IT and Telecom Bring a Transformation in Rural India

28:56 | Kamla Bhatt | Jan 26th, 2007 5:21pm |

On December 23, 2006, Dr. A.P.J. Kalam, the president of India, inaugurated the first Global Pan-IIT conference in Mumbai. The theme of the conference was: “Inspire to Involve and Transform India.” One of the early pioneers to help India involve and transform is Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, who teaches at IIT, Chennai. He also leads the Telecommunications and Computer Networks group at IIT Chennai, one of the early incubators in India that has produced many successful companies.

In 1981, Prof. Ashok returned to India after spending a few years in the U.S., and since then has been actively involved in the IT and Telecom area in India.

In this interview, Prof. Jhunjhunwala discusses how technology and Telecom can help transform India, can we become technologically the best in few areas, how can we involve the 700 million rural population in this revolution? With computers and connectivity, this change and transformation can take place. This can help the rural people offer and do services for the urban area.

Prof. Jhunjhunwala is on the board of several Telecom and IT companies in India, including Polaris, Sasken and Tejas. Previously, he was a board member of VSNL & BSNL.

Photo Credit: Hindu Business ...