TCS layoffs: Former Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani quotes Sholay line and sends a message to techies

Indian IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) recently announced its plans to lay off 12,000 employees, which is roughly 2% of its workforce. Reacting to the news, CP Gurnani, former CEO of Tech Mahindra, shared a thought-provoking message for the Indian technology industry. Quoting the iconic dialogue from popular Bollywood movie Sholay. In an interaction with media, Gurnani said, “Kitney aadmi the?... Thank God that period will be over.” CP Gurnani made the comments during an interview with CNBC-TV18. The former top executive of Tech Mahindra urged the Indian IT industry to move beyond the obsession of headcount and embrace outcome-based models. Gurnani stressed on a shift from the traditional pyramid-style delivery system which have long been associated with the Indian IT. He further emphasised that the tech industry in India should prioritise enhanced productivity, specialised skills, and advanced technological capabilities over headcount.During the recent round of layoffs, TCS insists that the job cuts are not driven by AI but by skill mismatch and the need to realign talent with emerging business demands. TCS CEO K Krithivasan also clarified that the decision of the company is majorly driven by deployment feasibility and not productive gains from AI.Apart from TCS, other India IT companies including Infosys and Wipro have also witnessed a decline in headcounters from over 12,000 and 25,000, respectively, in the past two years. Additional, HCLTech also announced restructuring at the company due to location and skill mismatches. Also, experts suggest that the roles such as low level coding, testing and documentation have now become obsolete.For decades, India's IT prowess has been built on its vast talent pool. However, as global demands shift towards more complex, niche, and AI-driven solutions, the emphasis is increasingly on quality over quantity. Former Nassscom chairman Ganesh Natarajan also spoke in support of Gurnani’s viewpoint. Natarajan called the pyramid model as ‘Jurassic Park material’. He also feels that agentic AI — software that autonomously performs complex tasks—will force companies to rethink team structures and delivery models.Analyst are also of the viewpoint that the layoffs may also increase due to the market share shifts and vendor consolidation, not just automation. The entry level jobs at BPO and customer service roles are the most vulnerable. former Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani’s message aims to encourage Indian tech professionals to upskill and reskill and embrace new technologies.