The Trailblazers - Lecture 4
InsIghT presents the fourth part of a daily review of the Trailblazers series, a set of interactive sessions with eminent alumni. The guest for 16.10.08 was Mr. Sharad Saraf, who passed out from the EE Department of IIT Bombay in 1969. He is now the Chairman and MD, Technocraft Industries, a leading export company.
Mr. Saraf started by talking about how, in his time, getting into IIT was a much more peaceful affair than it is today - the lack of coaching classes was a major factor. His time - 5 years - in IITB was a very enjoyable one, though he says that sometimes he did wonder when he would ever get out of the Institute. He also said that the bonds built within his batch in 5 years were so strong that the 1969 batch is still one of the closest.
He went on to talk about what how IITians are extremely ambitious - and how this property ensures that they are always restless, not only for money but for innovation. He also said that lessons learnt in the hostel were very important, since there were important behavioral lessons to be learnt in the environment of diversity provided by a hostel.
A hilarious moment was provided when Mr. Saraf told the audience that he was overdressed for the occasion, and took his blazer and tie off, thereby proving that you can never completely take IIT out of the IITian, not even after 40 years.
Mr. Saraf decided, as soon as he graduated, that he did not (like 60% of his batch) want to apply for higher education in the US. He, instead, joined a small company making electric motors. He said that he learnt as much in his three years in that company as he had in all five years at IITB. He said that his five years there contributed largely to his entrepreneurial bent.
He then joined with his brother in the innovation business, making steel seals for drums. Even today, his is one of the two main players in this industry in the world, a notable achievement after 36 years. He said that his continued success in the later part of his career was based on his learnings both from IIT and his first job. He then opened the session for questions from the audience. Questions asked ranged from the risk involved with entrenpreurship to the process of innovation, and Mr. Saraf spent at least 5 minutes on every question, satisfying every doubt.
The Trailblazers series concluded in a fitting manner, with its purpose having been served - interaction with alumni at the level of senior - junior interaction in hostels.
