KPP Nambiar, the unsung giant of India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When IBM was banned in the country, in the mid 1980's TCS decided to import large IBM mainframes that cost $five million. But the government couldn't allow the import of a company's product that was asked to pack up a decade back. TCS gave a guarantee stating that, it would generate four times that amount in three years from software exports. Despite the assurance, TCS had to approach KPP Nambiar then Secretary, Department of Electronics (DoE) who understood its significance and took the matter with the concerned ministries and got the approval for import.

Even then the Ministry of Science and Technology would not allow duty free import of operating system, which they considered to be different from the machine. However, KPP again intervened and enabled the waiver of 65 percent customs duty. Recounting the incident TCS President, Dr FC Kohli, at a function to honor KPP Nambiar who turned 75, said that IT industry in the country wouldn't have taken off without the vision, perception and leadership of KPP.

Last week of August saw the institutions he nurtured paying rich tributes to KPP. This included the famed Keltron that turned 30, Technopark, IIITM-K, ER&DCI (now C-DAC-Thiruvananthapuram). Born to a middle class family in Kannur in North Kerala KPP had his school education in Kerala while his higher academic pursuits were in Madras, Mumbai and London. He did his masters in electronics and communication from Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London. He started his career doing research in semi-conductor technology in Imperial College from 1954-57 and in early sixties he left his job in Texas Instruments, USA to come to India as Manager of projects for Philips India.

Nambiar, founded the Tata Electronic Research and Development Labs and also served as GM of Nelco. He was instrumental in Tatas diversifying from electrical to electronics and communications.

In 1973, the same patriotic spirit that brought Nambiar to India attracted him to his home state where he was offered the responsibility of nurturing India's first state government owned public electronics enterprise, Keltron. This later provided the impetus for the establishment of Uptron, Beltron, Meltron, Elcot, etc.

Keltron gradually began to signify `reliable electronics or relytronics'. Its TVs, Calculators, radios became household names. Keltron also developed India's first micro-processor controlled traffic signals that now function from the dusty and polluted roads in major cities.

Keltron also spawned National Tariff Planning and Automation Center (NATPAC) dedicated to providing traffic management solutions to the entire country. It also devised India's first indigenous electronic display boards in airports in the country.

Nambiar was also instrumental in taking electronics to the villages by setting up 50 women's co-operatives that produced most of the consumer products sold by Keltron. He also developed the R&D Center for Keltron- the Electronics Research & Development Center that was finally taken over by the Department of Electronics and has now been brought under C-DAC.

After serving Keltron for a decade, bureaucracy and politicization forced him to leave and take even more challenging assignments as CMD, ITI Ltd and later on as Secretary, Department of Electronics (1986-89) when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister. It was his foresightedness that led to the establishment of C-DAC, STPI, CEDTI and VLSI laboratories by the Department of Electronics.

It was his conviction that Vijay P Bhatkar and his team would deliver India's first super computer in quick time that resulted in Rajiv Gandhi approving the project when there was restriction in importing Cray series of computers from USA.

In late eighties when Kerala wanted to set up an electronics technology park the responsibility again fell on Nambiar's shoulders. As Chairman, Project Implementation Board of Technopark his friendship with Kohli led to TCS doing the consultancy work that led to the formation of one of the finest IT parks in the country.

A few years back he diversified into an altogether new area-- power by setting up Kannur Power Projects Ltd that was plagued by controversies because of the likely investment of Enron. Ultimately the project did not take off because of the lack of fuel supply arrangements, according to Nambiar. The project would have solved the power crisis in North Kerala and brought all round development of the state.

Paralysis and age has not withered KPP nor his enthusiasm and determination to keep on working. At present he is Chairman, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kozhikode, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala (IIITM-K), and Namtech Group, Bangalore, which is promoted by his son.

Nambiar was honored with the Republic Day Award in 1973, by the Invention Promotion Board of CSIR, National Design Award in 1985 by the Institution of Engineers and Electronics Man of the Year in 1995 by ELCINA. Despite his all round contributions to the development of electronics in the country, the Padma series of awards has eluded him.

Nambiar still believes Keltron and hardware manufacturing have a bright future. In fact, he has taken up the cause of hardware sector with the Center even before MAIT. Looking back he doesn't regret leaving lucrative jobs to come back home, especially Kerala.

As he prepares to lead a retired life back in North Kerala, professionals of yesteryears still believe that his myriad contributions as a researcher, manager, administrator, entrepreneur, and institution builder has not been properly acknowledged or appraised.

(CNS)