Srinivas Ambati is a software Solutions Architect in Aclara and works in their Wellesley office. He is  responsible for development of software frameworks, design patterns, quality attributes, and best practices for utility companies to implement Smart Grid solutions in the energy sector.

Prior to becoming a software professional, he was an Inspector in Bangalore Customs and played a lead role in computerization of Air Cargo through EDI in the Bangalore Airport. This was one of the very successful flagship and pilot projects of the government of India executed on time, on budget, on scope, which was later implemented in other major airports like Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi, etc.

Srinivas is also a chess and travel enthusiast and a strong community member and shared with me his various interests.

Although I learnt how to play Chess when I was in 7th grade, the passion took off when my friend Dr. Phaneesh introduced me to the Malleswaram Chess Club in 1980, where I met state and national level players and learned the game in a more structured way. It was lot of fun to play with friends & adults of any age. One game led to another and another and so on because nobody wanted to lose . Learning new tricks and tactics every time I played was the most interesting thing that motivated me to play more and more. I used to carry around my chess set everywhere and was ever ready to play against anybody, anytime! As I progressed, I started relating every bit of it to my life and learned new ways of analyzing and handling situations, which I can attribute to the game of chess.

I have been teaching chess to kids ages 5 to 15 for the past 6 years, but in the process, a few parents managed to learn and are participating in tournaments as well. I love kids and I started the classes to teach this amazing game to my kids and spend more time with them. I wanted them to have as much fun as I did when I was young, but at the same time give them a strong foundation. Along the way, I also learned much more about the history, great chess masters, current chess news, chess clocks, teaching methods, etc.

Playing chess helps strategize, analyze and solve complex problems not just in the game but in real life as well. Studies have shown that those who play chess become better at math, raise their IQs, increase their creativity, and improve memory & concentration. Since the game needs planning and foresight, it has proven to be a powerful sport to hone those essential life skills. This is the only sport that uses and develops both the left & right sides of the brain at the same time. Well, the list can go on, but the point is that the benefits of playing chess are numerous and if the kids learn it at a young age, they can learn how to implement it in real life faster. Moreover, I wanted to teach the kids the necessary values in life through which they can analyze and make decisions by themselves.

Yes, I love travelling and seeing the world. Nothing can replace the knowledge and experience you gain by travelling. I enjoy getting to know different cultures and life styles, meeting people with varied backgrounds, and eating authentic food (although I am not an adventurous eater). I started travelling within India when I was little, along with my family and I have fallen in love with travelling since then. I have been to Badarinath, Kedarnath, Nepal, Shimla, Agra, Delhi, Hardwar, Bombay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal & interior Karnataka, Goa, Lakshadweep…., oh well, Kashmir to Kanyakumari, as they say. 

Due to my love for nature, I joined the Adventurers club and met Venky and Swamy who introduced me to back-country hiking. Through the club, I went on a few long hiking trips in the Western Ghats of Karnataka in the middle of heavy monsoon season, carrying all supplies and camping out in the middle of nowhere and learned to survive with very few necessities. The most memorable ones were the 7 day Yana trek and the railway track trek from Hassan to Kukke Subramanya along the most scenic parts of Western Ghats, while being with friends, cooking, laughing, singing, in the middle of serene beauty and untouched nature.

My first international travel was to the Netherlands when my wife, Nikhila, got to travel there on a business trip. I accompanied her for 6 weeks and explored Amsterdam’s every nook and corner and also visited some neighboring countries. That trip triggered my desire to go around the world and when I came to the U.S in pursuit of a better career, my travel dreams became stronger and easier with the great infrastructure offered, keeping safety as a priority. Since then I have not missed an opportunity to visit the many national parks here in the U.S, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier Bay, Volcanoes, Haleakala, Acadia, Shenandoah, etc. The most memorable trip here was the RV trip around the Utah’s National parks where we visited Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, and the Antelope Canyons, all with natural wonders and adventurous hikes. 

Some of my other significant travels include Rocky Mountains in Canada, Iguassu Falls and Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Caribbean Islands, and Mexico. I was also fortunate enough to visit Egypt just before the civil unrest started. Words cannot describe the magnificence of the Great Pyramids and the importance of Nile river. Well, I think I have covered most of the important places that I visited and I thank Nirmala & Lokvani for taking me back in time, to my fond memories.

Looking back to lives in India and U.S, I feel fortunate to be part of both great Nations of the world and am thankful to God for making me be who I am. I feel my biggest achievement is my family and without active support from Nikhila in every step of the way, I would not have been able to reach or conquer my dreams. Now, both of us together are attempting to raise our two children Shrunothra and Shrujal to be good citizens with strong values.  

I got introduced to the world of service through Venky, and have been part of The American India Foundation (AIF) for several years and am very humbled and grateful to do my part to serve the needy, back home in India. AIF is dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change in India and building a lasting bridge between the United States and India.

I am also very actively involved with the New England Kannada Koota (NEKK) and am leading the “Seva Mandaara” wing which we established, to give back to the community (Soup kitchen, Cradles to Crayons, Food pantry) and to serve the less fortunate. We raised funds to benefit Uttarkhand victims and recently helped “BELAKU” in Bangalore, which houses the orphan, destitute and poor children. Our next initiative is to help Margadarshi in Bangalore who help and support the most vulnerable groups of disabled people towards their physical, social, psychological and economic wellbeing. We are also organizing a benefit concert called “Maadhurya” on Dec 6th to raise funds to benefit “Samarthanam” and “Ekal Vidyala”.

I was also fortunate enough to be the chair of the Project Management committee of Navika 2013, a 3-day World Kannada Conference, which happened in Worcester, MA. I made long lasting connections and was able to contribute my time and provide PM expertise to successfully oversee the execution.

Acting was one of my childhood hobbies and I am glad to be part of the “Ranga Taranga” drama group and partake in a few plays which give me great pleasure. Photography is another of my favorite hobbies, but I haven’t been able to develop my skills and I hope to in the future. In addition, I am exposed to the best musicians and dancers in the New England area and get to enjoy all different genres of music and dance.

The plan is to continue with the current chess group, participate in tournaments, and also teach the kids some important life skills like communication and presentation, bring in accomplished people and have informal talks with them, visit museums, businesses, and other fun places. I want to be able to offer and expand it to other kids and towns, if time permits.

The game of chess is all about pattern recognition, rather than reacting to an unexpected situation leading to unintended consequences. This is the most important skill in life: to be able to handle any happy or tough situation with a calm mind and act or react with a logical thought process. Chess challenges your brain and keeps it on the edge, and makes you think of the next best move among different possible options. You have to make a decision in a short amount of time, which is what they are learning through this game. I aim to inspire kids to focus on learning chess fundamentals and various tactics. This helps them to come up with their own strategy with different combinations of tactics, appropriate to each situation to win the game (of life).