Bukkapuram Nadella Yugandhar, a distinguished bureaucrat, is the father of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Yugandhar's family originally hailed from Nadella village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh but migrated to Bukkapuram village in Anantapur district around four decades ago. The family retained both Bukkapuram and Nadella in their surname, representing their heritage and roots.
Yugandhar had an accomplished career, serving in various high-level positions in the government, including working in the Prime Minister's office and for the Chief Minister of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Yugandhar became the apple of the eye of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao because of his attitude to always work for helping the poor lead a life with dignity and decency.
When Yugandhar’s son Satya’s engagement was fixed with Anupama Priayadarsini, daughter of KR Venugopal IAS, in 1992, Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao wanted to surprise them by attending the function even though he was not invited to the ceremony as the two families wanted it to limit the function to their families. Narasimha Rao, along with another officer Ramu Damodaran, got into an ordinary ambassador car without any fanfare and only one lone jeep with policemen following the car. As no one knew that PV was moving in an Ambassador car, he had the bitter experience of getting stuck in a traffic snarl as he was not given the right of the way. Finally when he reached their quarters where the engagement function was held, joy of Yugandhar and Venugopal knew no bounds as they had never expected him.
Dr. Duvvuri Subbarao, a former RBI governor, recalls his mentorship under Bukkapuram Nadella Yugandhar with admiration and gratitude. Their first encounter took place at the Mussoorie academy in 1972, where Subbarao reported for training as a young IAS recruit, and Yugandhar, ten years his senior, was a deputy director.
Yugandhar's tenure as course director at the Mussoorie academy left a lasting impression on Subbarao, who fondly recalls how Yugandhar adeptly guided their group of "trainees with inflated egos and exaggerated notions of self-importance." Subbarao attributes his understanding of the importance of engaging in fieldwork and gaining firsthand experience through observation, communication, and interaction to Yugandhar's teachings.
Although Yugandhar passed away in 2019, his remarkable legacy endures through the many civil servants he trained, nurtured, mentored, and inspired throughout his career. His unique blend of energy, enthusiasm, and passion has left an indelible mark on the lives and careers of those fortunate enough to have learned from him, ensuring that his influence will be felt for generations to come.