By Ram Chillarege, New York, May 1997

I heard of Girish through Mulraj,and since have been on the phone with him a few times. Reflecting, he says, "The Institute was a place where you grow not only academically, but in other facets of life too". I nod in agreement, but do not yet connect with the underlying concept he is about to tell me. "It probably happened the second or third semester into BE. We had a lot of freedom and opportunity, but responsibility is something that does not come automatically. I recall when my grades were not too good. This was unlike me, since I had always been a good student in B.Sc. I decided I really had to apply myself - not necessarily spend more time studying, but pay constant attention. There really was no final exam, just a series of tests assignments. You take the small steps, one at a time, and you grow. When you look at life it's a collections of failures and achievements and there are no permanent victories or defeats. The Institute helped me see this more clearly than I had ever before".

Born in Gadag, Dharwar district in Karntaka, Girish the eldest of three children grew up with an extended home among his three mama's (uncles). While his father worked in Amhedabad, he lived in Gadag until third grade. Today, a visit home to his parents is never complete without time spent with his uncles. Amhedabad is where he finished B.Sc. at Saint Javiers, before coming to the Institute in '77. Neelam and her were married in '80 and now they have Pankti the two and half year old. For almost a ten years he worked in Bangalore at B.H.E.L. in the industrial systems group. In '85 he came to the US working for a software company in voice response systems. Since 1991 he has worked as an independent consultant in IBM and the financial companies - J.C. Morgan and now Paine Webber.

"One of the more rewarding things in life is gathering with friends, family and getting people together." Right now Girish is busy preparing for the inauguration of the Hindu temple in Wappingerfalls. There are going to be four smaller temples within, and he is very involved in organizing the Jain prathistha of the Mahaveera, Paraswanth, and Rishabhdev moorthis. The three 30 inch idols were brought from Rajasthan and are sthapisued together in Jain temples. Chitrabhanu, a scholar who is settled here will be conducting the ceremonies.

Musing over the future, he sees himself run a software company and an electronics manufacturing unit. Business has been the primary vocation for his extended family. Girish's family being the only exception so far. He is drawn by the possibility of bringing his vision into running such a business. "I do not want it to be an Indian company exploiting Indians. I believe that if we run a low bureaucratic company, with responsibility and accountability driven down the organization, we can achieve much higher customer satisfaction and reward to the employees. That would be a great sense of accomplishment". As I h eard him, I could visualize the lessons on small steps, he distilled two decades ago at the Institute, seep the fabric of his life.

Girish is currently at: 3 Briar Lane,
Wappinger Falls, NY 12590
India address: A/2 A.K. Jain Block,
opposite Bhairampura Police St.,
Amhdebad 380022