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The Dewang Mehta Chat

Vijay Mukhi : Have you come here to chat with Dewang or to save him from gaaaalis ?

JP: Dewang can take of himself.

Mr. Mehta, I would like to refine my last question. By academics I mean research activities in academic institutions like IIT, University comp. Sc. departments etc.

Subarto: The return of investments can be high provided the guys are ready to pay higher fees. I feel we need to have more of private IITs in India. Because government cannot afford to set up any more IITs. Today, GoI is subsidising US corporations. That is a shame. I hope these corporations atleast acknowledge the contribution of GoI in providing them skilled professionals.

hey mr. dewang, why are you not answering to me ? this means that you don't like s/w???

Hey Subrato is right guys. Education is one industry where the institution is least bothered about assessing profits. I mean profits in terms of benefit to the nation. Dewang, you tell us how productive have India's technical institutions been. Turning out cheap labour, is one thing they do well I guess?

Subarto: The return of investments can be high provided the guys are ready to pay higher fees. I feel we need to have more of private IITs in India. Because government cannot afford to set up any more IITs. Today, GoI is subsidising US corporations. That is a shame. I hope these corporations atleast acknowledge the contribution of GoI in providing them skilled professionals.

Vijay Mukhi: Hi, I am quiet enjoying this chat. These guys seem to be quite pally. Except that pirate. But I hope that he converts in to an original software.

Dewang---I represent a U.S. consulting co., have hired many software professionals from India, and spent 15 yrs. on the applications side as a manager whose major technical resource was from India. What differences, if any, or problems do you see assimilating the background from India into the U.S. business environment?

Dewang : Hey c'mon man what happened to your wig maan?

Mr. Mehta, your point of GOI providing subsidy is very good, but aren't the Indian companies getting some bounty back from USA? GOI and NASSCOM should sit together to fund education from industry. However, what is the outcome of the multitude of research papers being produced in Indian universities and IITs. Do you think we should have strictly Industry sponsored research only? How much can we achieve by spending a lot of fundamental compu research if nothing can come out or we cannot acquire enough financial muscle to exploit the result? Research for research's sake?

Glad to know that Dewang. Are you gonna be in Mumbai on 29th? Looking forward to meet you.

Hey Dewang, who is this Vijay Mukhi. Some sidekick?

s/w: I only live, dream and think of s/w all the time. Not you but software. No offence meant. You seem to be a nice guy. Answering your question, I beiieve in free market economy. You should not forcibly stop people from going oveseas. However, we need to improve conditions in India, we need to have a good employee stock options schemes, we need to do many things. I am optimistic by the turn of the century, you all would see lot of such actions implemented in India.

Bitter: Sidekick with an in-biult compiler. How's that??

You are quite a nerd. Do you do any programming

Thanks, Dewang for answering my question.

For everybody...we can avoid crosstalk and eddy currents. Let's listen and talk to Mr. Mehta. No one else is important now!

Dewang: I think that the amount of hardware sold in the country is pathetic. Unless the reach of the PC is increased incredibly there will be no real s/w revolution in the country. What do you say to that and what role will GoI and NASSCOM play to ensure that something dramatic happens???

Dewang you have not yet answered my question about India not having creative talent. Look at films, journalism, the arts, except for the country's heritage there is very little in comtemporary Indian culture which can be exhibited as frontline creativity. Don't you agree?

Bitter: Most of the IITs and enginering colleges are doing a service to the nation. They are heavily subsidised. I dont think they are churning out cheap labour but they produce skilled professionals. These institutions need to continue to get subisidies from GoI, otherwise how would 1000s of students from middle class families would get high level education. I hope you know that India produces 1,15,000 engineering graduates every year. India has the second largest english speaking scientific manpower pool in the world (just next to USA).

Thanks for your view Dewang but the question I asked following the 'manpower' answer you gave is more important. I am repostin it:
Dewang you have not yet answered my question about India not having creative talent. Look at films, journalism, the arts, except for the country's heritage there is very little in comtemporary Indian culture which can be exhibited as frontline creativity. Don't you agree?

EVERYONE: BYE GUYS, IT WAS NICE TO BE WITH YOU. I HAVE TO RUSH TO ATTEND A WEDDING. I WOULD BE PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR QUERIES, YOU MAY CORRESPOND WITH ME AT dewang@nasscom.ernet.in VIJAY: I would be in Mumbai on 29th. we would meet up. NASSCOM cybercity schedule for February 3-5 at Delhi is on right track. This internet conference and exhibition has already created waves in the capital. Thanks for your efforts.

What do you think about the increasing grey market in the hardware. Is this not spoiling the whole scenario of IT in India?

Stay a while Dewang. I am sure the Rediff guys won't mind. Their chats have even gone on for three hours. WON'T THE REDIFF PEOPLE PERSUADE HIM TO STAY A BIT LONGER.

Bitter: Most of the IITs and enginering colleges are doing a service to the nation. They are heavily subsidised. I dont think they are churning out cheap labour but they produce skilled professionals. These institutions need to continue to get subisidies from GoI, otherwise how would 1000s of students from middle class families would get high level education. I hope you know that India produces 1,15,000 engineering graduates every year. India has the second largest english speaking scientific manpower pool in the world (just next to USA).

Photographs: Atul Chowdhary