NEW DELHI:
Sam Pitroda
, a renowned figure in the
telecommunications industry
, has tendered his resignation as the chairman of the
Indian Overseas Congress
, which has been accepted by the Indian National Congress.
Pitroda's decision to step down follows a controversial statement he made on Wednesday, where he said, "people of the east look like the Chinese and those of the south look like Africa." This remark has sparked significant backlash and criticism.
However, there is more to Pitroda than just this recent
controversy
. Here’s all you need to know:
Education
Sam Pitroda, born to Gujarati parents in Odisha, completed his early education in Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat. He obtained a master's degree in physics and electronics from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara.
In 1964, after finishing his master's in physics, Pitroda journeyed to the United States to pursue a master's degree in electrical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. As stated on his website, "Pitroda holds around 20 honorary PhDs, close to 100 worldwide patents, and has published five books and numerous papers and lectured widely all over the world.
‘A businessman’
He is a regarded telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy-maker who has dedicated five decades of his life to the field of information and communications technology (ICT) and its impact on global and national advancements. Pitroda has made contributions to the telecommunications industry and has been recognized internationally for his expertise in the field of
ICT
and its potential to drive development and progress.
‘The Gandhi Link’
He is recognized for his pivotal role in establishing the groundwork for India's telecommunications and
technology revolution
during the 1980s. As an advisor to former Prime Minister
Rajiv Gandhi
, Pitroda spearheaded six crucial technology missions encompassing telecommunications, water, literacy, immunization, dairy production, and oil seeds. In 2004, Pitroda returned to India with a renewed focus on developing knowledge institutions and infrastructure. Throughout his career, he collaborated with three Indian Prime Ministers: Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Manmohan Singh. Pitroda is frequently referred to as
Rahul Gandhi
's mentor and maintains a close working relationship with him.
Controversies
Throughout his career, he has sparked multiple controversies with his statements on the Ram Mandir, inheritance tax, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and more.
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