Distinguished guests and some of the IIT Madras faculty at the inauguration of the Computer Centre, 1973
Administrators , Faculty , Inaugurations
The Computer Centre was inaugurated at IIT Madras in 1973. The aid of West Germany saw the installation of the IBM 370/155 system at the Institute. The IBM 370 was used by students of IIT Madras. Students would use the system for academic work, as well as to enjoy computing. The computer craze caught up among the students and soon the Institute had to provide quotas for students so that everybody who needed to get their work done could do so without the problem of overcrowding. In order to access the facility, one had to register at the counter of the computer centre at around eight in the morning. However, a queue would form upto three hours before the counter opened up for registration.
IBM made a large mural specifically for the occasion, using a photograph of the IBM 370 taken at the Computer Centre. It was made upon Prof. Mahabala’s request. The mural was placed behind the stage of the Central Lecture Theatre (CLT). In this image, it is visible behind the distinguished guests who are seated at the stage. It was around 25 feet long and approximately 6-8 feet high, providing a clear image of the machine. After the inauguration, the mural was kept in one of the classrooms in the Building Sciences Block (BSB) where M.Tech. classes were held.
From left, Prof. S. Sampath (Deputy Director), Prof. A. Ramachandran (Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India), Dr. Erhard Eppler (Minister for Economic Co-operation, Federal Republic of Germany and chief guest), Mr. K. T. Chandy (Chairman Board of Governors) and Mr. C. Subramaniam (Union Minister for Industrial Development and Science and Technology).
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