As I prepare to conclude my tenure at NTTF on September 30, 2026, I look back with immense gratitude and deep fulfillment after an eventful and fulfilling journey spanning three distinct innings, the best of which was the 2nd one, right amidst students and with the best team I ever was associated with. One common thread in all three innings is “everyone & everything here gives anyone an opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn”

Tribute to Our Early Leadership

I want to offer my deepest tribute and respects to our earlier leadership who were instrumental in sparking my keen interest and urge to be part of this wonderful organisation despite it not being so financially rewarding as defined by the material world.

My heartfelt gratitude goes to Late Dr. Reguraj—the true Vishwakarma of India’s skill development whose inspiring legacy at NTTF captured by me in this reflection on Dr. Reguraj’s legacy together with Mr. Arulselvan, Mr Louis, Mr. K. Venugopal, Mr. Rajagopal, and the late Mr. Anil Kumar, (who together with Dr. Reguraj were instrumental in me quitting an IT major and joining NTTF). Not to forget super seniors like Mr Ramachandran, Mr Madhu, Mr Cheriyan, Mr Gibson who sacrficed golden opportunties to dedicate significant part of their lives in service of NTTF. Being part of a system creating immense social impact and transformational value was an incentive that easily beat all personal financial gains.

Memories From Electronic City Campus

The core academic and support team at the Electronic City Campus remains exceptionally close to my heart. During my time here as Principal, I had the privilege of leading a team of over 130 members, which stands out as the best phase of my 39 years of professional life. We recently created a WhatsApp group called “Golden Years,” and everyone joined overnight, which indicates the level of bonding we still share today. Cannot forget support function colleagues like Srikant, Anthony Raj, Sada, Senthil, Wardens etc both in NEC and also some lovely people in the corporate support functions. They made this humongous task look so easy and most importantly enjoyable.

My journey was also immensely enriched by colleagues from other units especially Kalpana, Jayaraj, Rajasekaran, Noble Peter, Preetha, Satish Joshi, Nidhin, and Joby, with whom I shared unforgettable conversations, collaborations, and camaraderie along the way.

However, it was not all hunky-dory, beginning with a literal initiation by fire when the Electronic City Campus, not until then known for being overly disciplined, faced a turbulent period with trainees resorting to a forced closure of the campus for a longer unauthorized vacation. Thanks to my incredible team, alongside Dr. Reguraj, Mr. Arulselvan, and Mr. Venugopal who stood by me steadfastly, we took unprecedented disciplinary action that ensured we never faced similar issues thereafter. Yet, the path also brought profound personal grief and heartbreaking tests of resilience. I sadly lost a total of five dear students to tragic accidents, a couple more to personal and family struggles where they took their own lives at home, and another precious student to a congenital heart condition. These unimaginable losses nearly broke me, making me question whether trading the corporate world for academia was truly worth it. It was Dr. Reguraj’s timely, grounding intervention that pulled me through when he gently asked, “What happens to the other 1,600+? Aren’t they your children and important too?”, a perspective that forever reshaped my dedication.

Skill Development And Digital Growth

Coming back to my latest innings, again out of pure love for this organisaiton and total respects for Dr Reguraj (I remember the efforts of Ms Freeda during this phase – convincing and almost forcing me to hop on and let things happen), Brought in for playing an active part in the skill development SBU team that was a core part of my responsibilities. Together, we managed to turn things around and perform exceptionally well, until my heart went out due to some development (absolutely due to personal values and principles and not due to any other professional reasons) since April 2025, making it wise to call it a day when the going was good.

Serving as Head of Digital Properties along with Samyuktha also offered a wonderful journey of digital transformation where I could bring in my earlier IT process experience and it indeed was a fruitful and goal driven role. Handling the Life Long Learning Centre further added a completely new dimension to my career outlook, while coordinating alumni relations allowed me to connect with so many distinguished alumni, and happy outcome was an exponential increase in alumni engagement. Thank you dear colleagues in all these functions – you made handling these roles a cakewalk and successful. A huge decision to quit IT world and switch to financially non-remunerative and hitherto new domain (Skill Development) was largely due to unconditional and unflinching support of the Alums from the initial batches of NEC, who simply kept on cheering me up, especially when things looked gloomy. Thanks Sudha, Jay, Nagaraj, Joseph, Chip and Aparna (my better half) for their invaluable support at all stages that helped me deliver excellence in a place that was almost written off.

Philanthropy & Livelihood

I also received the rare opportunity to engage with big-ticket philanthropists and corporate CSR honchos who left an indelible mark on my thought process in this material world. I learned and attempted to imbibe what “Selfless Giving or Nishkama Karma (तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर)” means. I particularly recall fondly the impact of M/s Hemant & Manikandan of Redington Foundation, Mr Rao of Volvo Trust, Rimy & Hitesh, CSR Leadership of IOCL, BPCL, GAIL, NMDC and many many others, on my thought process in this regard. Special Thanks also to Mr Sivakumar, Mr Sathyan, Mr Shirish, Mr NN Rao, Mr. Misra, Mr Ranjan, Mr Rajesh, Mr Nihar, Mr Kamat and so many who went out of their way to help me achieve bigger altruistic goals. A special note of gratitude goes out to all of you who placed your trust in us to deliver impactful social impact projects under your CSR Programs. I am equally thankful to the bureaucrats (IAS officers) and government officials, Ministers of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar and Haryana to name a few whose continuous encouragement, guidance, and drive pushed us toward excellence while creating a lasting, meaningful impact on our beneficiaries. I cannot forget the earlier days working closely with Shri Subbaiah Sankaran, IAS who ignited the spark to focus on disadvantages and under-served communities

Student Success

Above all, thousands of my dearest students who were the absolute best part of the journey. Hearing their success stories or meeting them in airports made every single struggle and effort completely worthwhile. Seeing bright young minds like Vivek, Saikripa, Rohit, Alekhya, and Dhanush—to name just a few evolve into confident professionals, entrepreneurs and soaring achievers has been the ultimate reward, reflecting the true soul of NTTF’s mission.

Captain & Friend for Life

This expression of gratitude will not be complete if I did not write a note of appreciation to Ravi Tennety, the Managing Director. The organisation’s recent accomplishments are not just milestones, they were manifestations of efforts rooted in integrity and guided by a vision for the greater good, making success inevitable. It is indeed raining achievements, each one a reflection of thoughtful strategy, responsive governance, and a deep understanding of internal and external community needs. The winning factor has been an exemplary leadership of honesty, adaptability, and foresight, fostering an environment where innovation thrives, individuals are empowered, and in a contest between process and person, the process wins. Moving from ad-hocism to predictability, the institution now thrives in this comfort zone, with the ripple effects visible in unthinkably quick turnarounds and transformed lives. Though our formal association has been short, it has been sweet, profound, and deeply transformative. Ravi is an extraordinary human being, a great associate, and a friend for life truly, but for his stellar mentorship and persuasion, this good bye post would have come about in January 2025 itself! Thank you Ravi for Being you. I am sure each one in NTTF would agree when I say that organisation is lucky to have you around as the Captain. It is a cinch that under your leadership, NTTF has only way to go: Up, Up and Up right to the skies. Good Luck dear Friend!

Finally…

Signing off on a Philosophical note, since many of my colleagues here, sooner than later would be at similar crossroads hitting the wrong side of age. Please note this amazing piece of wisdom was given by my Gurudev – coincidentally it was in 2017 when I moved on from NTTF after a memorable 2nd innings.

Life moves through endless circles of hello and goodbye. Whether leaving a cherished office desk or bidding farewell to dear friends at a railway platform, separation carries a quiet weight. Yet wisdom reminds us that endings are merely transitions. Just as Ganesha removes obstacles to clear new paths, every farewell opens a fresh chapter written by destiny. Letting go is not loss, it is making space for new beginnings. Every handshake and last wave carries blessings of Maa Saraswati through knowledge gained and shared during the journey.

The hardest part of any great tenure isn’t learning how to lead, it’s knowing precisely when to leave.

In Indian tradition, life is measured in Ashramas, Dharmic chapters or stages of one’s life. The Grihastha (householder) doesn’t linger indefinitely in the seat of authority, there is a sacred grace in stepping back while the steps are still steady and the mind is still sharp.

There is an old story of a master craftsman who spent decades shaping a temple’s final spire. When the stone was set and the mortar dried, he didn’t pick up his chisel to carve his name. He simply laid his tools down on the workbench, walked out the gates at sunrise, and never looked back. Not because his work was finished (art is never truly finished) but because the structure no longer needed his hands. In fact, it needed his absence to breathe on its own.

Leaving before the door is closed for you is the ultimate luxury of timing. It transforms an ending from an exit into a passage, leaving behind a legacy that stands upright, and stepping forward into the next sunrise with empty hands ready for new work.

As has happened earlier in my life and with this organisation too, physical distance never diminishes genuine bonds. Goodbyes are only temporary pauses in a lifelong symphony. Just as rivers eventually merge into the boundless ocean, every parted soul finds its way back through memories and love. Walking forward with a light heart, trusting that every goodbye prepares the spirit for a glorious hello. So Until the next Hello,

Adios Amigos

Wishing everyone in and associated with NTTF and their near ones a great and prosperous future ahead.