• Hello and welcome to Walk the Talk. My guest today, obviously the biggest of the big boys among India’s IT czars. And also the most silent. Subramaniam Ramadorai, welcome to Walk the Talk

Thank you.

• I’m sure you’re happy to be where you studied science many years ago, four decades. ago, at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

Yes. I was here from 1962-65. It’s one of the most picturesque parts of the country, probably in the world,. but then it brings you memories of how you grew up in the early 60s.

• It was different when you were here.

Absolutely different. The number of students was less, the number of girl students even more so. But I think they’ve tried to retain the environment. The serenity and the conduciveness for education is visible.

• And for you the environment has remained the same in one way: from a Tata-founded institute to a Tata-run company.

Absolutely. When I was in school, I grew up in Delhi, Tatas as a job destination other than the IAS was what was preached by my parents. If you join the Tatas or the IAS, you’ve made it.

• There was IAS and there was TAS. And you had the unique position of spending all your adulthood with the Tatas.

Yes. From 1965-68, and then for a year I worked with the Physical Research Laboratory, it was then part of ISRO. Then I went to the US, came back in 1972 and I’ve been part of Tatas since then.

... contd.