Life & Career

Born 53 years ago at Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala State, Gopala Pillai is the son of Nanu Pillai, a farmer by vocation, and (Late) Lakshmi Amma.

He had his early education at St Thomas High School, Kozhenchery and completed his Pre-Degree from St Thomas College, Kozhenchery.

During this time, he was involved in the activities of All Kerala Balajana Sakhyam. By the time he reached pre-degree, he was very much active in Kerala politics. This seriously affected the studies and dropping from the top-ranking student in the high school to the bottom of the list in pre-degree was a very good reason for his brother to ask him to move to Delhi.

Soon, he got a job in Delhi Development Authority and simultaneously got admission in Delhi University where he started school in the evening hours. He graduated in Economics from Delhi University. He also got a Diploma in Journalism from Bharathiya Vidya Bhawan, Delhi.

Then, he worked with Delhi Development Authority for some time. In 1973, he got married to Santha (a nurse by profession) and had his first child (Saji) born in 1974.

In 1975, he went to US. While in US, he realized that his economics degree or journalism is not going to do any good. Immediately, he switched over to Computer Science and took a BS Degree in Computer Science, from Wayne State University, Michigan, USA.

His son (Sanjay) was born in 1977. His daughter (Saji) got married in the year 2000 to Kesavan Nair who works in USA as a software Engineer.

After 25 years of analyzing, designing and coding, he is now getting ready to retire in the next few years as an accomplished lucky father blessed with two wonderful kids and a wonderful son-in-law. Of course, he gives all the credit goes to his wife who always kept him on track.