{{Short description|Indian executive (1924–2020)}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = F. C. Kohli | image = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1924|03|19}} | birth_place = Peshawar, British India | birth_name = Faqir Chand Kohli | death_date = {{death date and age|2020|11|26|1924|03|19|df=yes}} | death_place = | education = University of the Punjab (BA, BSc)<br>Queen's University (BSc)<br />MIT (MS) | occupation = Co.Executive | known_for = Pioneering contribution to Indian IT Industry | awards = Padma Bhushan }} '''Faqir Chand Kohli''' (19 March 1924{{spnd}}26 November 2020) was a co-founder and the first CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest software services company. He was also associated with other companies within Tata Group, including Tata Power Company and Tata Elxsi, and had been President of Indian Information Technology (IT) services advocacy body NASSCOM.<ref name="bwprofile">{{cite web|title=F C Kohli, Founder of TCS @ Rotman|url=http://bwnt.businessweek.com/calendar/index.asp?s=37&e1=10&e3=2006&r=byschool|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110084648/http://bwnt.businessweek.com/calendar/index.asp?s=37&e1=10&e3=2006&r=byschool|archive-date=10 November 2006|access-date=6 June 2007|publisher=Business Week}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/life/article2874831.ece?homepage=true%2F |title=Cognizant rising by Chennai beach |access-date=27 November 2020 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317022035/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/life/article2874831.ece?homepage=true%2F |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor, in 2002 for his contributions to the Indian software industry.<ref name="newindianexpress.com">{{Cite web|title=FC Kohli, founder of TCS and father of India's IT industry passes away at 96|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2020/nov/26/fc-kohli-founder-of-tcs-and-father-of-indias-it-industry-passes-away-at-96-2228419.html|access-date=26 November 2020|website=The New Indian Express|date=26 November 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126131633/https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2020/nov/26/fc-kohli-founder-of-tcs-and-father-of-indias-it-industry-passes-away-at-96-2228419.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He is referred to as the "Father of the Indian IT Industry", for his contributions to the establishment and growth of the Indian IT industry.<ref name="deccanherald.com">{{Cite web|date=26 November 2020|title=FC Kohli, father of Indian IT industry, passes away|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/business/fc-kohli-father-of-indian-it-industry-passes-away-920158.html|access-date=26 November 2020|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126121534/https://www.deccanherald.com/business/fc-kohli-father-of-indian-it-industry-passes-away-920158.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life == Kohli was born in Peshawar, British India (present day Pakistan), on 19 March 1924, in a Punjabi Hindu Khatri Family.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Baruah|first=Ayushman|date=26 November 2020|title=FC Kohli, doyen of Indian IT, dies|url=https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/doyen-of-indian-it-industry-fc-kohli-no-more-11606399454644.html|access-date=26 November 2020|website=mint|language=en|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022557/https://www.livemint.com/companies/people/doyen-of-indian-it-industry-fc-kohli-no-more-11606399454644.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He grew up in Peshawar, which was then a military center, and studied at Khalsa Middle School, and later at National High School in the same city.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Bhattrai|first=Sushmita|date=15 January 2020|title=Two Countries, Two Lives|url=https://seniorstoday.in/history/two-countries-two-lives|access-date=26 November 2020|website=Seniors Today|language=en-GB|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919062356/https://seniorstoday.in/history/two-countries-two-lives|url-status=live}}</ref> He went on to complete BA and BSc (Honours) from Government College for Men, Lahore, at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, where he was a university gold medalist.<ref name="ieee">{{cite web|date=1 March 2002|title=Personality of the Issue - Mr. F. C. Kohli|url=http://ewh.ieee.org/r10/bombay/news4/Personality.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124142640/http://www.ewh.ieee.org/r10/bombay/news4/Personality.htm|archive-date=24 November 2002|access-date=2 September 2016|publisher=IEEE Bombay Section}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dr. Faqir Chand Kohli|url=http://www.indicon2011.org/html/comm-faqir-chand-kohli.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415014511/http://www.indicon2011.org/html/comm-faqir-chand-kohli.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 April 2013}}</ref> After his father's death during his final year in college, he applied for, and was selected by, the Indian Navy. However, while waiting to be commissioned, he applied for, and won a scholarship to Queen's University, Canada, where he went on to complete his BSc (Honours) in Electrical Engineering in 1948.<ref name=":4" /> He then worked for a year at Canadian General Electric Company and subsequently did his MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT in 1950.<ref name="technologyreview">{{cite web | url = http://www.technologyreview.com/article/508371/indias-it-guy/ | title = India's IT Guy As director of Tata Consultancy Services, F. C. Kohli, SM '50, launched the Indian IT outsourcing industry.| access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2020/11/26/indian-industrialist-and-father-of-software-fc-kohli-has-died-at-the-age-of-96/ |title=IT Industrialist & India's largest software exporter, FC Kohli has died at the age of 96 |date=26 November 2020 |access-date=26 November 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022556/https://www.latestnewssouthafrica.com/2020/11/26/indian-industrialist-and-father-of-software-fc-kohli-has-died-at-the-age-of-96/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Career== After completing his MS at MIT, Kohli trained in power system operations at Ebasco International Corporation, New York, Connecticut Valley Power Exchange, Hartford, and New England Power Systems, Boston, before returning to India in 1951. He joined the Tata Electric Company where he helped set up a load dispatching system to manage systems operations, before going on to become a general superintendent in 1963, and a deputy general manager in 1967.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Shinde|first=Shivani|date=4 February 2015|title=40 Years ago... and now- Faqir Chand Kohli: The original Indian techie|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/40-years-ago-and-now-faqir-chand-kohli-the-original-indian-techie-115020400011_1.html|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730150056/https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/40-years-ago-and-now-faqir-chand-kohli-the-original-indian-techie-115020400011_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dolphinoffshore">{{cite web|title=DR. FAQIR CHAND KOHLI|url=http://www.dolphinoffshore.com/pdfs/dr_kohli.pdf|access-date=5 June 2013|archive-date=8 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308085628/http://www.dolphinoffshore.com/pdfs/dr_kohli.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He went on to work for Tata Consulting Engineers in 1966, before returning to become the director of Tata Electric Company. During this time, he is noted to have introduced the use of digital computers for power system design and control including the use of the CDC 3600 mainframe computer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. He is also known for the introduction of advanced engineering and management techniques for power system operations.<ref name="dolphinoffshore" /><ref name="rediff">{{cite web|title=F C Kohli|url=http://www.rediff.com/chat/fckohli.htm|access-date=5 June 2013|website=Rediff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524081405/http://www.rediff.com/chat/fckohli.htm|archive-date=24 May 2010}}</ref>

In 1969, he helped set up the Tata Consultancy Services, at the request of J. R. D. Tata, the group chairman, after Tata Electric company installed a computer system to control the power lines between Mumbai and Pune, making it the third utility company in the world to install such a system.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Chandrashekhar|first=Anandi|title=FC Kohli, first CEO of TCS and father of Indian IT industry, passes away at 96|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-bytes/fc-kohli-tcs-first-ceo-and-father-of-indian-it-industry-passes-away/articleshow/79429831.cms|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126130940/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-bytes/fc-kohli-tcs-first-ceo-and-father-of-indian-it-industry-passes-away/articleshow/79429831.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> After internally serving a few of the Tata Group companies, TCS went on to sign its first contract with Burroughs Corporation for software services, in 1972.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> He would go on to become the company's first CEO and also serve as its deputy chairman.<ref name="ieee" /><ref name="dolphinoffshore" /><ref name=":1" /> He would lead the company for the next three decades before stepping down as the CEO in 1996.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Roy|first=Subir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dJKvRnyhD_4C&q=F.+C.+Kohli&pg=PA17|title=Made in India: A Study of Emerging Competitiveness|date=1 January 2005|publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education|isbn=978-0-07-048366-8|language=en|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022533/https://books.google.com/books?id=dJKvRnyhD_4C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA17&dq=F.+C.+Kohli&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=26 November 2020|title=F.C. Kohli, father of Indian IT industry, passes away|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/fc-kohli-father-of-indian-it-industry-passes-away/article33187788.ece|access-date=26 November 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022613/https://www.thehindu.com/business/fc-kohli-father-of-indian-it-industry-passes-away/article33187788.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The company is the largest Indian IT services company by market capitalization and the most valuable company within the Tata group as of 2020.<ref name=":3" />

He was also associated with other companies within the Tata Group including being on the board of Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Unisys, Tata Electric Company, Tata Honeywell, and Tata Technologies Singapore. He had also been the chairman of Tata Elxsi India, and WTI Advanced Technologies.<ref name="rediff" /> Outside of the Tata Group, he has been a director on the board of Airline Software Development Consultancy India, Airline Financial Support Services India, Abacus Distribution Systems, and Triveni Engineering Works.<ref name="rediff" />

He was president and chairman of Indian IT services advocacy body, NASSCOM, between 1995 and 1996.<ref name="rediff" /> In this role, and later as a part of the body's executive committee, he helped shape global partnerships and showcase opportunities to deliver IT services from India.<ref name=":3" /> He was also associated with professional organizations like the Computer Society of India, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers New York, the Institution of Electrical Engineers, the Indian National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Management Consultants of India.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="rediff" />

Kohli also played an important role in the advancement of technical education in the country. In 1959, under a request from P. K. Kelkar, the founding director of the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, he helped with the faculty selection and recruitment. He was also associated with the College of Engineering, Pune, by pushing for the institute to be granted autonomous institute status, and stayed on as the chairman of the Board of Governors of the institute.<ref name=":0" />

He held executive and leadership roles in professional societies, including being on the board of directors of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) between 1973 and 1974, and was a chairman of the India Council. He had been the President of the Computer Society of India and was the chairman of the Southeast Asia Regional Computer Conference in Singapore in 1976 and chairman of the Southeast Asia Regional Computer Conference in New Delhi in 1988. He served the Management Consultants Association of India as a president between 1975 and 1976. He was the chairman of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. He went on to serve the Southeast Asia Regional Computer Confederation as a special advisor in 1989.<ref name="rediff" />

After his retirement he continued to remain connected with technology advocacy and was known to have driven efforts toward adult literacy, water purification, and regional language computing efforts, in addition to being involved with TCS in an advisory role.<ref>{{Cite web|title=F.C. Kohli {{!}} Indian businessman and engineer|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/F-C-Kohli|access-date=26 November 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=17 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517173317/https://www.britannica.com/biography/F-C-Kohli|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=ANI|title=FC Kohli made pioneering efforts to develop IT industry: Ravi Shankar Prasad|url=http://businessworld.in/article/FC-Kohli-made-pioneering-efforts-to-develop-IT-industry-Ravi-Shankar-Prasad/26-11-2020-347116|access-date=26 November 2020|website=BW Businessworld|language=en|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022611/http://www.businessworld.in/article/FC-Kohli-made-pioneering-efforts-to-develop-IT-industry-Ravi-Shankar-Prasad/26-11-2020-347116/|url-status=live}}</ref>

He is referred to as the father of the Indian IT industry, for his role in setting up the Indian IT services industry and contributing to its growth to being a $190&nbsp;billion industry.<ref name=":3" /> He is recognized for grooming a generation of professionals who would go on to become leaders of the industry.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kambhampati|first=Uma S.|date=1 January 2002|title=The software industry and development: the case of India|url=https://doi.org/10.1191/1464993402ps028ra|journal=Progress in Development Studies|language=en|volume=2|issue=1|pages=23–45|doi=10.1191/1464993402ps028ra|s2cid=154823616|issn=1464-9934|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022534/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1191/1464993402ps028ra|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Honours == In 2002, Kohli was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, for his contribution to the Indian software industry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954-2013)|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2015|access-date=2 September 2016|publisher=India Ministry of Home Affairs}}</ref> He was awarded honorary degrees from Shiv Nadar University, University of Waterloo, Canada,<ref name="ieee" /> Robert Gordon University in Scotland, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, Jadavpur University, Queen's University, and the University of Roorkee.<ref name="bwprofile" /> He was a fellow of IEEE US, IEE UK, Institution of Engineers India, and the Computer Society of India among others.<ref name="ieee" />

Other awards and honours: *Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award, 2000.<ref>[http://www.tata.com/article/inside/QXkd!$$$$!RfJtAw=/TLYVr3YPkMU= TCS's F.C. Kohli gets honoured]{{Dead link|date=November 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> *Lifetime achievement award, ''The Economic Times'', 2002<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tata.com/article/inside/1Vot0SyJ!$$$!Og=/TLYVr3YPkMU= |title=Dr F C Kohli conferred ET lifetime achievement award |access-date=6 August 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052032/http://www.tata.com/article/inside/1Vot0SyJ!$$$!Og=/TLYVr3YPkMU= |url-status=live }}</ref> *[https://kcis.iiit.ac.in Kohli Center on Intelligent Systems (KCIS)], at IIIT Hyderabad, 2015<ref>{{Cite news|title=FC Kohli Center on Intelligent Systems|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/tcs-research-centre-on-intelligent-systems-at-iiith/article7456144.ece}}</ref> *Lifetime Achievement Award, All India Management Association (AIMA), 2017<ref>{{Cite web|title=All India Management Association - 2017 Awards|url=https://www.aima.in/media-centre/events/managing_india_award_2017.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022602/https://www.aima.in/media-centre/events/managing_india_award_2017.html|archive-date=27 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2020|website=www.aima.in}}</ref><!-- Introduce with citations.

Gold Medal and Cash Award for a paper "Economics of Long Distance, Extra High Voltage Transmission Lines".

Gold Medal from Central Board of Irrigation and Power, for the best paper on 'Inter-System Contracts and Organisational Requirements for Economic Operation of Inter-connected Systems'. Dr. V. M. Ghatge prize for lecture on 'Automation in Power Systems Operations'. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Centennial Gold Medal "for extraordinary achievement and deserving of special recognition". Scroll of Honour from the Institution of Engineers, "for profound dedication to the progress and advancement of the engineering fraternity". Electronics Man of the Year Award, The Electronic Component Industries Association, 1989. Lifetime contribution to information technology, Dataquest, 1995. QIMPRO Platinum Standard Award (QIMPRO Foundation) for Outstanding Contribution in the field of Quality, 1999. National Award, Delhi Telugu Academy, 2000. Juran Quality Award, Indian Merchants Chamber, 2000. Lifetime Achievement Award, Indian National Academy of Engineering, 2000. Business Leadership Award, Madras Management Association, 2000. Lifetime Achievement Award, World HRD Congress, 2001. Vocational Excellence Award, Rotary Club of Mumbai Downtown, 2001. National Citizens Award, "for outstanding contribution in the field of Information Technology", 2001. -->

== Personal life == Kohli was married to his wife Swarn, a consumer-rights activist and lawyer, and had three children.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Krishna|first=Jayant|title=FC Kohli: A Lifetime of Repaying Gratitude to India|url=http://businessworld.in/article/FC-Kohli-A-Lifetime-of-Repaying-Gratitude-to-India-/26-11-2020-347130|access-date=26 November 2020|website=BW Businessworld|language=en|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022539/http://www.businessworld.in/article/FC-Kohli-A-Lifetime-of-Repaying-Gratitude-to-India-/26-11-2020-347130/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> He died on 26 November 2020, of a heart attack. He was aged 96.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indias-it-sector-pioneer-fc-kohli-dead/articleshow/79437110.cms | title=India's IT sector pioneer FC Kohli dead | publisher=The Times of India | work=Reeba Zachariah | date=27 November 2020 | access-date=27 November 2020 | archive-date=27 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127005218/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indias-it-sector-pioneer-fc-kohli-dead/articleshow/79437110.cms | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Founder and first CEO of Tata Consultancy Services FC Kohli passes away |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/buzz/obituary-buzz/founder-and-first-ceo-of-tata-consultancy-services-fc-kohli-passes-away-7579721.htm |access-date=26 November 2020 |publisher=CNBC TV18 |date=26 November 2020 |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127022528/https://www.cnbctv18.com/buzz/obituary-buzz/founder-and-first-ceo-of-tata-consultancy-services-fc-kohli-passes-away-7579721.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="newindianexpress.com"/>

== Positions held == Source(s):<ref name="rediff" /><ref name="deccanherald.com"/>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Company Name !! Position !! Year |- | Tata Infotech Limited|| Director|| 1977 |- | Bradma of India Limited|| Director|| 1982 |- | WTI Advanced Technology Limited|| Chairman|| 1988 |- | Tata Elxsi (I) Limited|| Director|| 1989 |- | Tata Technologies (Pte) Limited, Singapore.|| Director|| 1991 |- | Triveni Engineering Works Limited|| Director|| 1994 |- | HOTV Inc., US.|| Director|| 1999 |- | Engineering Analysis Center of Excellence Pvt. Limited|| Director|| 1999 |- | eBIZ Solutions Limited|| Director|| 1999 |- | Edutech Informatics India (P) Limited|| Director|| 2000 |- | Technosoft SA, Switzerland|| Director|| 2000 |- | Sun F&C Asset Management (I) Pvt. Limited|| Director|| 2000 |- | Aerospace Systems Pvt. Limited|| Director|| 2000 |- | Media Lab Asia Limited|| Director|| 2002 |}

== Books == * {{Cite book|last=Kohli|first=F. C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0H8K7_9MDLoC|title=The IT Revolution in India|date=2012|publisher=Rupa Publication India Pvt Ltd|isbn=9798129108127|language=en}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060721075626/http://appsci.queensu.ca/alumni/profiles/kohli/ Profile on Queens University website] *https://web.archive.org/web/20061029105937/http://www.icssingapore.org/Adv_FCK.htm *https://web.archive.org/web/20060721075626/http://appsci.queensu.ca/alumni/profiles/kohli/ {{IEEE Founders Medal}} {{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09 |collapsed=true }} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kohli, Faqir Chand}} Category:1924 births Category:2020 deaths Category:20th-century Indian engineers Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai Category:Tata Consultancy Services people Category:Punjabi Hindus Category:University of the Punjab alumni Category:People from Peshawar Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering Category:IEEE Centennial Medal laureates