To have witnessed the first Summit and to witness the 100 Summit today, it has been a very long journey. There are a few things which happened even before the journey began, and I would like to tell you. Dr Karan mentioned the kind of hardships that you have faced on the way, but this is a very unique hardship, self-created, created on principles.

There was a time when Sameer used to be a senior official in a computer company — computer, I should not name it — and I had known him because even in those days he had a penchant for picking out something different and unique and so on. He started the first major scheme of advanced booking of PCs when PCs had just come, and one day he called me very proudly and said, “Sir, today’s booking, we have surpassed the world record. In a single day, so many pieces were booked.” And I was thrilled because proliferation of computers in this country has always been my motto, so I was very happy.

Then suddenly, after some time, I got a note from him saying that he had resigned, and I was wondering why. So I still remember the fateful meeting we had. We were both standing on the road just outside, I think it was BSNL office, Sar B, and he told me that he has resigned. I asked him why. So he said that he found out that the company was expanding all over the globe, as IT companies were expanding, and a lot of money was being spent on marketing and sales in those countries. He pointed out to the chief that, look, we have collected so much money in advance from people who have believed in us that the PCs will be delivered in time, so the entire money should be spent in ensuring that the PCs are made and delivered in time, and this is not correct.

He was told that how the money shall be utilized in the company’s business is none of your business. But he said that this scheme also has my name in it, and this is not acceptable. He was told that, well, if this is not acceptable, you can find your own ways. Sameer said in the next 10 minutes he wrote a resignation letter and gave it to him, saying that this is not acceptable.

And when I met him, I still remember — I think Rohan was born, but Sayan was yet to, was just about to — and he told me, “Prof. FK, I don’t even have 100 rupees in my pocket. I have family to look after. I don’t know what I will do, but I’ll do something.” He, a guy who resigned on principle, a very well-paying, well-to-do job, decided to go on his own just because he would not tolerate any injustice being done to people who show faith in you.

And that has been the hallmark ever since SKOCH Consultancy was established in 1997, and I have been fortunate enough to have witnessed each and every moment of that place. In fact, Professor Karan, Dr Karan Tanal, has been a friend in the entire journey. I used to often jokingly call Karan and Sameer as a complex conjugate pair. In mathematics, the complex conjugate pair has a real part and an imaginary part, and I said one always wonders who is the real part and who is the imaginary part, but it has been an extraordinary journey.

Subsequently, when SKOCH Foundation was set up, I was very happy to join as a director because it was meant to do certain things which are completely for the people, completely for encouraging good things that are happening in life. And this has been the read. He did mention how SKOCH specialized in hunting out good things that are happening around the country and bringing them to life. Arohi was one of the projects. I still recall, sir, mules used to carry the computers on top of the hill and so on.

And see, while Dr Ramchand might have been a stern person, but people in that kind of leadership role always have an uncanny instinct of saying something good is happening, then we should support it. And I think that is what you did, that’s what many others have done.

But ever since then, I recall an instance, for example, when one lady sarpanch of a village managed to arrange good water supply, clean water supply, in that village, and she was located and she was honored. I was present in that Summit as well. I’ve been present in YESSI, I mean, year after year the events have expanded — support to tribal things. The only place where I missed to visit personally was an event which was held in the Northeast, and I promised Sameer that I’ll make up for it someday.

Subsequently, when I was chairing the board of NIT Aala, I had an occasion to visit the entire Northeast and saw the progress that is being made here. My dear friends, India lives in millions of heartbeats across the country, and good things are happening. I think what I notice is that good things have to be brought out and should be told to people at large.

One more instance I’ll quote you. The Foundation started asking for nominations of good projects done by government teams on various aspects, and people would be honored for a project which has been done meticulously. I recall that there was a program arranged in Bombay for NIC officers, and when they had assembled and I had a session with them, when I was looking at them I suddenly saw — I pointed out and I said, “Your face seems familiar.” He stood up smiling and he said, “Sir, I received the award from you because of a small project that we had done.”

And then he told all his colleagues that ordinarily a large number of people, typically government employees or public sector employees, who are busy in doing good things remain unnoticed outside the department, and SKOCH Foundation was the first one to build a process of not just nomination but extensive grilling, extensive evaluation, assessment, and then announcing. And the proud reward is, in fact, it became a fashion that the senior-most person of that — like secretaries of the departments, etc. — would personally come to collect these awards.

Well, I can go on because I have witnessed practically each and everything, and this is not the right place to mention all the details. I would only like to conclude by making one observation which has somehow been kept a very guarded secret. Today is Sameer Kochhar’s birthday. So happy birthday, Sameer. Thank you so much, and it has been a pleasure always to be here, to be with you. Thank you so much.