Professor and I

  -- By K. Senthilathiban

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My relationship with Professor Kaliappan began in the year 1979. At that time, he was a lecturer in criminal psychology in the Department of Psychology, University of Madras, where I joined as a student of the post graduate course in criminology. When he was teaching criminology, he exposed me to the concept of, ‘Minimum Teaching and Maximum Learning”.  He divided the entire syllabus among us and asked us to prepare and take classes. That was a nice experience for me and l instantly liked his way of teaching. I cannot forget the after class walk to the canteen with him and other faculty members for a cup of coffee.

​We became very close when he accompanied us to attend the Indian Society of Criminology conference conducted at Aurangabad. He never interfered in our plans and gave great support. One thing I observed in him was that he never got tensed even in critical conditions and was willing to be with us, even to the extent of fighting for our comforts. It was because of him, even after completing the course, that I used to go to the department frequently and be with him and others. He created an interest in research and made me undertake research studies. My first published research paper on ‘Anxiety among Delinquents” was written along with him.

He was instrumental in making me undergo the training of trainers programme on entrepreneurship motivation and this was a turning point in my life. I dedicated my life to learning and development from that year (1992). He gave me a lot of opportunities to conduct training sessions in the university (Academic Staff College), and in the corporate, government and development sectors. This helped me start my own consultancy, Sparks Development Group, in 2001.

I also became a council member of the Indian Society of Criminology and later its secretary, when he became its chairman. I also served as the associate editor of the Indian Journal of Criminology along with him when he was its editor. Yet another assignment I was associated with him was in running the three ISC-Pudhu Vazhvu (New Life) centers for prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse in the three districts of Salem, Vellore and Cuddalore.

​Professor and madam were part of our family. Our visit to his house was always an enjoyable one. His support to me professionally and personally was something great and I cherish each and every aspect of it. When I had a health condition, he simply said, “ You will overcome it, easily.” 

[Written in March, 2016]

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K. Senthilathiban - Profile

Founder of SPACE and Sparks, an organizational strengthening and talent development consultancy organization at Chennai (founded in 2013). Until 2013, he was the managing partner of Sparks Development Group, which he co-founded in 2001.

• Accredited trainer in "Entrepreneurship (achievement) Motivation", NIESBUD, Govt. of India.
• Trained as a consultant in "Institutional Development and Organizational Strengthening" by the Management Development Foundation, The Netherlands. 
• Professional trainer in "Moderation Skills" at the AMI Institute, Bangkok. 
• Facilitator in appreciative inquiry approach for organizational development.

Proud alumnus of the Department of Psychology, University of Madras (1979 – 2001), and was associated with it as a student, researcher and as the secretary of a national academic association until he founded Sparks.

Since 1991, involved in facilitating learning events for organizations in corporate, non-governmental, government and educational institutions.

• Published 14 research papers in academic journals. 
• Developed 81 course books for customized training programmes. 
• Designed 4 competency-based training manuals.

Conducted 26 project evaluations and impact assessments of community based development projects on behalf of national and international funding organizations.

Involved in designing HR systems and processes in small and medium scale organizations.

Was a Consultant Director (Human Resources) in People’s Watch, Madurai, from July, 2009 to June, 2010 - designed and institutionalized policies and systems for HRM.

Guest faculty for the Department of Management Studies, IIT, Chennai, for their management development programmes and for designing and facilitating two elective courses, “Creativity & Innovation” (conducted four courses) and “Management of Change & Transformation” (conducted three courses until 2012).

Visiting faculty in Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), Chennai, since 2006. (Courses: Organizational Behaviour, Organizational Development & Management of Change, Executive Competencies, Coaching, Leadership and Management of Human Resources). Designed and conducted their three-month certificate course on ‘Management of Human Resources’ – conducted 11 courses.