Dr. S. Bhagavantam examines the German “Small Computer”, 1969

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Campus Facilities , Academic Facilities , Visiting VIPs

The chief guest at IIT Madras’s sixth convocation was Dr. S. Bhagavantam, Scientific Advisor to the Minister of Defence, Government of India. On the day of the event, upon reaching the campus, Dr. S. Bhagavantam was received by Prof. A. Ramachandran (Director) and Mr. C. V. Sethunathan (Registrar).

Prior to the event, the chief guest was shown around the Institute and was invited to view the labs and workshop facilities. In the image, Dr. S. Bhagavantam examines the German “Small Computer”. That year the Electrical Engineering Department received two computers, almost certainly the first computers on campus. One computer was quite large while the other, seen in the image, was much smaller. This “Small Computer” was a German computer that was built about a decade after the larger one. This computer was an example at that time of how modern electronics aids in the miniaturization of instruments, resulting in products which consume lesser power and which, more often than not, exhibit greater efficiency.

In the image, from left, Prof. P. Venkata Rao (Head of Electrical Engineering Department), Prof. A. Ramachandran (Director), Dr. S. Bhagavantam (chief guest and Scientific Adviser to the Minister of Defence) and Prof. B. Ramaswami (Electrical Engineering Department).

An identical photograph can be found in the Central Photographic Section Collection in Album 0053 under the ID: 001/0053/IMG_1635_1

Collection:

Gourishankar Collection

Album Name:

Visit of Dr. S. Bhagavantam, 1969

Photograph ID:

001/0239/IMG_0063

Album ID:

0239

Date:

2 August 1969

Event:

Visit of Dr. S. Bhagavantam

Photographer:

C. Gourishankar (1926-2002). 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.

Place:

Electrical Engineering Department