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Sam Pitroda | |
|---|---|
 Pitroda at the India Economic Summit 2009 | |
| Born | (1942-11-16)16 November 1942 (age 82)[1] |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Maharaja Sayajirao University Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago |
| Occupation(s) | Telecom engineer, entrepreneur |
| Employer(s) | Former advisor to theprime minister on Public Information, Infrastructure & Innovations (PIII) |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | |
| Website | www |
Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda, popularly known as Sam Pitroda (Born, November 16, 1942), is an Indian official, telecommunications engineer, and entrepreneur, recognized for his contribution to innovation in telecommunications in his country. He is considered one of the leading advocates and promoters of bridging the digital divide.[2][3]
He was born inTitlagarh, in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, into aGujarati family. He has served as an advisor to twoPrime Ministers of India,Dr. Manmohan Singh andRajiv Gandhi, during their tenures, as well as to theUnited Nations.[4][5] Currently, he is the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress.[6]
In 1966, he began working forGTE inChicago.[7] He is considered a pioneer of portable computing, as he invented the electronic diary in 1975.[8]
He holds a master's degree in Physics and Electronics from Maharaja Sayajirao University (India) and a Master's in Electrical Engineering from theIllinois Institute of Technology (USA).
Between 2005 and 2009, he chaired the National Knowledge Commission in India and served as an advisor to Prime MinisterManmohan Singh in the area of Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations. Since 2010, he has been the chairman of the National Innovation Council.[9]
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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.[10] In 1984, Pitroda was invited to return to India byPrime MinisterIndira Gandhi. On his return, he started the Center for Development of TelematicsC-DOT, an autonomous telecom R&D organization. He had previously become anaturalized US citizen but renounced his US citizenship to take Indian citizenship again to work in the Indian Government.[11]
In the 1990s Pitroda returned to Chicago to resume his business interests. In May 1995, he became the first chairman ofWorldTel initiative of theInternational Telecommunication Union.[12]
In 1993, Pitroda helped establish (with Darshan Shankar) theFoundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Tradition and The University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology nearBangalore in India. The foundation promotesAyurveda, India's traditional medicinal knowledge.[13]
In October 2009, Pitroda was appointed as advisor to Indian Prime MinisterManmohan Singh on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovations with the rank of Cabinet Minister.[14]
Pitroda founded theNational Innovation Council in 2010.[15] In August 2010, Pitroda was appointed Chairman of theNational Innovation Council.[16]
In 2010, Sam was also a founding member ofScientika, a Mexican non-profit, committed to spreading science and technology.
In 1992, his biographySam Pitroda: A Biography was published.[17]
He has been living inChicago,Illinois since 1964 with his wife but travels to India every two months.[11]
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