IITs get thumbs up from Microsoft CEO

On a visit to the IIT-Delhi campus, the Micrsoft CEO closeted with faculty of the Computer Science Department of the IIT and got to know from them the research works being done on computers and other technologies.

“Before coming here I met with the faculty of the Computer Science department. I got to know the kind of research being done...I have been hearing about IIT for many many years and we have a lot of IIT chaps at Microsoft,” he told 1,000-odd budding engineers.

The Microsoft CEO was all praise for the students of the IIT, especially the one in Delhi, and said he wants to see “some of the “finest and brightest minds” among the audience to be with him.

In his 40-minute speech, Ballmer referred to the faculty of the IIT-Delhi twice when he mentioned his interaction with them and the research being done by the students.

On the first day of his job at Microsoft, Ballmer was asked to read some 70 letters written by a IIT-Delhi guy to Bill Gates on why he should be recruited by the company. “I read the letters...that was my first job at the Microsoft...The letters were full of passion and the guy talked about why he should be at Microsoft. After reading that, I decided he should be the guy whom I should recruit first,” he said.

Ramesh somersault on IITs

Under attack for his controversial comments on faculty quality at the premier IITs and IIMs, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday was all praise for them saying a IIT consortium was even chosen ahead of a potential US contender for a project, PTI reports from Guwahati.

Ramesh, who was here to deliver the 13th convocation address at the IIT campus, appeared relieved that there was no black flag demonstration against him when he said he was ‘half expecting’ it.

“I had a civilised entry into IIT, Guwahati on Friday. I had half expected a black flag demonstration,” Ramesh said at the beginning of his convocation address.

“I am grateful for the faculty not giving vent to their feelings,” Ramesh said, referring to the student protest at TISS, Mumbai when he had gone there to address its convocation on May 11. “I have used the IIT system very very significantly. Last year we gave a contract to a consortium of seven IITs. We got a consortium together and they are now preparing a comprehensive river basin management plan for Ganga River. This contract was about to be given to an American company. And I intervened and I said no.. let’s use the IITs,” the Minister said.