|
This was the key objective of the CSI Annual Convention 2006 on
Affordable Computing in Kolkata which was attended by key luminaries both from
the industry and enterprise.
Kolkata hosted Computer Society of India's 41st Annual
Convention between 23rd and 25th November. The event graced the presence of key
luminaries like S Ramadorai of TCS and Nandan Nilekani of Infosys who were also
conferred fellowships by CSI.
The theme of the event this year was 'Affordable Computing'.
The purpose of adopting affordable computing as a theme was to showcase the work
that has already been done in this area as well as use the platform to generate
ideas and invite views of eminent personalities on how affordable computing
could become more of a reality with the passage of time.
|
|
| The inaugural panel with West
Bengal's IT Minister Dr Debesh Das, Cognizant COO Laxmi Narayan, and
other key personalities |
A Flying Start
The convention took off to a flying start on 23rd November at the Science
City auditorium in Kolkata. Debesh Das, the IT Minister of West Bengal, with the
lighting of the lamp, inaugurated the convention. The inauguration was attended
by members of CSI from across the country, including the likes of Laxmi Narayan
of Cognizant Technology Services, Lalit Sawney and Ashok Agarwal of ACS
Technologies, members of CSI's Kolkata Chapter and students from across the
country. Das recalled how CSI was able to forecast years back that information
would become a commodity which is indeed a reality today. He also urged the
industry and the research community to take initiatives in affordable computing
to bridge the digital divide. Also present on the inaugural dais was Alok
Mukherjee, the president of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI)
who spoke on how we should focus on inventions that would actually touch and
transform human lives. Mukerjee's views received support from NR Banerjee, the
Chairman of Webel.
Laxmi Mittal stressed on the increased success rates of IT
projects globally; the transforming roles of IT professionals from technocrat to
strategists; the huge opportunities in business due to the Internet revolution.
 |
|
|
| Dr Debesh Das (left), Minister
of IT, WB, lighting the inaugural lamp |
|
Alok Mukherjee, president of
Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industries addressing the delegates at the
CIO-CTO convention |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| VVR Babu, Group CIO of ITC,
talks about the changing role of the CIO in the enterprise |
|
Siddharth, principle
secretary, IT of West Bengal making an address at the CSI-Nihilent
e-governance awards |
Proceedings till the End
A key highlight of day one was the CIO/CTO Convention in the evening at
Hyatt Regency. Key speakers of the evening were VVR Babu, Group CIO of ITC,
Hemant Sonawala, chairman of Hinditron Group, Jayant Pendharkar, VP, Marketing,
TCS and the discussion was chaired by Alok Mukherjee of BCCI who deliberated on
'The Changing Role of a CIO'. Both Mukherjee and Sonawala stuck to the theme
of the convention. While the former emphasized on the need for local language
software for increased PC penetration and affordability, Sonawala talked about
the need for transforming data into information. Babu spoke about the CIO in a
consultative role and how there is an increasing trend among CIOs to display
leadership and management skills. Pendharkar spoke about how technology has been
able to completely transform the Indian stockmarket, reduced transactional cost
by a factor of 10 and played a key role in making it the third busiest exchange
in the world. Ramadorai of TCS graced the meet with his presence and spoke on
the role of the CIO.
Apart from the student convention, the CSI-Nihilent Awards was
the key highlight of day two at the convention. The event was attended by Minoo
Dastur, the COO of Nihilent who emphasized on Nihilent's commitment to
e-governance, Sanjiv Chopra, the IT secretary of Uttaranchal, Siddartha,
principal secretary of IT of West Bengal, apart from Lalit Sawney and Ashok
Agarwal. Projects like e-Abhiyan, e-Sagoo, e-Dhara and Khazane received awards
at the project level while Karnataka and Gujarat were adjudged the best
e-governed states.
Nilekani was the key attraction at the convention on the final
day who addressed the valedictory session. The event culminated with the baton
being passed on to the Bangalore Chapter for organizing CSI Convention 2007.
Bhaswati Chakravorty
bhaswatic@cybermedia.co.in Page(s) 1
| 
Print
Comment
Email
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Twitter
