IT as it was...

When I look back to remember my most memorable moments in Indian IT, I would
like to start with my own experience first. For my recruitment test and
interview, I landed up at the small CyberMedia office with thirty people in a
basement in South Delhi. Frankly, that was perhaps the first time I was seeing a
personal computer. I now laugh about it, but the two questions in the test paper
that really stumped me were-'Name five Indian computer companies', and 'Name
five foreign computer companies. The only two Indian names I knew that had made
computers was Hindustan Computers Ltd (now HCL), and Wipro. Amongst the foreign
companies Apple and IBM were known names.

There were no mobile phones so that I could call a friend, though I am sure
none of my friends would have been of any help. Suddenly my eyes fell on a pile
of cardboard boxes. One of them said HP, and another one said Siva Sterling. I
took a chance and added HP to the foreign list, and Sterling to the Indian list.
So instead of five Indian and five foreign computer companies, I was able to
give only three names each. Later I was told I had done well in the test, and
selected. The future editor of Dataquest had been recruited. Except for Sterling
Computers, all others including myself survived.

I must also mention here another incident that remains very fresh in my
memory till date. CSI was the buzzword in those days, and if you were anybody in
the IT industry you knew what it was. Computer Society of India (CSI) was the
biggest and the most high-profile association of IT professionals. Its members
were not just industry executives, but also IT professionals working in
enterprises, and the academia including college students and professors. One
day, when I was still a cub reporter, the receptionist at my office informed
that I had guests. I went out to see a few professors from the Computer
Department of one of India's premium science and technology colleges. They
wanted to invite me for the CSI's Annual Conference, because Dataquest was
associated with the event. I thought CSI must be the most prestigious
organization in the world. Now, however, CSI, the country's biggest IT body (it
might still be in terms of number of members) is now relegated to almost an
unknown entity. If CSI would have changed with the needs of time, it could still
have been the most important body.

Another interesting story I can recount is about a very prominent minister in
the UPA Government today, who used to be the Chief Minister of one of India's
most tech savvy states. India's one of the first Software Technology Parks was
being innaugurated, and the minister was the chief guest. He started rushing
towards the side lawns of the facility, when somebody informed him that its a
ribbon cutting inside the building. The amused minister remarked, "A software
park is inside the building." Today we have CMs who carry laptops and make
powerpoint PPTs to industrialists and investors.

Lastly, one day, I was standing in the long winding queue outside the US
Embassy for a visa interview, when a slightly hassled man in front of me asked
me what do I do. I said I work for a computer magazine, and therefore, will get
a visa. When I aksed him the same question, he replied that he deals in
hardware. To pep him up I told him that he has a good chance too of getting a
visa since he deals in information technology. What hardware was my next
question. Brass and steel taps, T joints, hinges.....the list was long. My jaw
dropped, but luckily no one was watching.

ibrahim ahmad

ibrahima@cybermedia.co.in

(Our Editor, Vinita Bhatia, is currently on leave)