Samarendra Kumar Mitra
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Samarendra Kumar Mitra | |
|---|---|
সমরেন্দ্র কুমার মিত্র | |
| Born | 14 March 1916 |
| Died | 26 September 1998 (aged 82) Kolkata |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for | Designed, developed and constructed India's first indigenous computer (an electronic analog computer) in ISI in 1953 |
| Awards | Cunningham Memorial Prize in Chemistry |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry Computer science |
| Institutions |
|
| Doctoral advisor | Meghnad Saha |
| Other academic advisors | S. N. Bose |
| Notes | |
Mitra was recognized as the father of computers in India by the Calcutta Mathematical Society[citation needed] | |
Samarendra Kumar Mitra (14 March 1916 – 26 September 1998) was an Indian scientist and mathematician. He designed, developed and constructed, in 1953-54, India's first computer (an electronic analog computer) at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Calcutta (presently Kolkata). He began his career as a research physicist at the Palit Laboratory of Physics, Rajabazar Science College (University of Calcutta). In 1950, he joined the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Calcutta, an Institute of National importance, where he worked in various capacities such as professor, research professor and director.[citation needed]
Mitra was the founder and first head of the Computing Machines and Electronics Division at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Calcutta.
In 1953-54, India's first indigenous electronic analogue computer for solving linear equations with 10 variables and related problems was designed and developed by Samarendra Kumar Mitra and was built under his direct personal supervision and guidance by Ashish Kumar Maity in the Computing Machines and Electronics Laboratory at the[1] (ISI), Calcutta. This computer was used in computation of numerical solutions of simultaneous linear equations using a modified version of Gauss–Seidel iteration.
Subsequently, in 1963, the ISI, Calcutta began design and development of the first second-generation indigenous digital computer of India in joint collaboration with Jadavpur University (JU), Calcutta.
This collaboration was primarily led by Mitra, as he was the Head of the Computing Machines and Electronics Laboratory, ISI. He designed, developed, and constructed a general purpose High Speed Electronic Digital Computer, namely called the ISIJU computer (Indian Statistical Institute – Jadavpur University Computer). Under the leadership of Mitra, the first second-generation indigenous digital computer of India was produced, namely the transistor-driven machine ISIJU-1, which became operational in 1964.
The Computer and Communication Sciences Division of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was started under Samarendra Kumar Mitra and has produced many eminent scientists. The first annual convention of the Computer Society of India (CSI) was hosted by ISI in 1965.[citation needed] Mitra was a self-taught scholar with wide-ranging interests in varied fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, poultry science, Sanskrit language, philosophy, religion and literature.
Samarendra Kumar Mitra known as “the father of Indian computer revolution" was born on 14 March 1916, in Calcutta, the eldest of two children. He was the only son and had a younger sister. His father was Sir Rupendra Coomar Mitter and his mother was Lady Sudhahasinee Mitter. His father, Sir Rupendra Coomar Mitter, was an MSc in mathematics, gold medalist and also a gold medalist in Law from the University of Calcutta and was an advocate by profession who practiced in the Calcutta High Court from 1913 to 1934. In 1934, Sir Rupendra Coomar Mitter was appointed as a Judge, Calcutta High Court and was Chief Justice (Acting) in 1947 during independence of India and continued as a Judge until 1950. Additionally, he was knighted in 1946. Thereafter, he was the Chairman of the Labour Appellate Tribunal from 1950 to 1955.
