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Dec 27, 1999
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SPECIAL SERIES Krishnan
NeelaKantan, 45
Computer Scientist
SKUNK
WORKER
When
the chips are down, you track down Krishnan Neelakantan. After India was
denied the CRAY supercomputer in 1987, the young computer scientist at the
Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), Hyderabad remained
unfazed. Taking the development in his stride, he initiated work on it.
Today, Neelakantan looks back with pride having helped create a spanking
new lab, the Advanced Numerical Research Analysis Group - ANURAG - the lab
that built India's pride and world's envy: a computer 30 times faster than
CRAY. There's more. As "a technology manager and facilitator" at
ANURAG, his team designed the first Indian microprocessor, ANUPAMA, used
on Indian aircraft and missiles.
Meanwhile,
he chases another ambitious goal: developing a wholly Indian workstation.
Deadline: 2005. That led from another pique: "The world's largest
software manpower provider is still to deliver a really unique Indian
product." Yet, it does not dampen his enthusiasm. A new technical
challenge is just another hurdle to be cleared.
-Amarnath
K. Menon
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