IIT Bombay Faculty

One of my friends had a great experience interacting with a brilliant CSE professor at IIT Bombay, Dr. D.B. Phatak. 

He called the professor who gladly invited him over to his office. My friend was impressed as such a busy person who is 65 years of age was ready to meet him without hesitation. He reached his office and was welcomed almost as if the professor was expecting him for the past few weeks. He was simultaneously attending calls and yet managed to attend to my friend happily. Talking to him did not look like one is talking to a Padamdhee awarded such a humble attitude. He told my friend his youth stories and discussed a number of topics. In the end, my friend couldn’t resist asking what kind of person gets successful like him. To this, the professor replied,“ I will tell you an anecdote. I am chairman of a certain bank body where we conduct elections for nominating a board member. Once we had elections where each person got some 3–5 votes and generally one of those votes people gave to themselves. In that particular election, there was only one lady who has ethically and honestly given all votes to other fellow members and in the end, she lost the election by one vote only. Do you know who that lady is today? She is chairman of SBI. Your ethics make you great, not the degrees, money, and positions.”

The gist of the interaction was that one can become successful irrespective of his position and credentials. What matters is how humble your stay even after being extremely successful.