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The Institute of Informatics and Communication (IIC), Delhi ran this epitaph for Arun Kumar on its portal following his sad and sudden demise. The intonation of the epitaph appropriately depicts Kumar's relation not just with IIC, but the Indian IT industry and a host of other organizations or bodies like Nasscom and TiE, with which he has had close relations throughout his life. The man had indeed left his footprints on the sands of time; prints that are so large that even the Indian IT industry with its galaxy of eminent personalities might find difficult to locate a suitable match.

The Quintessential People's Man
It would be short-sighted if Kumar's contribution to Indian IT is remembered only through his achievements at FSS or Flextronics Software Systems (formerly known as Hughes). After all he shepherded the difficult years of transition at Nasscom, between Dewang's sudden departure (another similar and sudden tragedy) and finding Kiran Karnik. That involved working with a large number of CEOs with varying egos; and this, definitely, needed the skilful but diplomatic and humane handling power of Kumar.

Leaving his endearing footprints on the sands of time, But when Heavens' make the calling, the mortals must sublime. Sublimed did he, who brought us all to light, Cause when fate summons, 'unconquerable' is its might. "Conquer the universe", his words which enlightened our being, He said "explore life's beauty and question your seeing". Live, he will, always in the dreams we vision, The glorious hands which carved us, The founder of our life's mission.....

Of new Nasscom initiatives, Kumar was the driving force behind opening up the avenue of collaboration with the Pakistan IT industry and instrumental in first inviting a delegation from there to the annual Nasscom meet. He was also closely associated with the tech entrepreneurial movement that started with TiE, and has now become the Band of Angels. His role at TiE epitomized the spirit that drives innovation and excellence in the Indian IT, or should it be said in the innovation economy.

His mentoring role is best summed up by Alok Mittal, an ex-Hughes man, whose entrepreneurial venture was encouraged by Kumar: “Kumar has been a mentor to me, and this is a personal loss for me. One of his qualities that struck me most was his ability to trust people-he was one guy who I knew would back me with his eyes closed. He was someone who backed instincts rather than logic, and once he knew what you wanted, he never let his opinion come in your way. He was a strong motivator for me to do a startup when I was at Hughes, and backed me all through it.”

Even then it would be to belittle his memory if his remembrance of his contribution is restricted to company and Nasscom and TiE only. An innovator in organization and people practices, Kumar encouraged experimentation and spearheaded a number of initiatives such as 360 degree feedback, and employee-driven CSR, which have now become identified as pioneering workplace practices in the IT industry.

Arun Kumar 1947-2006

After all, Kumar's biggest asset was not his focus on growth and profitability, but his strong emphasis on the 'people' element that even won his company several 'Best Employer' awards from various publications and fora. Some of these are Business Today-Mercer, Businessworld-Grow Talent, HRD Congress and DMA-Watson Wyatt.  In addition to HR practices, FSS under Kumar's tutelage also made a mark for itself in the areas of innovation and corporate governance, having won the award for the 'Most Innovative Product Company' from CSI and the 'Best Corporate Governance Values' by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).

Gautam Brahma, an FSS employee, best brings out these qualities of Kumar. Among other things, Kumar was a gracious, polite, and kind person. This is a dying breed in Indian industry. There was an old-world courtesy and charm that he brought to all his interaction with people, of all ages and stations in life. And this was not confined to interactions at office. Kumar was the same in all settings, public or private, at home or in office. He distinguished himself through understated elegance, unobtrusive influence, and an unfailing commitment to treat everyone with respect, irrespective of function, seniority or net worth. This can only be understood and appreciated by those who have been disadvantaged in some form and have faced discriminatory behavior in social and official settings.

Arun Kumar: 1947-2006

Education Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the IIT, Kanpur Masters degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri Achievements Hughes Chairman's Honor Award for Excellence CEO of the Year award from the Aspac HRD Congress Finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneurship Award Chairman of the Executive Council of NASSCOM in 2002-03 Chairman of the American Business Council in the Telecom Group Member of the Governing Council of the University of Delhi's Institute of Informatics and Communication

A Long Innings
To understand Arun Kumar's immense contribution towards the Indian IT diaspora, we also need to talk about his long innings at FSS. After all, charity begins at home and it seems to be the motto that has driven Kumar. He was, without doubt, instrumental in catapulting the company to an industry leader position today, with over 5,500 employees and revenues of Rs 880 crore in FY 2005-06. “We have lost an outstanding leadership, a true friend, and a genuinely decent man,” says Ash Bharadwaj, CEO, FSS.

To recall just a few of his major contributions at Flextronics where he was at the helm since January 1995, he was the guiding force behind the successful launch of Hughes' landmark IPO in 1999. This was, incidentally, India's first book built offer, and all companies listed after this date could empathize with the pains involved in the process. Kumar was also instrumental in managing the successful M&As pursed by Flextronics. This would include the GSM support business of Lucent Technologies and Tenet Technologies in 2003 as well as Chennai-based FutureSoft in 2005. The acquisition of Lucent's global GSM business was literally synonymous with the revival of the telecom downturn in India and its impact on the IT industry.

In the recent past, Kumar had also successfully spearheaded FSS' integration into Flextronics as well as the seamless fusion of both global and domestic software entities into the FSS fold. In fact, without the irreparable loss of Kumar, 2005-06 was indeed a milestone year for the company, interspersed with several key highlights-it undertook a major exercise of integrating seven software entities into its fold; the integration helped it emerge as a stronger entity with presence in India, South Africa, Ukraine, US, Germany and China and with a much larger portfolio in the communication software domain. In another key development, FSS also de-listed itself from the Indian bourses and subsequently, Flextronics International sold its majority stake (85%) to KKR, a US-based private equity firm. Unfortunately, however, scintillating might have been the achievements in 2005-06, the year would forever be tinged by this overwhelming tragedy in its history.

Some of Kumar's other key moments would include the setting up of RightServe, one of India's first online advertising units, and prior to assuming the leading role at Hughes, his contribution in heading Hughes Network Systems' West Coast software operations, based in San Diego and his pioneering work in the design and development of VSAT technology and developing a digital standard for Hughes' entry into the cellular business. And ironically, it was in San Diego only, the ground of many of his achievements, that the cruel hands of angioplasty snatched him away and that too during a routine physical check up. It goes a long way to remind us how fragile life really is.

Notwithstanding his list of achievements, Kumar's contribution at FSS is briefly described by his unflinching calmness in steering the ship amidst all adversities, especially the ownership changes the company underwent. As one leading newspaper reported in his obituary, Kumar used to often joke: “Every time a change happens everyone's salary in the company goes up another notch.” In fact the company underwent three such changes in three years. Initially, it was gobbled by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp following its acquisition of controlling stake in Hughes Electronics, the parent company; subsequently, News Corp divested its stake in HSS to Flextronics following which the company got rechristened; and, lastly US-based private equity fund Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts acquired Flextronics' stake in the company. A lesser mortal than Kumar would have flinched off under such circumstances.

He truly valued both diversity and competence and did his very best at all times, and sometimes against great odds, to retain talented people and to take everyone along in a grand consensus. He will be missed sorely by all who were lucky to interact with him and will be mourned silently by those for whom he was a comforter of last resort, and a beacon of affection and respect. Dataquest is deeply honored to bestow on Arun Kumar posthumously the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2006. As believed in Karma, the body might wither but the soul is eternal.

Rajneesh De
rajneeshd@cybermedia.co.in

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