# Faqir Chand Kohli

> Faqir Chand Kohli (1924-2020) was an Indian electrical engineer, founding-era general manager and first CEO of Tata Consultancy Services. After working on computer-based power-system operations at Tata Electric, he joined TCS in 1969 and helped develop its software-services business, engineering talent and research capacity. His later work focused on adult literacy, technical education and Indian-language computing.

- **Role:** Former founding-era general manager and first CEO at Tata Consultancy Services (deceased)
- **Organizations:** Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Electric Companies, Canadian General Electric, NASSCOM, Computer Society of India, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Tata Research Development and Design Centre, Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems, IIIT Hyderabad, College of Engineering, Pune
- **From:** Peshawar, British India (now Pakistan)
- **Nationality:** Indian
- **Education:** BA and BSc (Honours), Government College, Lahore / University of the Punjab, BSc (Honours), Electrical Engineering, Queen’s University, Canada, MS, Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Helped develop computer-based load dispatch and power-system management at Tata Electric., Helped establish the software-services business and engineering workforce of TCS., Supported the creation of TRDDC in Pune.

## Career timeline

- **1924** — Born in Peshawar on 19 March.
- **1946** — Leaves for Queen’s University on a scholarship.
- **1948** — Graduates from Queen’s and subsequently works at Canadian General Electric.
- **1950** — Earns an MS in electrical engineering at MIT.
- **1951** — Returns to India and joins Tata Electric Companies.
- **1969** — Joins TCS as general manager at JRD Tata’s request; TCS had been established in 1968.
- **1970s** — Develops the Burroughs relationship and overseas software business.
- **1975** — Addresses the Computer Society of India on the opportunity in information technology.
- **1980s** — Helps establish the Tata Research Development and Design Centre in Pune.
- **1996** — Hands over the CEO role to S Ramadorai.
- **1999** — Retires from TCS; continues education and literacy initiatives.
- **2002** — Receives the Padma Bhushan.
- **2015** — Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems established at IIIT Hyderabad with TCS support.
- **2020** — Dies on 26 November, aged 96.

## Achievements

- Helped develop computer-based load dispatch and power-system management at Tata Electric.
- Helped establish the software-services business and engineering workforce of TCS.
- Supported the creation of TRDDC in Pune.
- Received the Padma Bhushan in 2002.
- Promoted computer-based adult literacy and Indian-language computing.
- Co-headed the advisory board of the Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems with Raj Reddy.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — IIIT Hyderabad highlighted ongoing AI, human-computer interaction and social-science research at the Kohli Centre on Intelligent Systems.
- **2025-03** — IIIT Hyderabad held F C Kohli Day, continuing its annual commemoration.
- **2024-03** — IIIT Hyderabad marked his birth centenary with research talks, an address by Swarn Kohli and a panel about deployable, repeatable and profitable systems.

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Last updated: 2026-10-15