Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman, Computer scientist Academic Author
Computer scientist Academic Author

Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman

Born 8 September 1933 · Tamil Nadu — Died 8 November 2025

Initiated India's first academic computer science program at IIT Kanpur in 1965.

Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman was an Indian computer scientist, academic and writer known for his pioneering efforts in the field of Computer Science Education in India. He is credited with the establishment of the first academic program in computer science in India, which he helped initiate at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur in 1965. An elected fellow of all the Indian science academies, he was a recipient of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, the highest Indian award in Science and Technology category for young scientists and several other honors including Om Prakash Bhasin Award and Homi Bhabha Prize. The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honor of the Padma Bhushan, in 1998, for his contributions to science.

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A detail that
surprised us

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The IBM 1620 computer was delivered to IIT Kanpur on a bullock cart in 1963, highlighting the contrast between traditional transport and cutting-edge technology.

The Story

1
🚪 In 1963, IIT Kanpur received an IBM 1620 computer, but the machine was too large for the lab door and required a wall to be broken down for entry, marking a literal breakthrough in Indian computing infrastructure.
2
In 1965, Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman and colleagues launched India’s first academic program in computer science at IIT Kanpur, offering an MTech option in computer science, a discipline previously unseen in Indian academia.
3📚 Between 1955 and 1961, Rajaraman progressed from designing analogue computer units at IISc Bangalore to earning a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on adaptive control systems, bridging engineering and computing early in his career.
4From 1965 to 1966, during a visiting professorship at UC Berkeley, Rajaraman shifted his academic focus from electrical engineering to the emerging field of computer science, setting the stage for his future leadership in the discipline.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Padma Bhushan
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Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1956 at IISc Bangalore, Rajaraman helped design India’s first analogue computer, the Philbrick-Rideout Electronic Differential Analyzer (PREDA), which was fabricated using imported components under a visiting professor’s guidance.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Erode, Tamil Nadu
Born to Ramaswami Vaidyeswaran and Sarada in then Madras Presidency, later Tamil Nadu.
1933
📚
Education
Graduated BSc Physics, St. Stephen's College
Completed BSc (Hon) in Physics with a scholarship from Delhi University.
1952
📚
Education
Diploma, Electrical Communication Engineering, IISc
Obtained diploma and designed analogue computer units at IISc Bangalore.
1955
📚
Education
PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison
Completed PhD researching adaptive control systems and started as Assistant Professor of Statistics.
1961
⚡
Career
Joined IIT Kanpur as Assistant Professor
Joined IIT Kanpur electrical engineering department before establishing computer science.
1963
🌟
Other
IBM 1620 computer installed at IIT Kanpur
First computer at an Indian educational institute, required breaking a wall for installation.
1963
⚡
Career
Started first MTech Computer Science program
Initiated India’s first computer science academic program at IIT Kanpur.
1965
⚡
Career
Helped found Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
Contributed to establishing C-DAC to develop supercomputing in India.
1987
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received India’s third highest civilian honor for contributions to science.
1998
🕊️
Death
Passed away in Bengaluru
Died at age 92, leaving a legacy in Indian computer science education.
2025
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🗝️Discoveries

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01 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

The IBM 1620 installed at IIT Kanpur in 1963 was the first computer in any Indian educational institution, arriving before even IIT Kharagpur received a machine.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Rajaraman’s textbooks on computer science have been read by nearly every Indian computer programmer, influencing education from the 1960s through the 2000s.

03 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

During the summer of 1963, IIT Kanpur’s Electrical Engineering faculty shared one room in a workshop building at the fledgling Kalyanpur campus before the computer science department existed.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman’s initiation of the computer science program at IIT Kanpur established a blueprint for computer science education across India, influencing academic curricula nationwide. His textbooks became foundational study materials, shaping the knowledge and skills of countless Indian programmers. Additionally, his role in founding C-DAC helped India develop indigenous supercomputing capabilities, crucial for technological self-reliance amid global export restrictions.

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