Monday, January 17, 2011



Nihilent’s - CEO Excellence award (2009)


Date: 08th Jan 2009
Auditorium of SIBM,
Viman Nagar campus, Pune


We were celebrating 8th Anniversary of Nihilent Technologies combined with Annual Award function for year 2008. It was 5:00PM, more than 500 people had occupied their seats in auditorium, and it was not looking less than a multiplex theatre.

Function began with lightning the lamp by Mr. L C Singh (CEO & Chairman) and Mr. Minoo Dastur (COO & Director). There was a classical dance performed by one of the employee to start the cultural events, and then second one was song performance. After every couple of performances anchors were announcing different category of performance awards for year 2008.

I was enjoying the function and was seating with few of my colleagues from HR and RM team. Then remarkable performance of the team began, about 6 of them, it was a band formed and fresh voices. Vocal and music couldn’t meet on single line together, they just started singing and dancing on stage. Jumping high with higher nodes but voice had almost gone to zero. It was really fun and everyone in the hall was just laughing but these men’s at work continued and accomplished what was planned by them. Oh…that was just too much..!

The next category of award was ‘Associate of the Year’; for the moment I felt that it’s just 1 year for me in Nihilent hence there cant be any chance for any kind of award. As normally in first one year you just get settled in organization, you have to build your acquaintances, achieve more than what was expected from you etc. I was at least sure that I had done much as expected and I was personally confident about it however award is something which many times you feel you deserve and fail to understand at the end when you are not even nominee for it. This category was also over and my name didn’t appear…!

My boss was seating on front row and I was just behind him in second row, he turned to me and glanced. May be he just wanted to make sure whether I am present or not. The next category of award was ‘CEO Excellence’, this is second highest award category. I and colleague next to me were talking on something, and the announcement bounced…CEO Excellence award goes to...

1. Sachidanand Kulkarni
2. Shohel Noor
3. Vishwanathan J
4. Vikram Indla
5. Prashant Dabhade
6. Mohammed Irfan

We were 6 of us out of 800+ employees in the organization to receive this award. I was shocked for the moment but realized quickly that I was expecting something and I got more than that.

What I appreciate is, I was just 1 year old in the organization and was proving myself. However I was recognized for my efforts and was cosidered for this honor. Nihilent has been truely great journey from my day one and continues to the same.

For the moment I remembered Lord Krishna’s promise from ‘Bhagwat geeta’, “Karmanye wadhikaraste, ma faleshu kadachanam”. (Keep doing your job, never do it for award or appreciation). This is absolute truth and I was experiencing it. This award for me was more than getting Padhmashree or Nobel price.

I was called on stage, I offered handshake to my boss Mr. Gyan and thanked him for nominating me. I received certificate with cheque of Rs. 10,000 by Mr. Minoo Dastur.

It was simply great; I was thrilled and was feeling on top of the world.

Along with the recognition and pat on my back by Mr. Dastur, I moved from stage with promising for lot more to do in coming years.