Eventful Years
T. V. Rao
I am giving below some of my biographic details as I recollect. I hope my life will be an example of hidden Talent of many of those who are born and brought up in rural India. I am not one of those lucky (or unlucky) to be born in a rich family. I also did not have any education in English medium schools. All the English I learnt was during my college days at Loyola. May be that is the reason why I think and write simple English and many people are able to read my works. I had an opportunity to go to the US and get educated there. I did not pursue it and felt it to be better to do my Ph. D. and work in India. Some of my colleagues who went abroad and settelled there made remarkable contributions and are known world wide. I think the contributions of those who chose to live in India are a lot more but may not get international recognition. It does not matter. Udai Pareek with whom I had the great opportunity to work for most part of my life and I thought for the country and worked in the country. I do think we thought ahead o f many others and shared some futuristic thoughts. I am happy that many people who read our books acknowledge the same. I hope this brief description of significant events of my life becomes a source of inspiration for young people from all walks of life. I have not made it into a story but presented in a tabular form.
| Year | Events |
| Early Years | Born in a poor family of landless laborers. Born to a mother (Devaramma) who was deserted by her husband after my birth as he belonged to an upper caste community and was rich. Named as Venkateswara Rao by my grandfather who was an ardent devotee of Tirupathi Venkateswara Swamy. Brought up by mother and grandfather (Pothuraju) who used to work in fields. Mother took it as challenge and educated me. I used to join my mother and grandfather to work in the fields occasionally or in selling hand woven products made by my mother up to eighth standard. Known in school days as No. 111 as I used to go to Tirupathi every year and return after giving my hair and go to school with Lord Venkateswara’s symbol on my forehead. Also called or teasingly called by school mates either as Tirupathi (Lord Venkateswara’s place) or Talam (Lock). Mother was a village labor leader and led a group of women. Mother turned out to be very enterprising woman as indicated by latter years where she made it as General Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee though she did not know how to read and write. |
| Schooling and College | Studied through private tuitions after first standard. Went to school only in fifth standard and skipped rest of the classes between first and fifth. Average student in school used to be good in mathematics. Went to Loyola at the age of 14 and completed B.Sc. at the age of 18. Under the care of Fr. Douglas Gordon who became my Guardian Angel, Friend Philosopher and Guide. Average student in B. Sc. Demonstrated leadership qualities and hence was appointed Block Leader. Jesuit influence on my development and Loyola’s influence on life the greatest and highest. Fr. Gordon who got me an application from to apply for doing B.Ed. with stipend in the just started Regional College of Education by NCERT in collaboration with Ohio State University. |
| Education | After completion of B.Sc. at Loyola College Vijayawada, Joined the Regional College of Education Mysore started by NCERT with collaboration from Ohio State university in those days. Influence greatly by teachers like Dr. P N Dave, C. L. Anand and Nair. Dave guides me to do M. A. Psychology rather than M. Sc. Chemistry and sees special aptitude in me for Psychology as I was always topping in psychology courses among so many students who are elder and experienced than me. Topped in B.Ed. in Science stream. Took up M A Psychology where I was admitted by EGP due to REC background. 1966-68. Topped in the University and created a new record. |
| 1968 | Starting of the psychology department in |
| 1969 | Going to Marriage August 16 at Peda Avutapally to Jaya. Hard work and my work day used to begin at 7.00 am in NIHAE and end late in the night. Interview for Assistant Professor at NIHAE . |
| 1970 | Appointment as Assistant Professor of Education and Training at a young age of 23 years- perhaps youngest Assistant Professor in Medical system. Certificate course in Programmed Instruction NCERT, meeting Prof. SS Kulkarni and CHK Mishra. Starting of the Indian Behavioral Sciences Abstracts (IBSA). Collected most abstracts by visiting all libraries in Registering for Ph. D. with SPU Training of trainers in SBI staff college on programmed Instruction |
| 1971 | Data collection from Medical colleges Completing of the Project on Motivation Training for Mental Health which was published latter as Changing Teacher Behaviour through Feedback by ICFAI. Raju’s birth July 16, Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi Joining the |
| 1972 | Handbook of Psychological Instruments Nandini’s birth, October 10 at Vuyyuru. I was in Udaipur with Para typhoid after my Ph. D. work. Went to see her in the hospital. First major sickness – para-typhoid Completing the thesis |
| 1973 | Visiting IIMA Ph. D. result declared Project on entrepreneurship Status study of Behavioral Science Research in Population (latter published by Tata McGraw-Hill) Visit to Kappadvanj to evaluate the achievement motivation program by Anil Trivedi. Second significant sickness. Jaundice after returning from Kappadvanj. Udaipur students took great care. Shift to IIMA December 3rd |
| 1974 | Completion of the project on Entrepreneurship Development: an Evaluation Report made and papers prepared Professionalisation of medical students project- IIMA seminar Completion and registration of case studies of entrepreneurs Course on Laboratory in Entrepreneurial Motivation Starting of consultancy project on Performance appraisal in L&T First book: Status study on Population published by Tata McGraw Hill Doctors in Making published in Ahmedabad (Ph d Thesis) Managing Change in Academic Institutions- participants taken to Vishala Teaching of the course on Consumer Behavior Development of “Sales Styles Diagnosis Exercises” and publication by Learning Systems ISABS first phase at |
| 1975 | Starting of Jawaja Project Invitation from McClelland and Visit to Harvard, first visit to Invitation from east West center to be a part of the workshop on Entrepreneurship development Programs Work with Abigail Stewart ( Currently at the University of Michigan Psychology Department) and preparation of Stewart maturity scale Meeting Robert Rosenthal, Rensis Likert, Ron Lippit, Fred Masserick, David Winter. Attempts to meet B. F. Skinner did not work out in William James Hall as he was rarely coming to office. Initiation of the project with McClelland Starting of the HRD department in L&T Second Book: Handbook of Psychological and Social Instruments published by Samashti Stewart Maturity Scale with Abigail Stewart and a Foreword by David McClelland. |
| 1976 | Visit to ENDEVOR an International Association launched, NERDA launched with Tajuddin jail, Ahmed Bereck etc. in Project on Identification and selection of entrepreneurs MDP on Laboratory in management of Motivation |
| 1977 | International seminar on identification and selection of entrepreneurs offered at IIMA Book on Identification and Selection of Entrepreneurs along with T K Moulick published by IIMA |
| 1978 | Invitation to BEML for establishing the HRD department Offer to join as General manager HR First experiments in two departments to introduce open systems of appraisal Joining BEML as general Manager with highest salary among the GMs and preferring to be designated as Advisor in general Manager’s capacity Interactions with CMD- Gen. Mani and struggle to push open systems of appraisal Performance Appraisal and Counseling manuals prepared for BEML |
| 1979 | Workshop on HRD and testing of the manuscript on Designing and managing HR systems Work with Sate Bank of Visit to |
| 1980 | UNIDO Consultant to MIDF in Training of entrepreneurs in Draft chapters on Developing Motivation through Experience with Udai |
| 1981 | Handbook of Trainers in Education Publication of the book on Designing and Managing HR systems, oxford & IBH Behavior Processes in Organizations with Udai and Pestonjee |
| 1982 | Appointment with IBU, NERDA Struggle to be a consultant UNESCO work on Planning in Education management Short term consultancy with ICOMP |
| 1983 | Return to IIMA to teach first year courses Offer to join as L&T professor in XLRI Starting of the center for HRD at XLRI Visit to Developing Motivation through Experiencing: Oxford & IBH |
| 1984 | USAID consultancy in Ravi Matthai dies- decision to return back to IIMA Performance Appraisal: theory and Practice Book. Business World write up on Center for HRD and TVR. |
| 1985 | First L&T seminar- starting of Learning by Sharing Conceptualizing of the HRD Network Starting of the first Newsletter from XLRI Registering of the NHRDN Birth of Kritika, July 22 |
| 1986 | Self appointed President HRD Network. First formal conference of the National HRD Network PGP review and PGP Chairman ship Commonwealth secretariat project on Developing entrepreneurship in Technical education. Hena Mukherjee Review of education Policy active participation and assistance to the Ministry of HRD. Design of the Program on Leadership Styles and Organizational Effectiveness which latter became the famous 360 Degree Feedback program |
| 1987 | PGP Chair President HRD Network continued President ISABS |
| 1988 | President ISABS- efforts to offer low cost BHPs, work in police Academy and 200 people in the event. Creativity workshop had to be held outside NPA. Involved Pradip Khandwalla in ISABS for Training Trainers in Creativity. Starting three phased HRD Facilitators Program in HRD on behalf of NHRDN and making it a great success. |
| 1989 | Fellow Program Chair President ISABS – Efforts to build ISABS Institute and initiation of dialogue with NTL. Leave to work on NIEPA review Visit to Readings in HRD Book. Passing on National HRD Network President position to Mr. M R R Nair as the second President. Working closely with him to build NHRDN. |
| 1990 | Fellow program Chair Visit to Starting of the HRD Missionary |
| 1991 | Fellow Program chair Honorary Director AHRD |
| 1992 | Ravi Matthai center Chair Honorary Director AHRD |
| 1993 | Award of 20 year service medal by IIMA Review of HRD Practices by Commonwealth secretariat London and IDS Sussex. |
| 1994 | Leaving the institute –August Doctoral level Fellow program launched with AHRD and XLRI. |
| 1995 | Honorary Director AHRD First contact program of Fellow program of XLRI and AHRD at IIMA. Shifting of AHRD to Hyderabad Human Resources Development: Concepts, Experiences and Interventions- The Real HRD BOOK |
| 1996 | Reddy does not give the land as promised. Search for ways out as AHRD already shifted. Staring of TVRLS |
| 1997 | Starting of 360 degree programs in a big way. First 360 for CEOs launched in Chennai with 8 faculty and 14 participants Family holiday in Swiss Development Agency for Cooperation- SDC project Impact on Innovations in Higher Education |
| 1998 | Work with Kewalram Chanrai group Institutionalization of Innovations in Higher Education published by TVRLS for SDC out. Highlighting the need for institutionalization of innovations |
| 1999 | HRD Audit Book Chanrai group work continued Work with Aditya Birla Group begins |
| 2000 | Attending ASTD Conference at 360 degree feedback and PMS Conference by TVRLS First book on 360 Degree feedback and PMS Nandini’s marriage Bringing AHRD back to Ahmedabad at the instance of the Board which could not strengthen AHRD. |
| 2001 | Development of 360 Workbooks and manuals Starting of Bangalore office of TVRLS with Gopal Mahapatra joining as MD. Earth quake in Ahmedabad Raju’s marriage and disaster |
| 2002 | Second volume on 360 DF and PMS book |
| 2003 | Mother dies Future of HRD out and meets with the real Future when a price was demanded for it to be released in the Conference of NHRDN started by Dr. Rao. Inspires to develop economics of HR. |
| 2004 | Third volume on 360 DF and Assessment centers Trauma of son’s marriage not working out and our kindness being exploited by people with evil designs. God save the society from such people! Nandini and Ajoy have a son- Auro born on 24th January. |
| 2005 | The Power of 360 Degree feedback with Raju Handbook of Education Management with Dr Pareek published by Macmillan. Torturous months for getting Raju out on divorce. Experience the extent to which people can go for getting money. Final success in getting Raju divorced. Hope to get him settled. |
| 2006 | A Revisit to the Past - Udai’s Greatness in bringing out “Changing Teacher Behavior through Feedback” Invest 20 Direct 2000 to 20000 a new way of looking at Performance planning. |
| 2007 | Manuscripts completed on
Raju develops diabetic foot and had to be operated. Torturous time. All dreams to get Raju settled shattered. That is the only thing left unsettling in life. Invitation to join IIMA full time. Appointment as Adjunct Professor. Starting a new course called Talent Management. |
| 2008 | Both the books out. HRD Score Card well relieved. Hurconomics filled with printer’s devil and many composing errors partly reflecting a wrong choice of publisher, hurried publication and lack of care on my part as well as that of the publishers. Decide to close writing books. Only dream books left are on Leadership and also on IIMA. Raju’s health a major preoccupation. Kritika completes PG and joins EMRI at Hyderabad. Losing interest in administration of TVRLS. Rationalizing staff at TVRLS by taking out all the administrative and managerial transactions with people as I do not seem to enjoy transactions of monitoring and supervising staff any more. Self regulation does not seem to work in commercialized world. Life after 360 and ADCs successfully completed. Complete withdrawal from NHRDN and AHRD. It has been a mistake to continue to be associated. Current office bearers should take charge and give it new direction. They seem to sue it for commercial purposes but that may be the cost it has to pay. Offered a 360 Degree Feedback course for IIMA PGP-PMP. |
| 2009 | TVRLS gets a big project from LIC. First time used outsourcing models successfully. TVRLS team lead by Nandini worked very hard. Designed a new course on Entrepreneurial Personality for IIMA students. Repeat of the 360 Degree Feedback course for IIMA PGP-PMP. |
| 2010 | Udai is no more. Visited him thrice in the ICU in Jaipur and again at Delhi. Saw him struggle through. Could join the family on hearing the news. CKP is also no more. Shocking deaths. One day all of us have to go. We lost so many good friends: DMS at a young age, Ranjit, Moulik, Vora, Anil Bhat, Maru even earlier, EGP, Ramaiah – the list id going up. May be we are all at a vulnerable age. Performance Management system design and implementation in LIC Design of a new Course on Intellectual Capital and HRD Score card IIMA PGP 2 elective. 20 students including five exchange students from other countries Release of the book on “Life after 360 Feedback and ADCs co-edited with Ram and Nandu Appointed to Chair Planning Committee of IIMA Golden Jubilee Celebrations along with Atanu Ghosh, A Koshy and Ranghuram. Complete the plan in record time and faculty discusses and approves the plan in a large part and celebrations begin. Working to complete the “100 Managers” book Completed on behalf of IIMA the book on “Managers who make a Difference” being published by Random House. Started work with Vijaya Sherry Chand on Institution Building Experience at IIMA for RMCEI. Revising the book on OD with Ram. Ram is doing most of the work. Looks that I am there more of a moral support besides contacting a few authors and revising my own chapters. Invitation to teach course on Performance Management to Ph. D. students in NIDA, Thailand by Chira Tan, Director School of HRD Invitation to speak at SGHC 2010 Taipei, Taiwan Met Dave Ulrich at Taipei which I consider as a significant event as we seem to think so much alike. Guru Yatra launched by Random House with ET at Taj Hotel. Subsequent events planned |
| 2011 | Nurturing Excellence: Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad co edited with Vijaya Sherry Chand out. Royalties to go to IIMA. Managers who Make A Difference gets to Best Seller List. Hurconomics New edition by Pearson Education out. Jubilee Hills house sold by some impersonation and forgery by some people and message comes when in Malaysia. Rushed to Hyderabad and police ADG Ramana Murthy and team very helpful in filing FIR and arresting some of the miscreants Spent most time in Hyderabad to protect the house. IIMA, Hyderabad Golden Jubilee Celebrations Launch of Certified HRD Auditor in Malaysia and discussion begin for South Africa Nandini Appointed CEO for TVRLS and TVRLS starts a vision workshop and plans its activities 100 Managers in Action Proofs ready from Tata McGraw-Hill |
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