Visage – Future Networker – The Financial Express – April 28th 1997.

28th Apr 1997

Visage – Future Networker

Very few people accomplish what they want. While there are still more who are not satisfies with what they have achieved, ever aiming for higher horizons.

And, in the latter category is the bespectacled K.V. Ramani, Chairman and CEO of the city based Future Software Pvt. Ltd. and Future Communications Software of the US.

His appetite for making more out of the bits and bytes appears to be unlimited as after catapulting his company into the top twenty league, he says. “we could have certainly done more, more in terms of growth. “Surprisingly his affection, and passion, for computers especially to set up software communication networks on turnkey basis, has not made him the typical businessmen, as he still finds time to go on long drives and enjoy nature.

Again this quality of the tall 46-year Ramani is not in any way astonishing as almost everything seems to have gone right for him, except for the few mistakes in the initial stages after the incorporation of Future Software in June 1985.

His interest and business acumen made him foresaw the future, particularly the role of computers in communication.

Visionary? Then how else would one call a person, who way back in seventies when the city of Madras might have had not more than 10 computers, took interest in computers.

And, added to the ‘exploits’ or natural talent of Ramani were his stints as programmer, systems manager, computer learning sessions, travel abroad which as he recollects and acknowledges while meddling with a few keyboard switches, “the past was a good learning experience for the present, though there is no end for the process.”

About his educational background, he says, with slight tinge of American English accent: “In 1970, I joined the first public course in computers, introduced by IBM. Later worked as a programmer, then joined Shaw Wallace group, and floated Future Software. “About his business, he said, “I started this company as a profession, and likewise the company is a professional organisation, not simply in pursuit of money. By and large we avoid sending our people abroad for training as then the company becomes a recruitment agency. Moreover, what is the necessity for such things when it is possible in India itself.”

Presumably his love for long drives. “away from the hustlebustle of the city” and his like for classical music has deterred him from installing a computer at his residence. Office work only in office and I work on a computer for a maximum of 12 hours. “On his hobbies. Ramani said. “played various sports, but my favourite is squash. On his retirement. Ramani one of the founder members of National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) said. “25 years is a long time to work and I have many more to go.

To another question on how he does define computers, he said, “it is not an end by itself, but a tool for something else. The technology is a fascination.”