Dr. B.V. DASIGI


-- -by N.C.Mohandoss & Muthukrishnan

Born at Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India as the eldest son of Perraju and Savitri Devi. Spent childhood at Khurda Road, Orissa. He did schooling in S.E. Railway Mixed High School, Khurda Road and PUC from Khallikote College, Berhampur, Orissa.

In 1961, he entered IIT, Madras from the first batch of IIT joint entrance examination (IIT-JEE) and graduated in Metallurgy in 1966 with third rank. Being from the lower middle class, father’s convictions and achieving a scholarship from IIT, Madras made it possible to study at IIT. He says that he is ever indebted to IIT and India for this.

He had joined Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) as Graduate Engineer though had admission and financial support from an American University. Worked in Foundries Department of RSP for five years as a Junior Engineer. He joined Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Department of RSP and worked as Assistant Programmer & Systems Analyst for two and half years.

Dr. Dasigi joined Bharat Heavy Plate & Vessels Limited (BHPVL) as Systems Analyst and worked for two and half years as in-charge of Materials Management and Payroll. During this period studied for post-graduate diploma in Industrial Engineering as a part-time student with Andhra University and achieved top rank in the university.

He left public sector service in 1976 to be self employed. Started a fabrication and project management company called Solar Pyramids at Visakhapatnam as a partnership firm. During the same period, started a data processing centre at Visakhapatnam in the name of Data Monitor, also as a partnership firm. He also represented AP Industrial & Technical Consultancy Organization as its Resident Manager (Business Development) at Visakhapatnam.

During the period on self-employment, completed M.E. in Industrial Engineering from Andhra University as a part-time student and topped in the university.

1989-90 saw many downs due to relations amongst partners and obsolescence of computers. Being financially incapable of coping with the problems, opted out of these organizations and joined Quality Inspections (India) Pvt. Ltd. as their Resident Surveyor In-charge at Visakhapatnam.

He went to Singapore in 1993 and joined Jurong Engineering Ltd. as a Senior Engineer. After qualifying as a Lead Auditor of Quality Management Systems (QMS), established QMS, assisted in its implementation and led the Fabrication, Power Plant and Industrial Plant Divisions to their ISO 9001 certification.

He returned to India in 1995 and started a management consultancy organization in the name of Luke Philips Consultants (India) Pvt. Ltd. in association with a company of same name in Singapore. Apart from providing consultancy towards establishing quality and environmental management systems for over 50 organisations, Dr. Dasigi was a free-lance auditor auditing on behalf of a number of certification bodies. He audited and certified over 100 organisation in the fields of manufacturing, project management, information technology and software development, service provision as well as charitable institutions.

Received an e-mail from Projects Department of Kuwait National Petroleum Company, who gathered details from the web site of Quality Council of India in 2002, offering a position as a QMS Specialist, if interested. Joined KNPC Projects Department in June 2002 and presently designated as Adviser – QMS & EMS. Established, directly involved in implementation and obtained ISO 9001 certification making Projects Department the first Department of KNPC to get the coveted certification. Subsequently, KNPC – PD was awarded IS0 29001 certification, being the first organisation to achieve this feat in the entire Middle East. He played a key role in KNPC’s Environmental Management System implementation and certification as a Lead Auditor for internal audits.

As an accomplished trainer, trained 42 QMS Lead Auditors in India, 410 QMS Internal Auditors in India and Kuwait, and over 1,500 in QMS awareness in India, Singapore and Kuwait.

During the period with KNPC, passed Project Management Professional Certification examination with the objective of setting example for others in the company.

As a Life Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) (IEI), a Senior Life Member of Computer Society of India (CSI), a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), USA and Professional Member of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), presented papers at conferences organized by IEI in India, ASSE at Kuwait and International Conference of Auditors and Lead Auditors at Dubai. He is a QMS 2000 Principal Auditor, EMS 2004 Lead Auditor, and OH&S Provisional Auditor registered with the International Register of Certificated Auditors, London. Authored about fifteen technical papers arising out of experience in various journals. All these years of hard work have resulted in his inclusion in 10th Anniversary (2008-2009) Edition of The Marquis Who’s Who in Science & Engineering, and he is named as Princeton Premier honored member in business 2007-2008.

During the busy tenure of his self-employment, he did not lose sight of his social obligations. Did what he could as the Secretary, Andhra Association, Rourkela during 1970-71, the Honorary Secretary of the Institution of Engineers (India), Visakhapatnam Local Centre during 1991-93, as the Charter President of Rotary Club of Visakhapatnam Central during 1987-89 and as an officer in the Freemasons Lodge University.

Writing short stories arising out of sweet and sour experiences of life, numismatics and philately have been pursued all along. Due to lack of opportunities, his interest in tennis could not be pursued after leaving IIT, Madras. His love for travel was responsible for his visiting over 25 countries along with his family. Dr. Dasigi can manage conversation in Oriya, Tamil, Kannada and German apart from being proficient in English, Hindi and Telugu.

He married Venkata Suryakumari in 1968. She is a post graduate in Economics and a qualified Lead Auditor of QMS. An ideal wife, Suryakumari, had provided him with the required inspiration all along through thick and thin and assisted him professionally during his self-employment career and during their stay at Singapore. Daughters Soumya, B. Tech (Civil), D.C.A., Microsoft Certified Developer is married to Narasimha Srinivas and Soujanya, B.Sc., M.C.A., M.B.A is married to Venkta Satya Srinivas and are happily settled in USA. Granddaughters Sravya and Nithya Smruthi and grandson Suraj are his darlings, brightening his life, keeping him healthy and encouraging him to go on and on.

He says that designing and implementing QMS in multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environments in Singapore and Kuwait were challenging. He enjoyed the challenges and derived a great satisfaction after accomplishing these projects. Looking back into life at 63, with a professional experience close to 42 years, Venkateswarlu strongly believes that ‘faith in God’ is what one must never lose. God gives everyone what one deserves without being asked. His strengths are continuous professional development and benevolent human relations. Feeling obliged to the society, he paid Rs. 100,000 to IIT, Madras during the year 2000, paid Rs. 50,000 to a NGO near his native place to set up a Charkha centre, gave Rs. 10,000 each to a couple of friends in dire need and assisted two brilliant but needy students to pursue their choice education by paying Rs. 20,000.

He plans to return to India and bring up ‘Vanaprastha’, a cooperative resort for the senior citizens so that they can live a carefree and healthy life even when they are away from their children due to circumstances. A three acre plot near his home place, Vizianagaram is ear-marked for this purpose. God willing, once Vanaprastha becomes a reality, serving the local community would be one of his priorities.