Kuppuswamy Vijay Raghavan
| Kuppuswamy Vijay Raghavan | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 🏫 Education | Bachelor’s Degree |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Rishi Valley School |
| 💼 Occupation | Co-founder Agastya International Foundation |
| 🌐 Website | http://www.agastya.org |
K.V. Raghavan was an Indian Corporate CEO and social innovator in education, who co-founded the Agastya International Foundation, one of the world's largest mobile hands-on science education programs for underprivileged children.
Early life and education[edit]
Born into a Tamil Iyengar family[1], Raghavan was a member of the first batch of students to graduate from the Rishi Valley School founded by J. Krishnamurti. He was awarded a bachelor's degree from Alagappa College of Technology, Madras (now part of Anna University). As a chemical engineer he trained with the Power Gas Corporation at Stockton-on Tees, UK and served with distinction in the private and public corporate and social sectors in India.
Career[edit]
Starting with Eastern Chemicals[2], Bombay, Raghavan joined the Indian Ordnance Factories[3] followed by the UK multinational, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), where he became the first Indian to head the ICI company Indian Explosives Limited in Gomia, Jharkhand. In IEL, Raghavan launched Asia's largest urea fertilizer plant in Kanpur, UP, which was inaugurated by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. As Executive Director of IEL, Raghavan contributed to the social development of the community by creating the Pitts Modern School. Raghavan retired from ICI in 1978 as Managing Director of The Alkali and Chemical Corporation of India. At the invitation of the government of India he joined as Chairman of Engineers India Limited (EIL), the biggest engineering consulting company in India.
Under Raghavan EIL was entrusted with the responsibility for design, fabrication and erection supervision of Bombay High North (BHN), then the largest offshore process platform in India. EIL was also assigned to design and supervise the 9 million tons per annum capacity Bombay High South (BHS) platform. In 1980, EIL was selected as the prime consultant to NALCO for the Odisha Aluminium Complex, then the largest nonferrous metallurgy project in India. EIL expanded into global markets like Algeria and Sri Lanka, established its first R&D capability and designed the first refinery with EIL's indigenous process technology at Bongaigaon, Assam. Following the sizeable growth of the company and its entry into diverse fields, the management structure was reorganized to facilitate efficient operations through four Directorates, which signaled a new professional base and propelled EIL towards its vision for the future.
Following his retirement from EIL, Raghavan became President of EID Parry Limited[4], the oldest joint stock company in India. He also served as a Chairman of Premier Explosives Limited[5] and Esquire Engineers & Consultants (a subsidiary of Best & Crompton). He was a member of the board of Flakt India[6], Raman Paperboards and The Valley School, an advisory board member of STP Limited[7], a member of the Executive Committee of the Bengal Club, a Treasurer of the All India Management Association, a member of the Senate of BITS, Pilani and the National Power Panel. His contribution to the explosives industry was recognized by a national award from the Indian government.
Involvement with the Agastya Foundation[edit]
In 1999, Raghavan, his son Ramji Raghavan, and PK Iyengar, former chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission, S. Balasundaram, former principal of the Rishi Valley School and Mahavir Kumar created Agastya International Foundation, a transformative education charity whose mission is to spark curiosity (Aah!), nurture creativity (Aha!) and instill confidence (Ha-Ha!) in underprivileged children and government schoolteachers. Raghavan led Agastya between 1999 and 2002 during its most critical and formative stage,[8] which included the launch of village science fairs and Agastya's first mobile science van. Raghavan attracted to Agastya the initial group of socially-minded scientists, educators and administrators including Dr. R. Krishnan, former director of the Indian Gas Turbine Research Establishment and H.N. Srihari.[9] Among his lasting contributions was his conception of a 172-acre campus creativity lab in a backward area in Gudivanka, Andhra Pradesh to promote creative learning through vibrant interaction between children and teachers, a goal he highlighted through the analogy of a medical college and hospital. This resulted in the Center for Creative Teaching, which has trained over 7,000 government school teachers from several Indian states. The Agastya campus today attracts educators and innovators from across the globe who help to share knowledge and build new ways and methods of teaching-learning. Agastya has reached hands-on science education to over 12 million children and 250,000 teachers in India.
References[edit]
- ↑ "'Some Famous personalities who happen to be Iyengar [Archive] - Brahminsnet.com - Forum". brahminsnet.com.
- ↑ "'Eastern Chemicals Mumbai Pvt Ltd". ecmpl.com.
- ↑ "'Ordnance Factory Board, Government of India". ofb.gov.in.
- ↑ "'Welcome to Pel". pelgel.com.
- ↑ "'E.I.D. Parry". eidparry.com.
- ↑ "'FläktGroup". flaktgroup.com/in/.
- ↑ "'STP Limited - Enhancing Structures and Life". stpltd.com.
- ↑ "'Ramji Raghavan - Impacting 8 Million Rural Children Through Innovative Learning Methods". in.news.yahoo.com.
- ↑ "'Agastya International Foundation invites collaborations from Biologists". indiabioscience.org.
External links[edit]
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