Mr. C. Subramaniam taking a look at the 3420/5 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, 1973

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Institute Events , Inaugurations , Visiting VIPs

This photograph was taken during the Computer Centre inauguration in 1973. IIT Madras had installed the powerful new IBM 370 computer system at the Building Sciences Block this year, opening up new opportunities for researchers and computing enthusiasts.

Campaschimes, the coffee table book about IIT Madras, notes that the tape drives were installed in a hall beyond the card readers (where decks of cards containing programs were submitted for further processing). “The code was compiled and processed in the hall beyond the card reader. The activity in this sanctum sanctorum of the computer centre could be viewed through a large glass partition. There was a space age scene there with tape drives spinning and consoles winking and serious staff members attending to them.”

Seen in the image, from left, Mr. C. V. Sethunathan (Registrar), Mr. K. T. Chandy (Chairman, Board of Governors), Dr. Erhard Eppler (Minister for Economic Co-operation, Federal Republic of Germany) and Mr. C. Subramaniam (Union Minister for Industrial Development and Science and Technology).

Collection:

Gourishankar Collection

Album Name:

1. Special Convocation 2. Computer center 16-11-1973 to 17-11-1973

Photograph ID:

001/0227/IMG_0511

Album ID:

0227

Date:

17 November 1973

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1936-2002). A geologist by qualification, Gourishankar started his career as a photographer after working for many years with the Geological Survey of India. In everything that he did, Gourishankar strove to achieve flawlessness and impeccable quality. Thus his photography too was characterised by this drive for perfection. Every photograph that Gourishankar took was meticulously planned and shot and printed with diligence and patience. Gourishankar carried out most of the official photography at IIT Madras in the 1960s.

Event:

Special Convocation, Inauguration of Computer Centre

Place:

Computer Centre at Building Sciences Block (BSB)