CK Prahalad: A legend who will be sorely missed

It is with a heavy heart that all of us associated with Prof CK Prahalad received the news of him passing away on April 16 at Scripps Green Hospital, La Jolla, California, USA.  

CK had strong ties with Ahmedabad; his wife Gayatri hails from the city which made him visit Ahmedabad during winters. For the last several years he used to deliver an annual lecture at Loius Kahn Plaza, IIMA - under the aegis of the Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA). His first ever management convention with AMA was way back in 1993 which was
attended by nearly 5000 people.

CK's greatest contribution shall always remain his prophecy for India and the catalytic role he played in helping India dream big. His book "Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid" concentrated at the economic opportunities that existed at the bottom of the economic ladder- at the level where people earn one to three dollars a day and a large, silent community in India today benefits from this philosophy shown by him.

A Visionary, he talked about India joining the big league way back in 1995. His India@75, launched a massive visioning exercise simultaneously across 22 Indian states. Adopting a bottom-up approach, through various stakeholders' workshops, primary data is being collected to help India become economically strong, technically vital and an ethical global leader by the year 2022.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) partnered this exercise across India. "This momentum started by CKP shall continue until India attains 75 years in his memory now, he was a management legend who through his innovative thoughts and research gave dignity to the poor people of India by proving them as powerful consumers," chairman CII Gujarat State Council, Yatindra Sharma says with deep sorrow.

Organisations, such as the Indus Entrepreneur (TiE), feel a tremendous loss. "TiE has lost our chief mentor, visionary and avid supporter and CK will be greatly missed by all of us who have known, admired and loved him.  In addition to his being an internationally renowned thought leader, he was a remarkable human being who made the world a better place for all of us," says Suren Dutia from TiE  Global in California.   

CK Prahalad, one of nine children, born into a Kannada home of a Sanskrit scholar, returned to teach at his alma mater Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, after graduating from Harvard.

His last teaching position held was as Paul and Ruth McCraken Distinguished University Professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan. A well established name in the management circles, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2009.

I have heard CK speak at many different forums and have been inspired and worked on the India@75 project throughout the state of Gujarat.

 An intellectual giant and an icon of our times, India will miss this staunch ambassador, who rallied and changed the world opinion for us. From India being glorified as a poverty stricken country, CK managed to change that perception to this poor class of people being a powerful economic force.

The news of his sad demise was received with shock and disbelief since his health deteriorated very fast. Organisations and well wishers across the world are holding condolence meetings and prayer sessions in his memory.

In response to an overwhelming response being received - Deepa Prahalad, CK's daughter, has set up an email address to directly receive condolences from students, associates, members from various business chambers and CK's countless friends from across the globe. 

If you wish to do so, you may write to Prahalad.Family@gmail.com and be assured your personal message will reach the family.