Tribute to V. Rajaraman, the pioneer who shaped computer science education and the IT industry in India
V. Rajaraman, a Padma Bhushan awardee and a key figure in India's IT revolution, passed away on November 8. He is credited with pioneering computer science education at IIT-Kanpur and IISc-Bengaluru. Rajaraman was instrumental in introducing the first B.Tech. and M.Tech. programs in computer science in India during the 1970s and 80s. He authored numerous textbooks, including a popular Fortran programming manual sold for just ₹15 to ensure affordability. His efforts laid the foundation for the rapid spread of programming skills that fueled India's global software services sector.
Key Points
- Rajaraman led the design of an early analogue computer at IISc in the 1950s and established the first academic computer center at IIT-Kanpur.
- He lobbied for the introduction of formal B.Tech. degrees in computer science, which started with 20 seats in 1979.
- His work as head of the computer manpower committee led to the creation of the Master of Computer Applications (MCA) course.
- He authored 'The Outsourcer: The Story of India’s IT Revolution', documenting the rise of the Indian software industry.
Exam Facts
- Padma Bhushan recipient (1998).
- First B.Tech. Computer Science course introduced in 1979.
- Author of 'The Outsourcer: The Story of India’s IT Revolution'.
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