Prof. H. N. Mahabala is one of the pioneers of IT education in India. He, along with a few esteemed colleagues commissioned the first IBM 1620 computer at the newly created IIT Kanpur in 1964 and started off the computer science program there. He also set up the fourth-generation computer center at IIT Madras around IBM 370 Model 155, and is remembered for over 25 computer science courses that he taught there. IIT Madras has set up the Prof. Mahabala Distinguished Chair in Computational Brain Research.While at IIT Madras, Prof. Mahabala produced a computer aided simulation of the stadium at the 1982 Asiad Games to determine if the illumination provided by the lights were adequate.Professional Career: Professor at IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIIT BangaloreEducation: PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, CanadaAwards/Recognition: President of Computer Society of India
