Sam Pitroda

Last updated

Sam Pitroda
Sam Pitroda at the India Economic Summit 2009.jpg
Pitroda at the India Economic Summit 2009
Born (1942-11-16) 16 November 1942 (age 81) [1]
Titlagarh, Orissa Province, British India
(present–day Odisha, India )
Citizenship India
United States
Alma mater Maharaja Sayajirao University
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
Occupation(s)Telecom engineer, entrepreneur
Employer(s)Former advisor to the prime minister on Public Information, Infrastructure & Innovations (PIII)
Political party Indian National Congress
Spouse
Anjana Pitroda
​
(m. 1966)​
Website www.sampitroda.com

Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda (born 16 November 1942), also known as Sam Pitroda, is an Indian telecommunication engineer, and entrepreneur. He was the chairman of Indian Overseas Congress. [2] He was born in Titlagarh in the eastern Indian state of Odisha [3] to a Gujarati family. He was also an advisor to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and for the United Nations. [4]

Contents

Early life and career

Pitroda was born in Titlagarh, Odisha, India to Gujarati parents. [5]

In 1966 he went to work for GTE in Chicago. [6] He is regarded as a pioneer of hand-held computing when he invented the electronic diary in 1975. [7]

Return to India and later career

On a trip back to India in 1981, Pitroda was frustrated by how hard it was to call his family back in Chicago, and decided he could help modernize India's telecommunications system. [8] In 1984, Pitroda was invited to return to India by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On his return, he started the Center for Development of Telematics C-DOT, an autonomous telecom R&D organization. He had previously become a naturalized US citizen but renounced his US citizenship to take Indian citizenship again to work in the Indian Government. [9]

In the 1990s Pitroda returned to Chicago to resume his business interests. In May 1995, he became the first chairman of WorldTel initiative of the International Telecommunication Union. [10]

In 1993, Pitroda helped establish (with Darshan Shankar) the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Tradition and The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology near Bangalore in India. The foundation promotes Ayurveda, India's traditional medicinal knowledge. [11]

In October 2009, Pitroda was appointed as advisor to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations with the rank of Cabinet Minister. [12]

Pitroda founded the National Innovation Council in 2010. [13] In August 2010, Pitroda was appointed Chairman of the National Innovation Council. [14]

In 1992, his biography Sam Pitroda: A Biography was published. [15]

He has been living in Chicago, Illinois since 1964 with his wife but travels to India every two months. [9]

Controversies

During the 2024 Indian general election, Pitroda made remarks in respect of inheritance tax where he allegedly emphasised the need for a policy of wealth redistribution in India and provided an example of inheritance tax in the United States, stating that "If one has 100 million USD worth of wealth and when he dies he can only transfer probably 45 per cent to his children, 55 per cent is grabbed by the government. That's an interesting law." Congress Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks and said that they did not reflect the Congress party's position. [16] In the lead-up to the same election, Pitroda also made headlines over his remarks in an interview to The Statesman where he said "We could hold together a country as diverse as India, where people on East look like Chinese, people on West look like Arab, people on North look like maybe White and people in South look like Africa (sic)". [17] [18]

Pitroda had earlier created controversy over his comments on the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and 2019 Pulwama attack during the 2019 Indian general election. [19] Soon after making his racial analogy comments, Jairam Ramesh announced that Pitroda had resigned as chairman of Indian Overseas Congress. [20]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vikram Sarabhai</span> Indian physicist and astronomer

Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was an Indian physicist and astronomer who initiated space research and helped to develop nuclear power in India. Often regarded as the "Father of Indian space program", Sarabhai was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1966 and the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jairam Ramesh</span> Indian politician

Jairam Ramesh is an Indian politician belonging to INC. He is a Member of Parliament representing Karnataka state in the Rajya Sabha. In July 2011, Jairam was elevated to the Union Council of Ministers of India and appointed Minister of Rural Development and Minister of the new Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. However, in the cabinet reshuffle in October 2012, he was divested of the portfolio of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. He was previously the Indian Minister of State at the Ministry of Environment and Forests from May 2009 to July 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulam Mohammed Sheikh</span> Indian artist

Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh is a painter, poet and art critic from Gujarat, India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1983 and Padmabhushan in 2014 for his contribution in field of art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajendra Singh Pawar</span> Indian entrepreneur

Rajendra Singh Pawar is an Indian entrepreneur, chairman and co-founder of NIIT Limited, established in 1981. He also founded NIIT University, a not-for-profit university in Neemrana, Rajasthan, in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titlagarh</span> Place in Odisha, India

Titlagarh is a Municipality located in the Indian state of Odisha. It is a known summer hotspot in India due its extreme heatwaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vani Jairam</span> Indian singer (1943–2023)

Vani Jairam was an Indian playback singer in Indian cinema. She is fondly referred to as the "Meera of modern India" Vani's career started in 1971 and has spanned over five decades. She did playback for over one thousand Indian movies recording over 20,000 songs. In addition, she recorded thousands of devotionals and private albums and also participated in numerous solo concerts in India and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brihaspati Dev Triguna</span> Indian alternative medicine practitioner (1920–2013)

Brihaspati Dev Triguna (1920–2013) was a Vaidya or Ayurveda practitioner and an expert in Pulse diagnosis. He completed his formal ayurvedic studies under the guidance of Rajvaidya Pandit Gokul Chand ji in his Gurukul from Ludhiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manoj Joshi (actor)</span> Indian actor

Manoj N. Joshi is an Indian actor known for working in film, stage and television. He has also acted in over 70 films since 1998, many of his roles being comedy. He is the recipient of several awards including a National Film Award. Joshi is popularly known for playing Kachra Seth in Phir Hera Pheri (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fali Sam Nariman</span> Indian jurist (1929–2024)

Fali Sam Nariman was an Indian jurist. He was a senior advocate to the Supreme Court of India from 1971 and was the President of the Bar Association of India from 1991 to 2010. Nariman was an internationally recognised jurist on international arbitration. He was honoured with the 19th Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2018. He was one of India's most distinguished constitutional lawyers and argued several leading cases. He was the Additional Solicitor General of India from May 1972 to June 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajai Chowdhry</span> Businessperson

Ajai Chowdhry is one of the six founding members of HCL. He is currently the Chairman-Board of Governors at National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT), Ranchi, International Institute of Information Technology, and Naya Raipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. R. Srinivasan</span> Indian nuclear scientist and mechanical engineer (born 1930)

Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan, is an Indian nuclear scientist and mechanical engineer. He played a key role in the development of India's nuclear power programme and the development of the PHWR. He received the Padma Vibhushan Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos G. Vallés</span> Spanish-Indian Jesuit priest and author (1925–2020)

Carlos González Vallés S.J., popularly known as Father Vallés, was a Spanish-Indian Jesuit priest and author. He lived in India for five decades and wrote extensively in Gujarati and on mathematics. He also wrote in English and Spanish. He was a recipient of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak, the highest award in Gujarati literature, in 1978. He was awarded the Padma Shri posthumously in 2021.

Fr. Gabriel Chiramel CMI was an Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic priest, educationist, zoologist, author and social reformer, known for his services in the fields of education, health and human welfare. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2007 by the Government of India for his contribution to education and literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sitanshu Yashaschandra</span> Gujarati poet and writer

Sitanshu Yashaschandra Mehta, better known as Sitanshu Yashaschandra, is a Gujarati language poet, playwright, translator and academic from India.

Anant Darshan Shankar, known as Darshan Shankar, is the founder and current Vice-Chancellor of The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology, Bengaluru. He was born in Bombay in the state of Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhikhudan Gadhvi</span> Indian folk singer (born 1948)

Bhikhudan Govindbhai Gadhvi is an Indian folk singer and songwriter, known as a proponent of Dayro, a narrative singing tradition of Gujarat. He is a recipient of the Gujarat Gaurav Award of the Government of Gujarat and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to folk music.

Saurabh Srivastava is an Indian entrepreneur, investment professional, institution builder and a former chairman of NASSCOM, a non-profit trade organization for the promotion of Indian IT industry. A master's degree holder from Harvard University, he founded Infinity Venture, reportedly the first venture capital fund in India and is a recipient of Dataquest Lifetime Achievement Award, the IT Industry Award from the Prime Minister of India and Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to trade and industry.

On 25 August 2018, Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi has constituted the Core Group Committee, Manifesto Committee and Publicity Committee for the upcoming 2019 Indian general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joravarsinh Jadav</span> Indian folklorist

Joravarsinh Danubhai Jadav is an Indian folklorist and proponent of the folk arts from Gujarat. Exposed to folk culture as a child, he studied history and culture in Ahmedabad. He has written and edited more than 90 works on folk culture, folk literature, and folk arts. He established the Gujarat Lok Kala Foundation for the promotion of folk arts. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019. He is also the current Vice-chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

References

  1. ↑ "Timeline".
  2. ↑ "Playing it again: What Sam Pitroda said & status of inheritance tax in India, abroad". The Times of India. 25 April 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Timeline". Sam Pitroda. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda". msubaroda.ac.in. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  5. ↑ Jain, Ankur (26 January 2009). "Padma Bhushan for 4 Gujaratis". The Times of India . Ahmedabad.
  6. 1 2 "Sam Pitroda: Lifetime Achievement Award 2002". Dataquest . 27 December 2002. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Electronic Diary patent - CHM Revolution". Computerhistory.org. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Emily Stone (26 November 2007). "Chicago's 'Mr. India'". Crain's Chicago Business . Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  9. 1 2 Mike Hughlett (8 July 2007). "'Telecom czar' focuses on his next big thing". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "Interim Board of Directors Elects Mr. Sam Pitroda as Chairman". Press release. ITU. 15 May 1995. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "About". Web site. The Institute of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Pitroda appointed adviser to PM". Deccan Herald. 7 October 2009. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "National Innovaiton Council". innovationcouncilarchive.nic.in. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Mr. Sam Pitroda, Chairman". Web site. National Innovation Council. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  15. ↑ Mayank Chhaya (June 1992). Sam Pitroda: A Biography. Konark Publishers. ISBN   8122002757.
  16. ↑ "About". Web site. NDTV. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  17. ↑ "People in East look like Chinese, in South look like Africans". Web site. ANI. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  18. ↑ Prabhu, Sunil (8 May 2024). "Sam Pitroda Quits After Landing Congress In New Mess Over Racist Comments". Web site. NDTV. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "About". Web site. AajTak. 24 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  20. ↑ PTI (8 May 2024). "Sam Pitroda resigns as chairman of Indian Overseas Congress". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "WNYLE Prominent Leader". Organization web site. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "UIC to award honorary degree to Sam Pitroda". India Tribune. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  23. ↑ "Honorary Degrees 1966 - 2010". University of Illinois at Chicago . Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "'Technology Driven Future' Theme of ASEI's Annual Convention".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.