Trichy's simpleton businessman: Kuberan

Striking up a conversation with Kuberan is as easy as it gets. And once the talk is over, you're left with is an easy feeling of having spoken to man who's genuine, hardworking and witty. Much later it strikes you that you've spoken to the proprietor of VBK Computers, Trichy. And of course it's little wonder that it should be Kuberan who is the man responsible for starting VBK Computers and nurturing it over the years to emerge as quite a name to reckon with in the Trichy channel market. Kudos to the man!

All of 34 years, B Kuberan was born and bred in Tindivanam. "I was the dullest student in my class until I reached the 7th standard," says the blatantly honest Kuberan. So, what brought about the change? The teachers, he admits. "Well, in the primary classes, I was unfortunate to have very harsh teachers. From the 7th standard onward, I began to take an interest in my studies and by the time I reached the 10th standard, I was a bright student," says

Kuberan. 

Subsequently, mathematics and science became his favorite subjects and some where between the ball and the goal and endless football matches, Kuberan enrolled for his engineering course in Electronics and Communications. 

Kuberan is a thoroughbred family man: and all through his life, his family was his first consideration before taking any decisions. No wonder he chose to be a day-scholar while pursuing his engineering at

Melmaruvuthur. 

Ask him about his college days and there's suddenly this distant picture of boys and movies and lectures. Understandable. Kuberan studied at an all-boys college!

It was a tough two years after graduation. Kuberan remembers sending endless copies of his resume to various companies and the outcome was invariably in the negative. But his spirit seemed undeterred. Somewhere within Kuberan there was this burning desire to start his own enterprise. 

VBK Computers was the outcome. But not before Kuberan equipped himself for the task. He did a high-intensity course in hardware at Microcode Consultants in Chennai. This was followed by four months of first-hand work experience, integrating systems at Pragati Computers,

Pondicherry. 

"That's when my mother fell ill. She had to undergo an open-heart surgery. But she didn't pull through. That's when I decided to get back to being with my family. I wanted to be there with my father during our times of distress," says Kuberan, in a voice tinged with pain.

For sheer practical reasons, Kuberan chose too set up shop Trichy. "There's no scope in Tindivanam. Trichy has a lot of potential where business is concerned," says

Kuberan.

Today, Kuberan and his father jointly run the show at VBK Computers. "My father was into coffee powder selling, a business which was started by my grandfather in the 1940's. Latterly, the coffee business didn't do very well. And after the death of my mother, who used to handle a good chunk of the business operations, our coffee business slumped and it made sense to get into computer business since I was very interested in this field," says Kuberan. 

VBK Computers was started from scratch. Kuberan approached distributors like Redington and Tech Pac. It was Tech Pac that gave Kuberan a chance. And soon, vendors, distributors and customers came to trust VBK Computers for its genuineness. "Today, if a vendor plans to enter the Trichy market, he'd want to do it through VBK Computers. Such is our reputation," says a confident Kuberan. 

Kuberan however is quick to share his success with everybody who helped shape his business. "We wouldn't be what we are today but for the support and trust of my vendors, distributors and customers."

Now that VBK Computers is going great guns, Kuberan has started planning for the future. A new office is on the anvil. But before that happens, Kuberan is enjoying the bliss of fatherhood for the second time. His wife, who is a graduate in Computer Science, would soon be assisting Kuberan in his business. But that's only after his one month old daughter is a little older. They also have a six-year-old son.

Patricia Sridhar