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* Contributed By : Kamal Karnatak

 

Originally from Pauri, Uttaranchal, Joshi believes the state has a lot to offer. “I am trying to get a few people to get things going there. For instance, the education level is high, but the computerisation element is lacking,” he points out

                                                     (Courtsy : Business Standard:Author : Kamla Bhatt )
(News sent by Naveen Pant)

Have you heard of Kailash Joshi -The founder of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE). He is a Uttaranchal man and feels that this state has lot to offer .Read his story :
 

Joshi grew up in the secluded town of Pauri, nestled against the Himalayas. Both his father and grandfather were schoolteachers, instilling an early emphasis on the importance of education. In keeping with their teachings, Joshi went to the US in 1963 to pursue advanced education. Two years after his arrival he was accepted to Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. as a graduate student and teacher. Doctorate obtained, he joined IBM at its Endicott, N.Y. offices and worked with the computer giant for 24 years, finally moving to Lexington, Ky., where he directed a lab staff of 1,000 until 1990. In 1989, Joshi came to India to set up IBM's Indian subsidiary, and went on to set up the Tata-IBM joint venture. He was also part of US President Bill Clinton's entourage to India.

In 1992, Joshi was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and moved to Silicon Valley. He was involved in several startups, including the now public, Fremont-based Oryx Technology Corp. He has also served on the boards of over 15 business, educational, cultural and charitable organizations In the early 1990s, Joshi and a few other entrepreneurs of Indian origin founded The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) to fulfill the strongly felt need of the time for an organized networking group for high-tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley from the Indian subcontinent.

Established in Santa Clara, California, TiE has grown to become the world's leading organization for the advancement of entrepreneurship. This not-for-profit organization chartered by entrepreneurs, corporate executives and senior professionals strives to benefit all entrepreneurs, would-be entrepreneurs and professionals with an interest in entrepreneurship. Today, it comprises 500 charter members and 6000 members from 25 chapters across five countries. It has 60 corporate sponsors, including venture capital and law firms.

Hear Joshi on the topic. “My wife and I hosted a lunch at the Marriott for Vittal when he was visiting the Silicon Valley area in November 1992,” he says. “At that time there were no networking events where Indian entrepreneurs could meet and talk shop. We had such a good time that at the end of it that A J Patel (a businessman with interests in a food management company) suggested that we meet every month for dinner,” he adds. And that led to the founding of TiE, an organisation that today has over 45 branches around the world


Joshi is also involved in efforts to improve the quality of life in India and through the efforts of former President Bill Clinton, Joshi and other prominent members of the Indian-American business community, the American India Foundation was to provide people living in India with access to technology. Other initiatives include the formation of a youth group, mobilizing groups of American physicians to volunteer their services and raise funds for relief of villages destroyed by the January 2001 earthquake in Gujarat.

Along with his wife Hem, Joshi also started the Bluegrass Indo-American Civic Society BIACS, in Lexington in the late 1980s, as a way for the Indo-American community to help the poor, mostly white communities in Kentucky.

Recently named President of TiE, Joshi is very focused on his role of an organizer and facilitator of empowerment. According to him, entrepreneurship and philanthropy are not all that different. Both, he says, require leadership and sustenance with dignity

Like a lot of overseas Indians, Joshi has arrived at a stage in life where he wants to give something to his motherland. “You have heard of the ‘varna-ashrama dharma’ (four stages of life) concept I have reached the third stage of my life where I am not looking for money. I have learnt that people need help, and I want to give back to society with no expectations of personal gain,” he says

Joshi recently took a small group of people from TiE and AIF to visit Dehra Dun. “We will be starting 3 digital equalizer centers and are working with the Uttaranchal government to select the sites,” says Joshi. Each centre is to be equipped with one server, 10 computers and headphones and a large screen. The goal is to help students and to bridge the digital divide

Joshi finishes his stint as president of the Silicon Valley chapter of TiE at the end of the year and has already got his work cut out — helping Uttaranchal. “We are trying to create champions on the ground,” he says. 

Clearly, the Indian diaspora at Silicon Valley has not forgotten its roots.

(Courtsy : nriworld,Business Standard).          

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