Noted Software expert Dr Fakir Chand Kohli, known as Father of the Indian Software
Industry, today said that there was need to write softwares in vernacular languages also.
   

Chairman Emeritus, Tata Consultancy Services and Padma Bhushan award recipient Dr Kohli
was speaking at a brainstorming session on “Strategy for Enhancing Quality of
Engineering Education” organised today at Golden Jubilee Conference Hall, Panjab
University(PU), Chandigarh. The logo of UIET Chandigarh was also released on the occasion.
 

Dr Kohli said that softwares in India are being made in English only but we should not
forget that 900 million people in India do not speak English therefore to satisfy their
computer needs. We need to write softwares in vernacular languages as is being done in
countries like China, France, Saudi Arabia etc, he added. He also stressed that India
should develop Hardware industry as well.     
 

Calling upon the education system to be more contemporary, Dr Kohli said that more focus
should be given to training the teaching faculty as per the contemporary industrial
needs, using modern technology in teaching and up-gradation of the laboratories. We
should also concentrate on regular updating of syllabus and the necessary hardware.  
Dr. Kohli told the audience that he is happy to be back in his alma mater. He told India
produces as many Ph.D’s as USA. Therefore India has no business to be poor and backward.
Although the country is afflicted with many problems but this also suggests that the
solutions and possibilities are also many.  He patiently answered the queries of the
faculty and suggested several steps to transform the engineering education in India.
Giving example of College of Engineering, Pune of which he is member of Board of
Governors, he emphasized on the complete autonomy of institutes in financial matters,
syllabus revision, examination system etc. He emphasized that faculty should be sent to
institutes like IIT’s for training and also should be encouraged to do Ph.D. with paid
leave. He suggested that Board of Governors should not only be on paper, but should be
working and thinking members, who put in at least some time towards the development of
the institute. He also stressed on introduction of Mathematics as a subject in all the
four years of engineering curriculum instead of just one year.
To a query Dr Kohli answered that even the mushrooming private engineering colleges
should be considered as an asset to the country and should be encouraged to be
productive and innovative. He also requested bankers for loans on subsidized interest
rates for the students.
 

In his address, PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Grover introduced Dr. FC Kohli as the "Father
of the Indian Software Industry". He said that the Honours School system, especially in
sciences, has remained the backbone of this university since its inception. He also gave
a roadmap to start the graduate schools in the University by the next Academic session
in 2014. We must have a formal structure of graduate schools. He also stressed on the
importance to extend the necessary financial support to the students.
Intervening during the session, Prof Grover said that the there was no restriction to
change syllabus, the teaching departments can change syllabus every year. They should
propose changes, we are open for improvement and suggestions, he added. In his vote of
thanks, Prof. Grover described Dr. Kohli as the continuity of Prof. Ruchi Ram Sahni, an
eminent scientist, educationist and a social reformer. Talking about the university in
general and UIET in particular, he took pride in mentioning that UIET holds an excellent
ranking among all engineering institutes in India.
Before the interaction, Dr. R. K. Chhabra Dr. Renu Vig and students from UIET Hoshiarpur
apprised the audience about their respective institutes. The inception and the progress
of the institutes, the academic programs and faculty achievements in terms of
publications, projects and awards were highlighted.
    A student of the institute, Tejvinder Singh, has designed the UIET logo. The Director
felicitated him, along with other student and faculty members of the Brand Promotion
Committee.
 

Dean University Institutions (DUI) Prof. Madhu Raka, Registrar Prof. A. K. Bhandari,
Chairperson UICET Prof. R. K. Chhabra, Director UIET Chandigarh Prof. Renu Vig, Director
UIET Hoshiarpur Prof. J. K. Goswamy were also present in the interaction. Mr. S. K.
Sikka from TCS, Mr. Sanjiv Gupta from SML-ISUZU and Mr. Dileep Kumar from Oceaneering
represented the industry.
                                               
    (EOM)

Press Release No.269