Hong Kong
April 8, 2014
In a development that can be viewed as a reaffirmation of C-DAC's technical prowess, Dr Srinivasan Ramani, former Founder Director of C-DAC, Mumbai has been inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame at the Internet Society's 2014 Induction Ceremony held today in Hong Kong. Dr Ramani joins an elite rank of notable icons who have been inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame for their significant contributions to the advancement of the global Internet. The Internet Hall of Fame inducted Dr Srinivasan Ramani for his contributions to the growth, connectivity, and use of the Internet in India. It is also noteworthy to mention that he is the first Indian to make it to the Internet Hall of Fame.
Commenting on the award, an elated Dr Srinivasan Ramani said that "it is a matter of honour and pride to be recognized for my humble efforts in proliferating the Internet in India. The entire nation knows how it has completely revolutionized the way in which we work and communicate today. I am thankful to all my peers and colleagues at C-DAC (formerly NCST), DeitY and ERNET for their invaluable support without which I would not be here today to receive this recognition. In fact, it was the cooperative spirit rather than just the technology that enabled us to bring the Internet to India".
Extending his congratulations to Dr Ramani, Prof Rajat Moona, Director General, C-DAC said that "the whole of C-DAC applauds Dr Ramani on his rare achievement. To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is indeed a coveted honour and it takes a lifetime of perseverance and service to reach that distinctive level. Dr Ramani has been more than a colleague but a mentor to C-DAC whose legacy is being imbibed by the younger generation. We are indeed proud to carry on his tradition forward, and bask in the warmth of his recent honour".
Dr Ramani has been named a Global Connector, a category which recognizes and celebrates individuals from around the world who have made major contributions to the growth, connectivity, and use of the Internet, either on a global scale or within a specific region or community.
Dr. Ramani served during 1984-2000 as the founding Director of C-DAC, Mumbai (formerly National Centre for Software Technology (NCST)), an autonomous organization under the aegis of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India.
During his tenure, Dr Ramani had also served as the Head of the Computer Networks Division, and as Coordinator of activities under the Education and Research Networks Project from its inception in 1986 till 2000. During this period, it was the team headed by Dr Ramani that set up an Internet Gateway and brought the first Internet connectivity to India. The C-DAC team worked in partnership with Education and Research Network (ERNET) teams at various Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science, and with the team at the Department of Electronics (now DeitY) in Delhi. It was largely due to his leadership, vision and initiatives that finally led to the creation of the nationwide ERNET in India. Anticipating the potential growth of the domain, Dr Ramani's team at C-DAC also taught very early courses at the Post-Graduate level on computer networks technology and contributed significantly to the creation of human resources in this field in India.
The Internet Hall of Fame (www.internethalloffame.org) is a recognition program and virtual museum that celebrates the living history of the Internet and the individuals whose extraordinary contributions have made the Internet, its worldwide availability and use, and its transformative nature possible.
"The 2014 Internet Hall of Fame inductees include extraordinary individuals who have helped shape the global Internet," noted Internet Society CEO Kathy Brown. "This historic assembly of Internet trailblazers, innovators, and thought-leaders represent many different countries and backgrounds, each with an inspiring story to share. We applaud their achievements and determination to push the boundaries of technological and social innovation to connect the world."
About the Internet Society
The Internet Society (www.internethalloffame.org) is the trusted independent source for Internet information and thought leadership from around the world. With its principled vision and substantial technological foundation, the Internet Society promotes open dialogue on Internet policy, technology, and future development among users, companies, governments, and other organizations. Working with its members and Chapters around the world, the Internet Society enables the continued evolution and growth of the Internet for everyone.
About C-DAC
With a rich tradition of technology development and innovation, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has evolved from a R&D institution to a pioneering leader in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in India. On this journey, C-DAC has not only successfully created a brand name for itself in innovation, but through its numerous initiatives has also managed to leave a deep imprint in the lives of millions of Indians.
C-DAC's thrust on technology innovation has created its niche in advanced technologies like High Performance Computing and Grid Computing, Multilingual Computing, Software technologies, Professional Electronics, Cyber Security and Cyber Forensics, Health Informatics, and Education & Training. This has resulted in the broadening of domain specific expertise in various technology areas, opening up a plethora of opportunities for C-DAC in the key sectors of the economy like Finance, Healthcare, Power, Steel, Defence, Telecom, Agriculture, Industrial Controls, Broadcasting, Education and e-Governance.
More details on the 2014 Internet Hall of Fame inductees, including their biographies and photos, can be found at www.internethalloffame.org. You can follow the Internet Hall of Fame on Facebook and on Twitter at @Internet_HOF (#ihof2014).