An anecdote to begin this note. In April or May 2022, Abhas was in Atlanta, and a few days before his trip, he called me and asked if time permitted, could he visit my home and look at my library? Without hesitation, I said, “Yes, Abhas, that would be great.” How could I refuse the privilege of welcoming a man I have cherished as a friend, respected as a mentor, and am honored to have as a senior colleague? Abhas’s desire to review a book collection shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who knows him. He is a lover of ideas, literature, and books in general. A couple of days later, as promised, Abhas landed at my place; after a few minutes of our opening conversation, he pulled out a book he had bought as a gift and, in his usual gracious manner, presented it to me, wondering if I had already read the book. In fact, I hadn’t. The book he gifted was “Geek Sublime: The Beauty of Code, the Code of Beauty” by Vikram Chandra. Oh No! This is not a book on software programming. Vikram Chandra is among the well-known Indian voices writing Modern English Literature ( The Red Earth, his 1995 first novel, is a masterpiece, and then the famous book “Sacred Games” which was made into a web series ). Abhas pointed out that he had met Vikram Chandra recently at a gathering and that both of them were part of a student alumni group.
Vikram Chandra ( for those who may not know) began his life in the US as a software programmer, got bored of it, and switched to his passion for writing and literature. So, he is one of those writers who understands technology well and, at the same time, could traverse other intellectual territories with ease and confidence. He is a great writer. I mention this anecdote first to indicate and emphasize Abhas’s thoughtfulness in bringing a book for me instead of anything else. Secondly, more importantly, he could have picked any book, knowing well that I would appreciate any book with intellectual content, but he didn’t. He thought deeply about it and carefully chose a book that he felt should resonate well with my personality and interests – I, too, work in technology and keep my mind open to a wide range of topics and possibilities. Vikram Chandra’s book was his choice. The book had a personal connection for him, and he knew its contents would surely interest me. That is Abhas for you, and what makes him a very, very special person is this thoughtfulness, empathy, and ability to put himself into others’ shoes and think as they would think – a great set of traits that have served him for thirty-five years, both personally and professionally.
There aren’t many people around ( at least that I know of) with the ability, art, and business acumen to package education into a socially responsible business proposition as Abhas. His career at NIIT started in India in the 1980s, when the company was just establishing itself as a pioneer in setting up retail study centers across the country. Abhas’s focus then was on the student community and, more importantly, scaling NIIT’s retail business and forging international partnerships that would make NIIT students employable. Abhas spearheaded the franchisee model in the western part of India. This model sought to replicate NIIT’s innovative and proven educational pedagogy in every nook and corner of the country. Those were exciting times, with burgeoning demand for IT skills and, more importantly, churning out software professionals who could play a role in the IT revolution that was unfolding the world over. People who have worked with Abhas during that time remember his passion and commitment to the cause of education, traits that haven’t dimished even a bit in 35 years. Even today, every now and then, Abhas would slip into reminiscing about his days in the retail business and how NIIT, during that time, had more or less experimented with all kinds of pedagogical ideas that have returned today under different names and approaches. The concept of self-paced learning that expects a student to come prepared for a session after necessary prereads and to use the instructor’s time in class as a bouncing board to test, contest, and solidify their ideas – was a successful philosophy then, and as Abhas never fails to point out, has once again returned to the modern pedagogical field in the name of deliberate practice. Abhas has a keen sense of the history of IT education and NIIT’s pivotal role in it. He skillfully uses that knowledge to shape his conversation with customers.
The other day, I mentioned to one of my team members that the best way to learn how to shape and steer a business conversation is to be present in a meeting alongside Abhas. Observing Abhas in meetings can show you the art of skillfully blending substance, articulation, finesse, and the critical ability of listening to the other side. Individually, each of these traits can be useful, but only in the right combination can it be adequate to subtly nudge a business conversation towards where we want it to go. In that regard, Abhas is one of the best business coaches in the organization. His coaching is often real-time, not academic. It stems from his deep business experience culled over years distilled and aged, like fine wine, into shareable and demonstrable wisdom. I never excuse myself from working with Abhas on any proposal, however busy I am. I learn something valuable each time I work with him. Sometimes, we may have to be patient and hear him out before a fresh perspective emerges; but that is how it is with wise men. They realize that it is not wise to dole out wisdom to anyone in a hurry.
Abhas completes thirty -five years at NIIT this year ( he completed this milestone in July 2023). A significant professional milestone. But more than that is the fact that he has positively influenced and often transformed the lives of so many people fortunate enough to come in touch with him. His calm, composed, and smiling demeanor has endeared him to all. It is difficult to find someone who has not found value in a conversation with Abhas. Even in the most mundane of interactions, Abhas can add great value. That is his gift, and we are profoundly grateful for that.
I wish Abhas more years of good health, success, and happiness.