Who was FC Kohli, ‘father of Indian IT industry’ who passed away at 96?


Team Udayavani, Nov 27, 2020, 4:40 PM IST

Faqir Chand Kohli, the founding CEO of TCS who was often called the ‘Father of the Indian software industry’, passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday, Nov 26

He was actively involved in the decision to bring IBM to India as part of Tata-IBM in 1991. A Padma Bhushan awardee, he also served as chairman of NASSCOM in the 1990s.

Popularly known as FC Kohli, the industrialist was born in Peshawar on March 19, 1924 and completed his primary and college-level education in Pakistan.

He went to Queen’s University, Canada and completed his BSc (Hons) in Electrical Engineering in 1948. He then worked for a year at the Canadian General Electric Company and subsequently did his MS in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1950.

Kohli returned to India in 1951 and joined Tata Electric Companies and rose to become its Director in 1970.In September 1969, he became the general manager of Tata Consultancy Services.

In 1974, he was made the director-in-charge and in 1994 deputy chairman of TCS. TCS was established in 1968 with its headquarters in Mumbai and F C Kohli was appointed as the first CEO. He was president of NASSCOM for 1995–96.

He retired in 1999 at the age of 75. He was felicitated with the Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial award in 2000 for his contribution to India’s software industry.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Mangaluru: Lecturer succumbs to food allergy; Organs donated

Karnataka sets up panel for internal reservation among STs

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Congress in clutches of urban naxals, became puppet of people with divisive agenda: J P Nadda

Even if Indira Gandhi returns from heaven, Article 370 will not be restored: Amit Shah

Tilak Varma slams ton as India take 2-1 lead against South Africa with 11-run win in third T20I

PM Modi to visit Bihar’s Jamui to commemorate Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

BJP offered Rs 50 cr each to 50 Cong MLAs to remove Karnataka govt: CM Siddaramaiah

Related Articles More

Key to past: Indore man collects 570 typewriters from across the world

Kambala: Tradition and modernity in coastal Karnataka

Dairy farmers in K’taka border areas selling milk to Kerala for higher price!

Kadaba: ‘Notion that only English-medium education leads to success is misleading’

Udupi: ‘Team Taulava’ takes charge to preserve endangered ancient monuments

MUST WATCH

Punganur Cow

Rangoli design

Jagadeesh Nagaraj Kudupali Audio Viral

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali


Latest Additions

Vitla: Tree falls on truck, blocks Mani-Mysuru State Highway

Mangaluru: Lecturer succumbs to food allergy; Organs donated

Byelections: 81.84 per cent voter turnout in bypolls in three Assembly segments in Karnataka

Karnataka sets up panel for internal reservation among STs

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 | Congress in clutches of urban naxals, became puppet of people with divisive agenda: J P Nadda

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.