solutions and selling"! What a great thought? He is
an avid photographer! In the year 2004, his sister suggested him to complete
graduation. Heeding to sister's advice, he completed Bachelor of Commerce in
part time mode! Later he completed MBA (HRM) in distance mode. He got selected
as one of the Young Entrepreneurs. He completed Management Course in Japan in the
year 2011. He was invited for a international conference in USA for study on
emerging technologies in the year 2007. He visited more than 45 places in USA in
57 days,. He travelled extensively across India and many countries abroad. You
can imagine his passion towards travelling and learning from various
circumstances and places! He made it to NASA and Harvard Business School as
well! In last 15 years, he was invited for multiple conferences across the
world! He is member of CII. He is a Rotarian.
He and all his family members are Paul Harries fellows. He served as state vice
president for Junior chamber international (a well recognized organization of
United Nations) and Conferred highest title called JCI Senator. He is also certified
Life couch and personality development trainer.
Power Dynamics has grown 300 times
in last 15 years. Currently it operates in 6 states. Directly or indirectly almost
40-50 people working with Kamalakar. He understands various processes related
to multiple domains! He believes in self preparedness. He experienced severe super
cyclone of Paradip in Odisha ( 1999) and easily prepared solutions for
2014 Hud Hud Cyclone in Vizag. Started with zero, today Kamalakar owns fleet of
cars including Audi. Kamalakar advises young "not to have distractions in
life and believe in one self". Kamalakar suggests young "to Pray God in
difficulties, be committed and believe in your values". "Believe,
Educate and invest in yourself and prepare for tomorrow because today is
already taken care by your yesterday’s work". Power Dynamics tag line
is: Think Beyond. you can reach Kamalakar directly at kamalakarlvv@me.com / https://www.facebook.com/kamalakarlvv.
Now I would like to share the growth
story of two wonderful and amazing people I met in my life whom I consider as my
life savers. Entrepreneurs are great. But without intrepreneurs, there is no
entrepreneurship. An intrepreneur is an individual who acts like an
entrepreneur whilst being employed. Let me share the professional growth story
of Dr.A.L Rao, founder member of Wipro Technologies. I was
introduced to Dr.A.L.Rao by his twin brother Dr.A.R.Rao, who was
our physics teacher during my graduation. Dr A.R.Rao and Dr. A.L.Rao born in
humble below middle class family. Both hailed from hamlet called Logisa near
Gajapathinagaram, a small village near Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. Both
brothers completed their schooling from Gajapathinagaram. Both completed their
graduation from M.R.College, Vizianagaram, AP, completed their MSc in Nuclear
Physics and PhD (Nuclear Physics) from Andhra University. First time in my
life, I saw twins studied the same course and completing PhD in same area. In
their case, resemblance is not limited to biological but in academics as well! Heeding
to father's advice, Dr.A.R.Rao moved to academics (joined as lecturer in Maha Raja
Degree College (Autonomous), 150+ years old based out of Vizianagaram, AP and retired
as Principal & Correspondent to the same Institution & Trust) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharajah's_College) and Dr.A.L.Rao headed towards
Industry. I found both twin brothers garnered with wonderful qualities like humbleness,
honesty and sincerity. These qualities made them to grow in their respective
fields. Now let me delve deep about professional journey of Dr. A.L.Rao, a
successful intrapreneur in Indian IT Industry.
Dr.A.L.Rao
started his career with Electronics
Corporation of India Ltd.
from 1973–1980 and was associated with the development of operating systems for
digital computers manufactured by ECIL. Wipro entered into IT domain in the year
1980. Dr. A. L. Rao quit well- secured government ECIL job and joined Wipro as
a founder member in 1980 when Wipro was considered as startup in IT domain. During 29 years stint in Wipro, Dr. Rao held
several positions including General Manager of R&D, VP Technical, Group VP
Technology & Quality, Chief Technology Officer and President of Telecom
& Technology Solutions. Dr.Rao became Chief Operating Officer in 2005 and
held that position till 2008. As a Chief Operating
Officer, he took additional
responsibility for Product Engineering business(about one Billion Dollar
revenues), CIO & CTO functions, Admin & Facilities and Japan &
China Geographies Sales & Operations. Dr.A L Rao also worked as an Advisor
to Wipro Technologies from October 2008 to September 2009. Dr. Rao played a
critical role in the transformation of Wipro from a start-up to a multibillion
dollar global technology giant. His key contributions include building of
technology practices, building and growing Telecom & Technology Services
business to over a billion dollar business, and enhancing Wipro’s presence in
Japan and China. Dr. Rao was instrumental in Wipro achieving the highest SEI
CMM Level 5 quality certification – the first in the world for IT services. In
September 2009, Dr Rao retired from Wipro after 29 years of service. He is
currently an independent advisor to a few IT services companies. On 9
June 2011, Dr. A L Rao joined Trianz board of directors. What an amazing journey of Dr.Rao, a proven
intrapreneur right? If you cannot risk starting a company, still you can be an great
proven intrepreneur, emulating Dr.Rao.
Now let me share another exemplary intrapreneur
story of Natarajan Chandrasekaran, CEO and Managing Director of
Tata Consultancy Services. He is popularly
known as Chandra and considered as one of the young CEOs of Tata Group. Chandra
born in Mohanur near Namakkal in Tamil Nadu. Born in an agricultural family and he is having five
siblings. Infact Chandra experimented farming for 6 months but left as it is
not core of his interests. Did his early schooling in Tamil medium Government
school, graduation in applied sciences from Coimbatore Institute of
Technology and Master of Computer Applications (MCA) from Regional
Engineering College, Tiruchirappalli. Chandra never attended any management
institution but proved himself as one of the best leaders of the IT Industry. Joined
TCS in 1987 as trainee and now standing tall as CEO of the same company (In 2015-16
TCS Position: Revenue US $16.5 billion, 353,000 consultants, largest private
sector employers in India, market capitalization of over USD 70 billion, most
valued company in India). On October 25, 2016, Chandra got appointed as additional
Director on the Tata Sons Board. Reserve Bank of
India appointed
him as director of its board in year 2016. He is a member of Indo–US CEO Forum
and also business task force member for multiple countries. He believes in learning through real-life problems and learn
while work philosophy. Chandra has amazing memory power. He remembers employee
names by first name (more than 5000 it seems) and keeps personal touch with
employees. This quality helped him to be a great people manager. Chandra's
story is true example of amazing & proven intrapreneur in Indian IT
industry. For more Information, Please do visit http://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/cover-story/indias-best-ceos-tcs-natarajan-chandrasekaran/story/201402.html
& https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natarajan_Chandrasekaran
Now, I would like to present story
of most innovative researcher,
Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar, former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), a chain of 38 publicly
funded industrial research and development institutions in India. Ramesh lost
his father at a tender age of six, struggled to make ends meet, lived in shared
tenement, went barefoot to a municipal school, but determined and inspired to
become scientist in his tender age itself. Completed bachelor’s degree in
Chemical Engineering and PhD from Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. He
did extraordinary research in Polymers domain. Became director of National Chemical
Laboratory(NCL), Pune in 1989. Ramesh efforts helped to unify 40 diverse
laboratories, established one-team culture and took CSIR to new heights. He fought
against US patents on turmeric, neem and basmati rice. He wrote 25 books, 264
research papers. His selfless and relentless work made him to receive honorary
doctorates by 36 universities from India and abroad. He received Padma
Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Business Week Star of Asia Award, Shanti
Swaroop Bhatnagar Prize etc. He is the third Indian engineer to be inducted as
a Fellow of the Royal Society, UK. Currently he is President of the Global
Research Alliance, which is the world’s largest network of publicly funded
R&D institutes.
Dear
Students, I really astonished to see his profile which is 47 pages long! I
personally suggest you to read his bio-profile which changes your life
perspective. Your goals get reset! Your ambitions get revitalized. His mantras
are ‘Inclusive Innovation’, ‘More from Less for More’, and ‘Gandhian
Engineering.’ I had an wonderful opportunity to receive my PhD degree from his
hands! Once Dr Ramesh received scholarship from TATA boards in his childhood,
today the same person is sitting in Boards of several reputed companies such as
Tata Motors, Reliance Industries Ltd., etc. Please visit and go through Dr
Mashelkar's detailed profile. (http://www.mashelkar.com/images/RAM_Curriculum_Vitae.pdf.).
Finally, let me share the story of plastic
man of India, who is working towards great cause - Disposal of Plastic
garbage for better use! Plastic
waste is causing animals to eat and die, clogging drains, causing floods and
many other menaces. Plastic recycling releases toxic gases. Prof. Vasudevan did innovative research on this grave
problem, developed technology and constructed road using this waste! Thiagarajar
College of Engineering received the patent for this in 2002. In this way, Road construction process became eco-friendly
with no toxic gases released. This process provided job opportunities for
rag pickers. Thank you Prof. Rajagopalan Vasudevan for your fight against
plastic waste. Salutes to you. Thank you thebetterindia.com for publishing this
inspiring article. If you want to know more about construction of the road and
development of bitumen (common binder
used in road construction), please visit http://www.thebetterindia.com/43685/plastic-waste-in-road-construction-plastic-man-india-prof-vasudevan/
.
Dear Friends, Just want to share other great men of India! A.P.J Abdul Kalam - Missile Man of India, Rajendra Singh- Water Man of India , Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel- Iron Man of India, Ravi Kalra- No Honking Man of India, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak - Toilet Man of India, Sam Santhosh - Genome man’ of India, Dr. (Wg. Cdr.) Ashis Roy- Marathon Man Of India, Venu Bharati - Bamboo man of India. Do you want to be listed in this list in next 10 years? Think and Act!
Acknowledgements: I received an acknowledgement from
Arunav Sahay, an Electronics and communications Engineering, 3rd year student from
MM University Mullana. Thank you Arunav for reading these letters and patiently
acknowledging the same. Arunav is also author of motivational articles and
maintains his own blog. You can visit them at www.instagram.com/thebusinessdiaries.
My Dear Friends, I appreciate your valuable time. I will see you in my next
letter. Thank you for giving me this great opportunity to write to you and help
me to learn, unlearn and relearn in this process. I personally thank all
websites, authors who are publishing / writing such an inspiring stories for
common good and contributing for better world.
With Best Wishes,
Dr. Ravi
Saripalle
About Author: Dr. Ravi Saripalle is Founder of Inspire
to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement. He is also Director,
Center for Innovation, GVP College of Engineering (A), Vizag, AP, India. As
part of Inspire to Innovate (i2i) Storytelling Movement, Dr.Ravi is trying to instill
inspiration through spreading positive stories of amazing people in the form of
short stories, embedding them in the form of letters (epistolary form) and
sending them to thousands of schools, colleges, universities districts
administration across India. Also conducting Storytelling Workshops in select institutions.
Providing customized mentoring to inspired students. Dr. Ravi is having 18
years of experience in Industry, Consultancy, Training, Mentoring and Research.
Prior to this current mission, Ravi worked with Wipro Technologies for more
than a decade. Ravi can be reached at saripalle.ravi@gmail,com or http://i2itm.blogspot.in/ or facebook.com/saripalle.ravi
Links to previous 10 letters
1.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 2 and Issue 3 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/11/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling.html
2.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 2 and Issue 2 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India)http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/10/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling.html
3.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 2 and Issue 1 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016_09_01_archive.html
4.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 1 and Issue 12 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/07/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling.html
5.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 1 and Issue 11 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/06/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling.html
6. Letter to Student Series-
Volume 1 and Issue 10 (Inspire To Innovate (I2i) Storytelling Movement @
Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/05/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling_30.html
7.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 1 and Issue 9 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/05/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling.html
8.
Letter to Student Series- Volume 1 and Issue 8 (Inspire To Innovate
(I2i) Storytelling Movement @ Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/04/inspire-to-innovate-storytelling.html
9. Letter to Student Series-
Volume 1 and Issue 7 (Inspire To Innovate (I2i) Storytelling Movement @
Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016/03/inspire-to-innovate-i2i-storytelling.html
10. Letter to Student Series-
Volume 1 and Issue 6 (Inspire To Innovate (I2i) Storytelling Movement @
Students Of India) http://i2itm.blogspot.in/2016_02_01_archive.html
Disclaimer:
The goal of this i2iSM letter series campaign is to inspire students / youth
through storytelling and develop innovative leaders to build strong nation. In
this process, I have taken several data points from various websites, NEWS
articles, books, videos etc. I sincerely thank all the editors for providing
such an insightful stories and information. To the best of my knowledge, I
tried to acknowledge all the sources. I sincerely apologize for any omissions,
grammatical mistakes and hurting any reader’s sentiments. I request all the
readers to understand the spirit behind this effort. This effort doesn’t
involve any commercials. Letter series is for free distribution.
