Prof. S. Sampath addresses the audience during the Computer Centre inauguration, 1973

< Back

Administrators , Faculty , Inaugurations

The inauguration took place on 17 November. IIT Madras had recently acquired the IBM 370/155 computer with the help of West Germany. There is a report of the event in the book ‘Computer Education in India: Past, Present and Future’, where it is mentioned that Prof. Sampath “stressed the need to convince trade union leaders that the use of computers would in the long run result in greater employment.” In the same book, Prof. Sampath’s article notes, “The establishment of the computer centre is the realization of a cherished dream.”

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.

Prof. Sampath was a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering. He also served as Deputy Director for the Institute on multiple occasions, and served as Director after Prof. A. Ramachandran’s tenure in May 1973 up until October 1973 when Prof. K. A. V. Pandalai became Director.

At the stage, 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), Mr. K. T. Chandy (Chairman Board of Governors), Mr. C. Subramaniam (Union Minister for Industrial Development and Science and Technology), Prof. K. A. V. Pandalai (Director) and Prof. H. N. Mahabala (Professor-in-charge, Computer Centre).

Collection:

Central Photographic Section Collection

Album Name:

Inauguration of Computer Centre

Photograph ID:

001/0030/IMG_0891_1

Album ID:

0030

Date:

17 November 1973

Event:

Inauguration