Pitamah of Indian computer science Prof Rajaraman (92) dies
Prof Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman, often called the "pitamah" (patriarch) of Indian computer science, passed away at 92 in Tatanagar on Saturday.
He launched India's first formal computer science program at IIT Kanpur back in 1965—a move that laid the foundation for the nation's technological revolution.
His journey, achievements
Born in 1933, Rajaraman joined IIT Kanpur in the early days and played a key role in building its computer science curriculum.
Later, he led IISc Bangalore's Supercomputer Centre for over a decade, helping boost India's supercomputing scene.
He received top honors like the Padma Bhushan and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize.
Legacy and impact
Beyond teaching, Rajaraman mentored big names like NR Narayana Murthy and Faqir Chand Kohli.
He also pushed for advanced computing centers and helped bring digital services to people through projects like Karnataka's Bhoomi and Kaveri.
He is survived by his wife, Dharma Rajaraman.