•  
  •  
 

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Document Type

Article

Abstract

While India has made vast strides in information technology in the last few decades, its success is mainly attributed to its software, rather than its hardware sector. In fact, India’s attempts at developing computer hardware that can match international standards have largely been unsuccessful. A notable exception is its development of a series of supercomputers that match and exceed many international standards. This paper looks at an interesting period in India’s computing history – namely the 1980s and 1990s – focusing on its development of an indigenous supercomputer. During that period, supercomputers were thought to be the sole privy of technologically advanced nations. In what many experts see as a blessing in disguise, India began developing its own supercomputer primarily after it was denied a Cray supercomputer by the United States in 1987. The US decision was based on fears that it could be used for military purposes – i.e. to develop nuclear weapons. This paper focuses on India’s development of an indigenous supercomputer, the political and economic circumstances under which it was developed, the main institutions and players that were involved, the technological decisions that were made, the reasoning behind them; and the research, development and learning that went into this endeavor.

Download

Share

COinS