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BITS DLP MS SS student in Microsoft MVP 2005 List: Atul Gupta, ME Software Systems, is one of the recipients of the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award this year. The Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award is given out each year to outstanding members of a Microsoft online Developer Forum. Atul Gupta, currently working with Infosys Technologies Limited as a Technical Architect, has close to 9 years of work experience on Microsoft technology projects across business domains.

Subodh Karnik leading the way at ATA holdings: ATA Holdings has announced Subodh Karnik, a BITS alum, as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. ATA Holdings Corporation is an Indianapolis-based holding company with six wholly owned subsidiaries specializing in aviation and travel industries.

BITS alumnus becomes MD of NYLIM: Harish Kumar, BITS alum, has been appointed the Managing Director and Head of Growth Portfolios at Equity Investors Group of New York Life Investment Management LLC (NYLIM). Dr. Kumar, who has bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from BITS, is a CFA charter holder.

BITSian IAS Topper: S Nagarajan, a BITS alumnus, has topped the 2005 civil services exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. Nagarajan was ranked first out of 422 candidates (also see Quarterly BITSian).

Excellence in Research: Dr. Krishnamurthy Surysekar (’76), currently the Assistant Professor, School of Accounting, College of Business Administration, Florida International University, has been awarded the Florida International University Faculty Award for Excellence in Research - 2005.

Vivek Paul joins Texas Pacific Group: Vivek Paul has quit Wipro and joined Texas Pacific Group (TPG), one of the world's largest Private Equity firms as a Partner. At TPG Ventures, he will focus on Technology & Life Sciences investments.

Vivek Paul also sits on the Board of Directors of Electronic Arts.

BITSians move at Cisco: Prem Jain senior vice president at Cisco recently announced his retirement. Meanwhile, Pankaj Patel (ex SVP at Redback) has been promoted to senior vice president, Broadband Edge & Mid-Range Routing Business Unit. He holds an MS in EE from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BE from BITS, Pilani, India.

BITSian’s book on Global Outsourcing: Suresh Sharma has published a book on Global Outsourcing, which serves as a comprehensive reference guide that takes managers through the necessary milestones for successful execution.
Suresh has led multiple global business, technology, and process improvement initiatives at General Electric (GE) over the past decade within the Energy and Corporate R&D divisions.

Arvind Mathew appointed MD, Ford India: Arvind Mathew took over as the Managing Director of the company from August 1. He is now Vice-President and Executive Director (India programs implementation and supply).

 

Arjun Valluri Lanco Global as CEO: Lanco Global Systems Limited (LGSL) has brought in Arjun Valluri (ex-BITSian) as director and Chief Executive Officer of LGSL. Mr. Valluri, founder chairman of Intelligroup Inc (first IT company from India to be listed on the Nasdaq), later left it. He then acquired a `substantial' shareholding in LGSI. The combined turnover of these companies would be about $22 million.

Arvind Singh, speaks at Citizenship Ceremony: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) organized the “Celebrate Citizenship, Celebrate America” ceremony this July 4th week. The keynote speaker for ceremony was Arvind J. Singh, an Indian national who became a United States citizen last year. Arvind's a serial entrepreneur who has lived the “American Dream” since '91.
Arvind has an MS from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) in Pilani, India.

BITSians finish Runners-Up in Imagine Cup 2005: Ishan Shukla and Mayur Karthik, BITS, Pilani's contestants at Imagine Cup 2005, competed and got the Second Position and award of $4000 in the Imagine Cup 2005. Ishan and Mayur showed typical BITSian gumption in meeting  the challenges posed by the other teams and getting on top with little fuss.

Prabodh Vyas appointed Gigabyte MD: Prabodh Vyas (EEE) has been appointed MD of Gigabyte Technology (India), a joint venture between D-Link India and Gigabyte Technologies, Taiwan. Prabodh, earlier the Director-Sales & Marketing, D-Link India, has over 28 years of experience.

Daring to dream big: Rajesh Hukku (a BITS alum), CEO of i-flex (recently taken over by Oracle) was successful in powering i-flex to become one of the largest financial software majors, with a revenue of $185 million, net profit of $40 million and a market share of $1 billion in the financial year 2004.

BITS ‘64-69 Batch Storms into Limca Book of Records:BITS, Pilani's batch of '64 has stormed its way into the Limca Book of Records for creating a World Record number of Alumni Meets of a Single Batch: a feat that does us all proud. The feat has been listed in by the Limca Book of Records 2005 (pp. 156).

Dr. Motilal Dash conferred Indira Gandhi NSS Award: Dr. Motilal Dash, Assistant Professor, Humanistic Studies Group, BITS, Pilani, has been conferred the Indira Gandhi National Service Scheme (NSS) Award, for the academic year 2004-05. Join us in congratulating Dr. Dash on his tremendous achievement!

Project Desert Bloom: BITS Pilani has established a Centre for Desert Development Technologies (C-DDT) and has joined hands with Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research BIDR Negev Israel in a mission to develop world class desert development technologies, titled Project Desert Bloom. The C-DDT at BITS Pilani aims to develop in the desert world class technologies for water and energy conservation in irrigation systems, rain water harvesting and water distribution systems. This is one more jewel in the crown of BITS, whose pioneering work for the society proves that the reputation of an educational institution is not merely based on its admission and placement statistics but based on its Social Engineering efforts too.

BITSian secures top Singapore accolade: The head of Asia-Pacific operations of Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE:SAY), Mr. Virender Aggarwal, today became the first Indian national to receive the prestigious International Management Action Award ("IMAA") from Singapore. "His success clearly demonstrates his outstanding management capabilities, especially his skills in managing diversity," the IMAA said in its citation.

BITS Pilani Goa Campus update

WAVES ‘05
BITS-Goa campus presented its first cultural fest WAVES ’05 on  2nd & 3rd April. The programme was co-ordinated by Dr.N.N.Ghosh, the faculty-in-charge for cultural activities. The great work done by the cultural representatives and the co-operation from the students made WAVES a grand success.

Students Union
With a fully functional Students Union this semester, the union has already taken over the arduous task of organizing programs for the festivals with the President, Vice President, and Gen Sec taking overall responsibility and the treasurer allotting funds for all programs. Group discussions, paper presentations etc organized by the union is in the offing. Each hostel also has a representative for sports, cultural activities and hostel and mess maintenance.

INFRASTRUCTURE
With the auditorium in BITS being close to completion, the grand edifice, built in a typical Portuguese architecture, has a seating capacity of 2100. An additional 400 more seats is on the cards. The library and SAC – Students Activity Centre – is fully functional and shuttle badminton courts, gym, TT courts, a basketball court are ready as well. Net connectivity Net is available in the hostels though owing to a slight problem with the server  is not available in the new hostels and one of the old ones for  which serious efforts are on the move.

The inauguration of BITS Pilani, Goa Campus by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, scheduled for Oct. 15, 2005, was tentatively postponed to the first week of November

Wall Street By Prasenjit Chaudhuri (’84 Chemical) Wall Street received its name from a stockade or wall, built in 1653 by Dutch colonists to protect the settled area south of it from assault by the English and the native population in America. In the 18th century, the US economy was based on manufacturing, and stockbrokers were regarded as little more than intermediaries were. Brokers would hold informal meetings at coffee houses and street-corners, often congregating around light posts. When brokers wanted to place trades, children hanging out of nearby windows would write down the buy, sell orders, and then pass them onto the clerks inside to start the necessary paperwork. It was not until May 17, 1792 that seeds of a more formal stock exchange organization were planted. Under a Buttonwood tree (known today as a Sycamore), 24 of the more successful brokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement, which set forth trading hours and the fixed commission system. On Feb 25, 1817, this private club evolved into the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), occupying the second floor of 40 Wall St., for an annual rent of $200. But those who could not afford the $20 membership fee still traded on the street curbs. As trading activity increased, the shouting became so loud that special hand signals were introduced. (For an up-close feel of the early commodities trading & hedging activity, look up a DVD copy of the Mayor of Casterbridge) In 1920, these traders formed the New York Club and moved indoors to the building where it still resides (and where hand signals were used for decades afterwards). This Curb Market was renamed the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) in 1953.

BITSian Women In the Community Chandra Anil Philanthropist, Saathi, AID-India 2003 - Present: Full-time AID Saathi, based in Chennai. 1995 - 2002: Employed with Wipro Infotech, IIT Bombay , SCM Microsystems 1991 - 1995: B.E. in Instrumentation Engineering, BITS Pilani, 1995 Chandra Anil is the joint coordinator of the 40 strong AID, Chennai team, along with Ravishankar Arunachalam. She volunteered for 3 years from 2000 to 2003 for AID-India in Chennai. This motivated her to quit the IT field in 2003, to work on development projects full time. Inherently interested in education, she was part of the coordination team for the Makkal Palli Iyakkam education programme that was active in around 250 villages in TamilNadu. She worked towards setting up around 60 primary education centers in Chennai catering to 1000 children. Coordinating these initiatives involved conceptualizing the programme structure, training, field visits and local youth group and volunteer motivation. At AID-Chennai, she has been coordinating the primary education programmes in TamilNadu where AID has a direct presence as well as programmes with other groups in around 300 villages. For education initiatives, she coordinates with the Pratham network in India, sharing resources, ideas and adapting them in programmes.