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The inauguration of the Computer Centre saw a turning point in the history of computing at IIT Madras. According to Campaschimes, “Thousands of IITians learnt computer programming using the IBM 370 on campus (...) The computer centre was an impressive place with glass doors and air conditioning in those days of simpler living.” The inauguration marked a crucial point in IIT Madras history. The arrival of the IBM 370 to IIT Madras with the help of German support under the Indo-German Agreement meant that IIT students would not have to travel to IISc Bangalore to conduct their research, as they…

Prof. Mahabala was a Professor of Computer Science at IIT Madras from 1972 to 1995. He was the first Professor-in-charge of the Computer Centre. In the book ‘Computer Education in India: Past, Present and Future’, it is written that prof. Mahabala “directed the growth of the centre fulfilling the computing needs of not only the entire IIT but also of the various educational institutions in and around Madras and of some of the private and public industries” of South India. Prof. Mahabala was one of the pioneers of computer science education in India. He developed the first computer science…

The Computer Centre at IIT Madras was inaugurated on 17 November 1973. The Institute had acquired the IBM 370, a computer which brought with it not only a sense of pride for IITians, but also plenty of scope for research and computing. It was installed in the Building Sciences Block (BSB), where it occupied a significant portion of the first floor. Students and researchers flocked to the system in order to do their project work. Campaschimes notes, “The computer centre was an impressive place with glass doors and air conditioning in those days of simpler living.” From left, Dr. Erhard…

It is likely that refreshments were served after the inauguration of the Computer Centre. The time of day (evening) can be determined by the dark sky which is visible in the background. Seen in the photograph are Prof. A. Ramachandran (Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, second from right) and Mr. A. L. Taylor (Regional General Manager, IBM, India, third from right) with other distinguished guests.  Prof. Ramachandran was the second Director of IIT Madras after Prof. B. Sengupto. He was Director from December 1967 to May 1973. In an article in The…

 In the book ‘Computer Education in India: Past, Present and Future’, there is a report about the event and some details of Dr. Eppler’s speech. According to the report, Dr. Eppler emphasized on the fact that the newly installed IBM 370 computer at IIT Madras, could be of use in tackling various problems of the country. He also highlighted the fact that no other university in the country had an advanced system such as the IBM 370. Reportedly, he noted that the system would aid the Institute in becoming self-reliant. Dr. Eppler was the Minister for Economic Co-operation for the Federal…

This photograph was taken during the inauguration of the Computer Centre at IIT Madras. Prof. Mahabala appears to be talking about the storage unit. The storage unit could hold removable disk packs which had a capacity of 100 MB. It could be used with the IBM 370 system which was newly installed at the Computer Centre at IIT Madras. According to a news report in The New Indian Express, four drives were provided “providing a total of 400 million bytes of an on-line Disk Storage Capacity.” From left Prof. H. N. Mahabala (Professor-in-charge, Computer Centre), Mr. C. Subramaniam (Union…

The photograph was taken during the inauguration of the Computer Centre at IIT Madras in 1973. Several visitors graced the occasion including C. Subramaniam, Erhard Eppler and former Director A. Ramachandran. From left, Prof. A. Ramachandran (Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, first from left), Dr. Erhard Eppler (Minister for Economic Co-operation, Federal Republic of Germany, second from left), Mr. A. L. Taylor (Regional General Manager, IBM, India, third from left), Mr. C. Subramaniam (Union Minister for Industrial Development and Science and Technology…

Mr. Chandy was one of the important persons who delivered speeches at the inauguration of the Computer Centre. In the book ‘Computer Education in India: Past, Present and Future’, it is reported that Mr. Chandy, in his speech, “said the computer centre would function as a focal point for sophisticated research in the South.” Mr. K. T. Chandy (Chairman, Board of Governors) served in many important positions during his career in business including Chairman of Hindustan Lever Limited, Chairman of the Food Corporation of India, Chairman of Hindustan Steel Limited and Chairman of Kerala State…

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) (leucistic male)

Spotted Deer (Axis axis) (three female individuals), Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) (one young individual), Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus) and Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) (leucistic male)

Three-striped Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)

Flying Fox (Pteropus medius)

The Spotted Owlet is a nocturnal bird but sometimes seen during the day. It measures around 20 cm. Salim Ali and S. Dillon Ripley note that “every venerable banyan, tamarind or mango tree will hold a resident pair or two of these little owls, and one has but to tap on the trunk to bring up an inquiring and surprised little staring face to the entrance of a hollow, or dislodge a pair from some shady recess.”

White-eyed Buzzard Eagle (Butastur teesa) (sub-adult)