NTTF

Adios Amigos – Concluding An Incredible Chapter

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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”

Thank you Team

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.

Last Picture of the Leadership Team with Late Dr Reguraj

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

Here is the Reason why I wanted come back to campus every morning (to the extent I hated holidays)

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.

Memorial for 2 students whom we lost in a Bike Crash

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.

May 4th 2017

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.

Making space for New beginnings

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,

Each one of us in these pictures continue to be connected and in regular touch even today

Adios Amigos

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

Truth Trumps Trends

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Image Courtesy: Gemini

Earlier this morning, my colleague Samyuktha, Head of Digital Marketing, pinged me asking for link to video shot by Halli TV. Clip recorded my bytes highlighting NTTF way of skilling and benefits of NTTF training. To my utter surprise, footage recorded two years back had reached statistics shocking by my levels. Post, apart from other platforms where it was cross-shared, completely exploded on Facebook, crossing 9.9 million views, 118,000 reactions, and over 22,000 shares. In era dominated by calculated algorithms, this raw conversation struck massive chord. It proved that audiences are deeply starved for rare digital currency: absolute sincerity. Please note that there were no rehearsals, no retakes and no script. As I was headed out of the campus, my colleague Nagesh, Head of Administration stopped me to speak on what NTTF means and transformative benefits of the program.

People are tired of digital act

We live in world of filters, both digital and real. Social media is currently flooded with content designed just to grab quick views, and audiences have developed incredibly sharp radar for fake presentations. They can spot staged emotion or scripted speech from mile away. When talking about core impact of skill development and training, you cannot fake conviction. Speaking with absolute sincerity means you are not selling persona or putting on performance. You are simply sharing unfiltered truth, and that lack of pretense makes people stop scrolling.

Genuine intent creates instant connection

Thousands of comments and shares on Halli TV’s post tell fascinating story. Viewers did not just watch clip. They felt compelled to actively pass it on to family, friends, and WhatsApp groups. Message regarding power of vocational training cuts through digital noise because it speaks directly to real-world aspirations. When you truly believe in value of what you teach and build, that energy transfers effortlessly to listener. You do not need complex words or intellectual jargon because heartfelt thoughts carry their own weight.

Trust is built on truth, not algorithms

Algorithms can give platform temporary spikes in numbers, but they cannot build lasting trust. Trust is ultimate byproduct of sincerity. Massive wave of reactions on this two-year-old video was not just random clicks. It was collective nod of agreement from millions of everyday viewers who value genuine education and employment opportunities. It served as powerful reminder that even in fast-paced digital world, basic values like honesty and real impact still resonate deeply across generations.

Stop chasing trends and start chasing authenticity

For anyone trying to build platform, create content, or share message, success of this archival video offers clear lesson: stop stressing over what is currently trending or trying to hack system. Instead, focus entirely on substance of your message. When you speak from heart about things that matter, like skilling youth for better future, you do not just reach people’s screens. You reach their minds. Ten million views did not happen because of production trick. It happened because sincerity is, and always will be, irreplaceable.

Surprising what Sincerity can do!!!

Ultimate lesson for brand communication

This viral milestone offers profound blueprint for modern brand communication. True narrative power comes from deep, foundational knowledge of your brand and its institutional legacy. When corporate communication is rooted in years of real impact and proven heritage, it carries natural weight that trend-chasing marketing can never replicate.

Furthermore, true success lies in strategic alignment. True growth happens when future vision of your organization directly aligns with core values of its past. When tomorrow’s strategy honors yesterday’s legacy, marketing stops looking like manufactured promotion and starts looking like truth. Ten million views did not happen because of production trick. It happened because sincerity is, and always will be, irreplaceable.

Here is the Video (just in case the above link becomes inaccessible)

When you Speak with sincerity, world doesn’t listen
IT REMEMBERS

Impact Without End

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I with my wife (also an Ex-NTTFian) were enjoying our chat after our dinner in my Sister-in-law’s place, two years ago exactly at the same time this tribute gets published, when we received the news that felt impossible to believe. I vividly remember the dreaded call from my then Colleague Sudharshan – shocking moment when everything around me became unbelievably standstill. That was a sharp, sudden blow that didn’t just report an irreparable, irreplaceable loss; it stopped my time in its tracks.

Two Years and Too Different World Now

It was unbelievable because I had spent ~3 hours with him earlier in the afternoon. Dead tired that I was due to an overnight travel, I checked with him if our meeting was online (he generally insists on use of technology to refrain from avoidable travel), but for some prophetic reason, he wanted that to be in person. I had another meeting early that morning in Electronic City, after finishing which I rushed to Peenya with a driver as I was too tired to drive myself.

It was unbelievable because he emphasized on taking care of health, getting adequate rest, so that you can contribute more to NTTF. He was particular that overnight driving are avoidable risk, not just physically but also to the health. Request client to bear with you for a few hours instead of risking life and limb (the words he chose).

It was unbelievable because he told, “Suresh! Covid taught me to express positive feedback and hand out praise right away and postpone criticisms and he wanted to compliment me for two Government orders bagged on a single day. I was driving back from Chennai when he called me to come over to Peenya next day by 11am and he insisted that it has be in person. Did he foresee what was coming later that evening? With benefit of hindsight, had this meeting been postponed or I had not been able to make it, this would have never happened ever again – Unbelievable, isn’t it?

It was unbelievable because we also clicked a Photograph together (don’t know why, maybe the only one in his office – I have chosen not to share this personal treasure and saving it for me and me alone). Though as a Principal of NEC and with him working out of this campus more often in the past. I have a lot of pictures with him, but looking back this one turned out to be very very special. Thanks Ms Freeda for capturing it for me.

It was unbelievable simply because…. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

A flurry of phonecalls while driving to Vikram Hospital (Manipal Hospital Millers Road) and it was just a collective sense of denial, a hope that it was all some terrible mistake, because the person we lost seemed far too full of life to ever truly be gone.

That shock has since settled into a quiet, enduring ache, but today is about more than just remembering the day the music stopped or the lights went out. It is a day to celebrate the immense space he occupied while he was here. He lived with a kind of intensity and purpose that most people only dream of, leaving behind a trail of inspiration that hasn’t faded even slightly in his absence.

While the world is a bit quieter without his voice, his influence is still everywhere I look. We see it in the work of those he mentored, in the stories people still share with tears and laughter, and in the way his name still commands a certain kind of respect and warmth. He had a rare gift for making people feel seen and understood, even those who only knew him from a distance. While meeting bureaucrats and other educationists and the glowing tributes they had for him and their description of the impact he has made on the society at large, I now realise how blessed many of us were to have directly associated with him.

He was no flawless deity or paragon of impossible virtue. Like any man, he carried his own share of human frailties, yet his immense contributions consistently eclipsed those shortcomings. He possessed a rare, almost prophetic foresight that remains startling in its accuracy even today. For fifty-seven years—a staggering tenure in an era where mere months are often considered a milestone—he served as the bedrock of the institution he built. He steered the organization through its most turbulent troughs and triumphant peaks, along with a few trusted lieutenants, but he shielded the rest of the organisation from hardships while keeping the engine running. Again, for those with a jaundiced eyes, a lot of flaws can be picked and he blamed for it, but can do it only standing on the platform he built, not from something they were incapable of building themselves.

Though he officially joined in 1967, he functioned as a living repository for every moment of the NTTF journey since 1959. His door remained perpetually open. Whether a colleague arrived to vent grievances or sought genuine mentorship, he listened. Those who entered with an open mind left enriched by his deep understanding of the philosophy and DNA that defined the organization. To sit with him was to receive an education in the “why” behind every epic decision, gaining insight into a history that became synonymous with the man, an Institution by himself.

Beneath the outward facade of a micro-managing taskmaster lay his most significant flaw, an incredibly humane heart. This spirit of empathy trickled down to every level of the hierarchy, embodying the Gita’s wisdom that the world follows the standards set by a leader. His philanthropic impact was a saga in itself, reaching the polio-affected, the hearing and speech impaired, tribal communities, and the underprivileged. He led by doing, and while many later shirked responsibility by blaming his “dictatorial” nature for undesired outcomes, the truth was often a matter of individual courage.

In my own first week during my 1st tenure here, I challenged a major equipment order he had already approved. After an initial, shock-induced outburst, he actually listened, recognized the logic, and pivoted the entire investment. It was a testament to the fact that he respected reason and spine; if others chose to pass the buck rather than engage with him, that was a reflection of their own flaw, not his inability to evolve.

It is two years now since he decided to move on. The pain of that initial news has been replaced by a deep sense of gratitude. We were lucky to exist in the same era as someone who moved through life with such grace and impact. Today, we don’t just mourn a death; we honor a legacy that continues to grow, proving that even though he was taken far too soon in my 2nd tenure, the mark he left on me was permanent. He was the perfect example of someone who, “Lived Life to its Fullest!!!”

Koti Koti Pranams, Mahodaya Dr. Reguraj N. Your impact is immeasurable, and your legacy will continue to inspire generations.! You are once in a Yuga figure. Guru, Mentor, Critic and most importantly a FRIEND dearly missed (taking big liberty with the label here). You are irreplaceable.

Guru Dronacharya of Technical Skilling in India