Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani has revealed that his decision to choose IIT Bombay over IIT Madras was a “small act of rebellion” against his father’s wishes. During a recent interview with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, Nilekani explained that his father, concerned about job security, encouraged him to pursue a stable career path. Despite his father’s preference for him to study chemical engineering at IIT Madras, Nilekani chose to pursue electrical engineering at IIT Bombay, a decision that ultimately shaped his journey to becoming a leader in India’s tech industry. He also reflected on his upbringing in 1950s Bengaluru, where career choices were largely limited to engineering or medicine. Nilekani explained that he leaned towards engineering as he had no interest in becoming a doctor. His father, whose job was “insecure,” had encouraged him to seek a stable profession through a strong educational foundation.
What Nilekani said about his decision
“If I wanted to do engineering, it had to be a good school, and IIT Bombay was the best school,” Nilekani said.
When questioned about his father’s disapproval of IIT Bombay, Nilekani explained: “Well, you know, at 18 you are a rebel. So, my father sent me a telegram that said ‘Join IIT Madras, chemical engineering’. I said, ‘I’m not going to listen to you’. I said I’ll join electrical engineering at IIT Bombay. It was a small act of rebellion.”
Key highlights of Nandan Nilekani’s career
Nandan Nilekani’s journey began after earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Bombay. He first crossed paths with Narayana Murthy at Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai, where Murthy interviewed him. This meeting eventually led to the founding of Infosys in 1981, alongside Murthy and five other engineers.
Over the years, Infosys has grown into one of India’s most successful tech companies, bolstering the country’s reputation as a global leader in IT services.
Beyond Infosys, Nilekani is celebrated for his significant contributions to India’s digital infrastructure, including spearheading the Aadhaar program, which has transformed identification systems across the nation.