Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata, ICICI Bank CEO and managing director (MD) Chanda Kochhar, Deutsche Bank CEO Gunit Chadha and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) CEO N Chandrasekaran were huddled in a group at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on Monday evening. But it was not business as usual. They had
gathered for the launch of the book The TCS Story… And Beyond written by former TCS CEO and MD, S Ramadorai, and published by Penguin India.
Tata, who launched the book, was so punctual for the 7 pm function that most guests were still looking for a good seat to take in the action. Half an hour into launch and speeches, the Taj staff was still bringing in chairs for guests — many of whom had lined up on either sides of the hall.
“Everywhere we go, whichever country it is, Tata quite often has meant TCS. I am glad, Ram, that you took the trouble of writing this book. Congratulations,” said Tata.
Ratan Tata with S Ramadorai and his wife Mala at the launch of the book The TCS Story And Beyond by S Ramadorai in Mumbai.
Ramadorai, who has been appointed an advisor to the Prime Minister on the National Skills Development Council and holds a cabinet minister-like rank similar to Unique Identification Authority of India chief Nandan Nilekani, needed a lot of pushing and encouragement from wife, Mala, family and colleagues after he had conceived the idea for his debut book. Writing was not much of a problem, said the first-time author. “The whole story-telling and extracting the story out of the people was impossible in the beginning. One had to push and cajole them to live that experience rather than give me a project status,” said the 67-year-old who loves his iPad and MacBook.
The proceeds of the books will go to TCS Maitree Skills Initiative for the physically challenged.