Short Bio
Sam Pitroda is an Indian telecommunication engineer, and entrepreneur. He is the chairman of Indian Overseas Congress. He was born in Titlagarh in the eastern Indian state of Odisha to a Gujarati family. He was also an advisor to, Prime Minister (then) Dr. Manmohan Singh’s tenure and for United Nations. Sam Pitroda resigned from the post of the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress amid a major row over his racist comment.
Wiki/Overview
| Full Name: | Sam Pitroda |
| Nick Name: | N/A |
| Profession: | Telecommunication Engineer and Entrepreneur |
| Date of Birth: | 17 November 1942 |
| Age (as in 2024): | 81 |
| Place of Birth: | Titlagarh, Orissa |
| Father: | N/A |
| Mother: | N/A |
| Spouse: | N/A |
| Education: | Post Graduate |
| Alma Mater: | Illinois Institute Of Technology in Chicago |
| Organization: | N/A |
| Known For: | His contribution for the Indian National Congress |
| Residence: | India |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Religion: | N/A |
| Height: | 5’6” |
| Weight: | 75 kgs |
| Hair Colour: | White |
| Eye Colour: | Black |
| Zodiac Sign: | N/A |
Early Life
Sam Pitroda was born in Titlagarh, Odisha, India to Gujarati parents. He had seven siblings and is third oldest among them. The family was deeply influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy. Consequently, Pitroda and his brother were sent to Gujarat to imbibe Gandhian philosophy.
Education
He completed his schooling from Vallabh Vidyanagar in Gujarat and completed his master’s degree in physics and electronics from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara. After completing his master’s degree in physics, he went to the United States in 1964 and obtained a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
Career
With a vision for modernising India, Pitroda served as an advisor to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, driving the computerisation initiatives in the country. During this time, he led efforts to expand digital telecommunications, including the establishment of the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and advisory roles on various technology missions. Subsequently, Pitroda ventured into entrepreneurship, founding and chairing several successful ventures such as C-SAM and Wescom Switching. He holds approximately 100 technology patents and has been actively involved in nurturing startups and delivering lectures worldwide. Additionally, he served as chairperson of the Smart Grid Task Force. Returning to India in 2004, Pitroda focused on bolstering knowledge institutions and infrastructure. He chaired the National Knowledge Commission from 2005 to 2009, making significant policy recommendations across various sectors. His expertise led to his appointment as advisor to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on ICT in railways and public information infrastructure. Pitroda’s contributions continued to expand as he assumed roles such as Chairperson of the National Innovation Council, Chancellor of the Central University of Rajasthan, and Chairperson of Alpha-En Corporation. He also founded organisations like the India Food Bank and the Global Knowledge Initiative, emphasising the importance of social welfare and global ccollaboration Additionally, Pitroda’s influence extended to international platforms, where he served as a founding Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development and Chairperson of the International Telecommunication Union’s m-Powering Development Board, advocating for the use of mobile technology in empowering developing nations. Throughout his illustrious career, Pitroda’s dedication to technological innovation and social progress has left an indelible mark on India’s development trajectory, earning him global recognition as a pioneering figure in the field of telecommunications and information technology. Sam Pitroda resigned from the post of the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress amid a major row over his racist comment.
Family & Affairs
Sam Pitroda has married to Anjana Pitroda. Sam has two children one boy and one girl.
Appearance
Sam Pitroda has white coloured hairs and black coloured eyes. He has height of 5’6 inches and weight of 75 kilograms.
Money Factor
| Net Worth: | N/A |
| Salary / Income: | N/A |
Achievement
Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award, 2000 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to telecommunication and harnessing it for the social and economic transformation of developing countries. Dataquest gave Pitroda a lifetime achievement award in 2002.In 2008, Pitroda was elected as a world prominent leader by the World Network of Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conferred the World Telecommunication and Information Society Award to Pitroda in Geneva on 17 May 2011. He was awarded in recognition of his dedication to promoting Information, communication, and technology as a means of providing a better life for humanity and social and economic empowerment. He was the first Indian to receive this award. In May 2010, the University of Illinois at Chicago college of medicine presented him an honorary degree. Sambalpur University honoured Pitroda with D.Sc. on its 23rd convocation on 14 July 2010. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan in 2009 for his contribution to Science and Engineering. The Skoch Challenger Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 for ushering in the telecom and IT revolution in India. Andhra University honored Pitroda with D.Sc. in 2008. Award for Public Service in the Field of Telecommunications, IEEE Communications Society, 2007, for exceptional contributions to developing indigenous systems and telecommunications infrastructure in India. He was felicitated on 31 March 2009 by Akhila Bharatiya Viswakarma Mahasabha (ABVM) for service to the Viswakarma community, in the presence of Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit. World Telecommunication and Information Society Award, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2011, for his outstanding contribution to improving life in rural communities through information and communication technologies. Sam Pitroda is the first Indian to receive this prestigious award. He was awarded Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions in the field of telecom technology & innovation by American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin (ASEI) at its 31st National Convention held on 3 Dec 2016 at Cal State University, Pomona, CA. He addressed the gathering of students and faculties of Seshadripuram First Grade College – Yelahanka, Bangalore, and various other students and faculties from other institutions across Bangalore about the topic of ‘Innovation and Advancement in Modern Education’ on 14 October 2017.
Trivia & Facts
- The book titled ‘Sam Pitroda: a Biography’ was published and became a bestseller, securing a position on The Economic Times list for five consecutive weeks.
- He is regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of handheld computing.
- He sparked a controversy when he said in an interview with Statesman that according to him, Indians in the East resemble Chinese, while those in the South resemble Africans.
- Sam Pitroda is highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy.
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