Tribute to a great teacher

Prof Pyarelal Arya, Founder Director,

BIM B-School Trichy, A tribute

August 16th is the foundation day of BIM Trichy. Back in 1984 a few people with vision notably Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam and Prof Pyarelal Arya played a huge role in setting up this institution among others.

The initial 10 batches were lucky to have Prof Arya, an engineer and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and an ex-BHEL employee as our director and teacher. Sadly he passed away in 2013.

He embodied a few leadership qualities which shaped many of his students. I shall do my best to give a few examples 

Vision with execution

Back in 1984 India was not so developed, especially in a small city like Trichy in South India. He had the vision to build a world class institution getting the best faculty and visiting professors. Our lecture rooms were air conditioned even 40 years back. We had case studies from Harvard Stanford and IIM-A. He got people like Dhirubai Ambani on our board. Got people like Bharat Ratna Dr M S Swaminathan to address students. He ensured the initial batches were well placed. He was hardly 36 years old when he did all this as a director. 

Humility and grace

He embodied the principle of servant leadership. He would know and call by name every one of his students, every time he meets them, even every morning. He will show the same courtesy and grace to the office peon or the CEO.

Being a director of a new institution he would be tenacious in facing rejections with a smile, from umpteen industry execs, asking for special lectures or campus placements, and yet follow through and getting the job done for his students. No ego, no throwing the weight around.

Empathy and people skills

I was quite heart broken when I could not get into a prestigious IT company in the final interview in Bangalore, though I was a rank student. After I came back to Trichy, he spent quality time counseling and coaching me, which he need not have done considering he has hundreds of other students. 

Later when I got campus placement in another company, which he got to know from my employer earlier, he got the appointment letter in his hand and delivered to me in my class on my birthday. That sweet timing full of Empathy, will always remember.

Lastly a line he taught us and also lived by example his quote "A good manager is a good human first". 

Who is a good human being?

A good human being is a person who treats others with kindness, respect, and honesty. They feel empathy for people, try to do no harm, and act with integrity. They help others when they can and care about making the world a better place.

 

How many senior executives can live up to this simple line. "A good manager is a good man human first"

More than a decade after his death, many of us came on a call today, to remember him. That shows what a great leader he was.

If you have been touched by Prof Arya or BIMs legacy, care enough to drop a comment.

Thank you

Nash Narasimhan Tupil

#BIMtrichy