IIT-D's Golden Jubilee Yearbook for Class of 1976


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(Source: IIT-D's Golden Jubilee Yearbook for Class of 1976

Jitendra Kohli

Profile Details (IIT Delhi Yearbook – Golden Jubilee Class of 1976)
  • Department: Electrical Engineering
  • Hostel: Aravali
  • Location: New Delhi, India
  • Email: JKOHLI@ELECTRONICTENDER.COM
Those Were The Days
The foundation of facing real-world challenges was laid in School and College.

I must confess that when I entered IIT Delhi, my emotional state was somewhat akin to that of a reluctant bride. My real aspiration at the time was to pursue theoretical physics. Having secured a reasonably good rank in the JEE, I had the option of choosing almost any discipline at any of the five IITs that then existed. However, tremendous parental persuasion—reinforced by the enthusiastic counsel of neighbours in the government colony where we lived—eventually convinced me to join IIT Delhi.

It was only much later that I fully realised the brand value of an IIT education in our country. Many years afterwards, my wife casually remarked that my proposal for an arranged marriage might not even have been considered had I not been an IITian. At that moment, I silently thanked the combined forces of parental guidance and social pressure that had nudged me toward IIT— and thereby prevented me from becoming the "fourth idiot" in the famous movie.

My stay in the hostel was rather brief, as I obtained exemption from hostel residence. Consequently, while a few of my friendships with fellow IITians were forged during the years 1971–76, acquaintance and friendship with many more developed later in life.

Needless to say, those formative years at IIT Delhi left me with many vivid memories:
  • In my first year, I successfully resisted ragging and bullying that went beyond the bounds of decency— an act that, for a while, earned me a certain heroic status among some friends and classmates.
  • I won second prize in the Freshers' Debate, where I argued strongly in favour of India's intervention in Bangladesh. Curious about the outcome— since the audience reaction had been very encouraging— I later asked the judge why I had not won first prize. His reply was disarmingly simple: I had spoken for only three minutes instead of the allotted five. So much for the idea that brevity is the soul of wit.
  • On one occasion after class, I accepted a challenge from a group of classmates to perform 100 push-ups. Having successfully completed the task, I was generously rewarded with a bottle of Coca-Cola.
  • During one annual sports meet, I decided— rather ambitiously— to participate in the 5000-metre race. While practising on the road the previous day, I accidentally injured my right ankle. Nevertheless, I turned up for the race the next morning and, despite limping for most of the distance, managed to finish in fifth place.
These small anecdotes, and many other similar ones, form part of the mosaic of memories from those formative years at IIT Delhi— years that, in retrospect, shaped both my outlook and my journey in life.
Message For Classmates I cherish pleasant memories of the days with all of you at IIT-D.


My Life After IIT Delhi...

Professional:
  • Started career with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in 1976.
  • Joined HCL in 1980 when the Indian Computer-industry had started emerging as a significant force. Subsequently, shouldered responsibility in many senior positions in the Information-Technology and Telecom-sectors.
  • During 1993–2000, as a Strategy & Management Consultant (through my own consulting company), handled major assignments (including India Entry-Strategy) for organizations like – Compaq Computers (S'Pore), Apple Computers (Hong Kong), Mathys (Switzerland), Chase, Shearman & Sterling (USA), et al;
  • As General-Editor, compiled 'The Business Guide to India' (a best-selling handbook on Foreign Investment) published in end-1996 by Butterworth-Heinemann, UK/Singapore.
  • In 2000, co-founded Electronic Tender, a company focussed on bringing Transparency & Integrity in Public-Procurement. Electronic Tender has developed a cutting-edge e-procurement/ e-tendering/ e-auction software product, Electronic-Tendering-Engine (ETE) for public-procurement that is licensed to e-Procurement Service-Providers. Based on available information, ETE is distinctively ahead in respect of 'Security, Transparency, and Integrity' related functionality, compared to any other e-Government Procurement (e-GP) related initiative in any other part of the world.
  • Electronic Tender, has now developed 'First-of-its-type-in the World', Multilingual e-Tendering system, where apart from the option of bidding in English, a Buyer-organization can provide Bidders the option of bidding in other allowed-languages.
  • In public-interest, have shared in public-domain and with authorities in various countries (India, EU, Multilateral agencies, et al), important Security, Transparency and Integrity related aspects of our ground-breaking research over the last 26-years, to enable them to check malpractices under the garb of e-procurement.

Personal:
  • Married in 1983, and have 3-children (twin daughters and a son).

How My Stay At IIT Impacted Me:
The ability to handle and find solutions to complex new tasks at short notice, thinking out of the box, aiming for the optimum (rather than maximum or minimum), continuous improvement through the mathematical concept of iteration, giving due importance to the impact of technology on society, working as a team, et al are some of the qualities/ traits that were honed during the days at IIT-D.