Dec 27, 1999

N.Balakrishnan, 49
Computer Scientist

THE VISIONARY

The lights at the Indian Institute of Science are never switched off. Reason: an unassuming scientist named N.Balakrishnan is always at the lab.  Balki-as he is fondly called- is one of the leading lights of the Indian supercomputer programme and is an aerospace scientist too. Balki, who joined the IISC in 1972, has come a long way from his tiny village, Villupuram near Chennai. His crowning glory: IISC's Supercomputer Education and Research Centre which he set up in 1987 defying a US embargo.

Casual and unobtrusive, Balki is stirring up an infotech revolution in India. He's part of the team that is working on a cutting-edge project: the Rs.1,000 crore national infotech backbone-Sankhya Vahini (data river). Balki sets no limits. "At the frontiers there are no borders, " he says. And though his number-crunching abilities are impressive, it's when he talks of the future that you know he's really thinking ahead. "We should impart high quality education via a national network. When you are networked, distance becomes immaterial. The anytime, anyplace, anyone paradigm." In other words, hi-tech education for the masses. The son of a "touring talkies" owner hasn't forgotten his roots.

 -Stephen David

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