Life journey

The metamorphosis from Ajai to Dr Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman & CEO of HealthCareGlobal (HCG) is dotted with incidents like this. Upholding his values in the face of opposition, and taking up for the underdog has been the hallmark of his life, both as a doctor and as a human being.

It was just another day at school for 12-year-old Ajai. The academic pressure was high, and the conscientious 7th grader had his work cut out for him. A minor indiscretion by a classmate broke the concentration of the class and resulted in the boy being berated by the teacher. Indian schooling in the sixties was firmly in the grip of the Guru-Shishya Parampara, and rebellion was out of the question. Appalled by the severe punishment meted out to his friend, Ajai took up the cause of the boy and marched to the Principal’s office to report the incident. Unexpectedly, the Principal agreed with his views, and the teacher was taken to task

Born in August 22, 1951 to Mr and Mrs Sadashivaiah, Ajai grew up in Bangalore as part of a large and loving family. His father was the principal of the Government Law College and held an important post as a member of the Bangalore University Syndicate. His mother , a traditional and devout woman with a steely resolve, introduced Ajai to the wondrous world of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The stories of loyalty, optimism, kindness, and courage under fire formed a lasting impression on his mind and gave him succour during dark times. Of all the members of this large and loving family, Ajai is closest to his mother. Ajai was the protective older brother to three sisters – Manjula, Komala, and Pushpa. His elder brother Amar Kumar was an academic genius and the pride of the household. Raised by a progressive father who was just as committed to the advancement of his children – sons and daughters alike, Ajai shouldered as much of the responsibility for their upbringing as he could. He helped Komala with her lessons, took great pride in Manjula’s progress in college, and encouraged Pushpa who went on to become a doctor. They laughed and played together, and were a close-knit group. Ajai worked hard to gain his parents’ approval. Although he often fell short in the early years, he was determined not to lose focus. He studied to the point of exhaustion for his 10th grade board exams, and to everybody’s shock, he scored 82%! This was a very good score in those days, and proved to be a turning point in terms of parental respect. This incident triggered a lifelong hunger for challenges in young Ajai. He would brave rejection and scepticism, hurdles, and intense competition in the years to come, thanks to this phenomenal achievement in 10th grade that set the stage for his grit and resilience in the future.

Ajai fondly reminisces about how he secured admission at St. John’s Medical College. He had completed his PreUniversity Course (PUC) in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. But owing to his PUC marks being tampered with by a registrar at Bangalore University who held a grudge against his father, he was unable to get a seat at the prestigious Bangalore Medical College. He had applied to St. John’s but was put on the waitlist. Angered by the injustice of it, his father met with the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University and mentioned that he would take action against the errant registrar. The VC agreed that something seemed off with the paper, but gave him a more viable solution - St. John’s had applied for ten extra seats, which he would agree to grant. He also promised to speak to them about Ajai’s credentials as a bright and promising student, and they were sure to accommodate him. The conundrum was thus resolved.

Ajai would pursue his dream of becoming a doctor at his dream college - St. John’s. This ‘neversay-die’ attitude would reflect both in his oncology practice and his personal life in the years to come.

This was a time of great socioeconomic change across the globe. The emergence of Leftist movements worldwide saw class hierarchies being questioned. The Civil Rights movement pummeled its way into the American subconscious. Race and gender inequality were topics of conversation everywhere. Only in its third decade of freedom, India was no exception. Ancient and oppressive systems were being challenged, and equality was the watchword. Ajai was enormously influenced by these events. The hunger for a free and equal world was the underlying tone of these struggles, and this era marked the cementing of his liberal Left mindset.

Although he was doing well at medical college, the financial situation at home caused the family a fair bit of stress. His father’s debts had now accrued to around 30,000 rupees, and something drastic had to be done. Despite the immense pressure, Ajai watched how his father’s idealism and honesty never wavered. But it was a frustrating time with no solution in sight.

Amar had already left for the United States to help pull his family out of their financial woes. Besieged by nationalistic fervor, Ajai wanted to contribute to the betterment of the country by working at the grassroots in India. But his father was of the opinion that the life of a doctor struggling to make ends meet in India would be a difficult one. Anxious at the thought of his children facing the same financial turmoil that he had, Ajai’s father encouraged him to join Amar in the US and build a life there.

Ajai deliberated on this long and hard. A few years in the US would expose him to the very best medical care in the world. The learning and know how would be invaluable. And the money would be great! A stint there would allow him to realize his dream of setting up a healthcare system in India so much faster. The immediate goal of getting his family out of their current debt would also be served.

And so the decision was taken. Ajai cleared the mandatory Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduation (ECFMG) exams and prepared to fly the nest. To no one’s surprise, this decision went on to change the course of his life completely.

Today, Dr. Ajai stands tall as the Executive Chairman and CEO of HealthCareGlobal (HCG). He is a legend in India and across the world for his medical and humanitarian work, and is one of the wealthiest individuals in the country. But he still looks back fondly at this time in his life. The mid-seventies were a turbulent time for both great nations. India was in the grip of the brutal Emergency, with violent protests erupting nationwide against the ruling Congress Government led by Mrs. Gandhi. America was reeling under the after-effects of the Vietnam War. Morale was low and resentments were high. It was to this America that Ajai landed on 3rd May 1975. It was an anxious time for the conscientious young man. There had been no response to the numerous applications he had sent out to begin his residency so far. And then the unexpected happened. On the very last day of invitations to residency programs, Ajai received an interview call from The University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Ajai not only got the job, but also earned he respect of his bosses for coming fully prepared to join immediately. The feeling of receiving your first pay-cheque is a magical one for any new employee, and it was no different for him. At a princely salary of eight thousand American Dollars per annum, it looked like he would finally help his family achieve prosperity.

One wonders how a busy specialist like Dr Ajaikumar finds time to have so many interesting hobbies and still manages to stay so positive and cheerful despite his busy schedule. He’s an avid trekker, runs regularly, and manages to spend quality time with his friends and family. This is yet another characteristic that goes way back to his Houston days. Leisure times were even rarer then, and he used all of it to learn tennis, kayaking, and practicing Taekwondo. Week-long chess games with his roommate Prakash kept his mind agile, and he discovered that he was a fantastic dancer. Not many know that he hit the dance floors at Texas every night after work, and this energized him like few other activities could.

On the family front, his favorite sister Manjula got married in 1977. Especially in India, a sister’s wedding is a landmark occasion in a brother’s life. Sadly, Ajai was unable to attend it, but supporting his family and standing by them through their joys and sorrows was what kept him going.

Such familial feelings are also reflected in his work. Ajai wanted to help cancer patients in every way, not just through the one-dimensional approach afforded by his current line of work. After much deliberation, he made the unusual switch from radiation oncology to medical oncology, finally zeroing in on developmental therapeutics as his specialization. This was to be one of the best decisions of his career.

Ajai’s most endearing quality has been his ability to empower others on his way up. He is an unselfish and encouraging person whose life has been a motivation to many. A fine orator, his rousing speeches are inspirational, and his leadership qualities shine through in every word.

Challenges drive the Ajai she knows. Bhagya looks back at the time when their son Adarsh was diagnosed with DMD in 1994, and the loss of his life’s earnings in the dot-com bust of 2000. Like a true leader, Ajai prepared the family for the hardships ahead and met these setbacks head-on.

Their life together has been a true partnership of equals. Bhagya and Ajai have jointly taken decisions over the years. With love, humor, and strength derived from each other, they have steered their family through good times and bad.