Vijay Bhatkar

Dr. Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar is a renowned Indian computer scientist, IT leader, and educationalist, best known as the 'Architect of India's supercomputing' initiative. Dr Bhatkar is renowned for his significant contribution to the field of supercomputing, including the development of India’s first supercomputer, the PARAM 8000 in 1991, followed by the PARAM 10000 in 1998.

He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a premier R&D organisation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for carrying out R&D in IT, Electronics and associated areas.

Dr. Bhatkar's work on the PARAM series of supercomputers led to the creation of the National Param Supercomputing Facility (NPSF), now integrated into India’s National Knowledge Network (NKN), providing High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure to the country. Currently, his work focuses majorly on developing exascale supercomputing capabilities.

Dr. Bhatkar has created national research institutions, including the Electronics Research and Development Centre (ER&DC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala (IIITM-K), and the International Institute of Information Technology (I2IT) in Pune. 

Dr. Bhatkar has contributed to the development of ICT initiatives like the GIST multilingual technology, which supports 22 official Indian languages and 10 scripts. 

The Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation’s (MKCL) computer literacy program, under his leadership, implemented a computer literacy programme that produced 10 million computer literates within a decade.

Dr. Bhatkar is also the Chairman of Vijnana Bharati, a non-profit organisation of Indian scientists. In 2016, he was appointed Chairperson of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

Dr. Bhatkar has served national committees, including the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, the IT Task Force established by the Prime Minister in 1998, and the Governing Council of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He has also chaired e-Governance committees for both Maharashtra and Goa. 

Dr. Bhatkar has authored and edited over 12 books and 80 research papers and has delivered speeches at various national and international conferences, including the World Peace Parliament of Science, Religion, and Philosophy.

Dr. Bhatkar was honoured with Padma Shri, the highest award in India, in 2000, the Padma Bhushan in 2015, and the Maharashtra Bhushan in 1999. 

Dr. Bhatkar has led India's National Supercomputing Mission. He is also the mentor of the Green Terre Foundation, a non-profit organisation focusing on environmental sustainability. 

Dr. Bhatkar also chairs the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, a government initiative aimed at rural development.

In July 2024, Dr. Bhatkar was honoured with the Punyabhushan Award for his contributions to science and technology. 

Dr. Bhatkar received his B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from Nagpur University, M.E. from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and Ph.D. from IIT Delhi. Dr. Bhatkar founded academic and research body, the Multiversity. 

Dr. Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar was born on 11 October 1946 in Muramba, a small village in the Akola district of Maharashtra, India. He grew up in a Maharashtrian family and showed an early interest in science and technology. After completing his early education, he pursued a B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from Nagpur University. Following this, he earned an M.E. from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and went on to complete his Ph.D. in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

Dr. Bhatkar's contributions to the field of computing and information technology are vast, but he is most recognised for his leadership in the development of India's first supercomputer, the PARAM 8000, in 1991. This achievement came during a time when India faced a technology denial regime, which prevented access to high-performance computing technologies from other countries. Despite these restrictions, under Dr. Bhatkar's guidance, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), which he founded and served as Executive Director, successfully developed the PARAM 8000. This milestone put India on the global map in high-performance computing. Dr. Bhatkar continued his work in supercomputing with the development of the PARAM 10000 in 1998, further advancing India’s capabilities in this field.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Bhatkar contributed significantly to the electronics revolution in India. He helped establish several national research institutions, including the Electronics Research and Development Centre (ER&DC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Kerala (IIITM-K), and the International Institute of Information Technology (I2IT) in Pune. These institutions became centres of excellence in research and development, focusing on computer science, electronics, and information technology. In addition to his work in supercomputing, Dr. Bhatkar played a key role in the development of the Government of India's ICT initiatives, such as the GIST multilingual technology. This technology enabled computing in India’s 22 official languages and 10 scripts, breaking language barriers in computing once and for all.

In 1998, Dr. Bhatkar took on the role of promoting computer literacy across India through the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL). Under his leadership, MKCL's programmes reached millions of students, making significant strides in improving computer literacy. His work through MKCL became widely recognised when the programme created 10 million computer literates in a decade, making a global impact.

Dr. Bhatkar has held several significant academic and advisory positions throughout his career. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Delhi from 2012 to 2017. His leadership extended into other institutions, including his role as Chancellor of Nalanda University, starting in January 2017, where he is focused on restoring the ancient university’s legacy in the modern world. His commitment to education and research is also seen in his founding of the Multiversity, an institution aimed at bridging traditional and modern knowledge systems.

Over the years, Dr. Bhatkar has contributed to various national committees and advisory bodies. He has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Prime Minister, the IT Task Force set up by the Prime Minister in 1998, and the Governing Council of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). His expertise has also been sought in the areas of e-Governance, where he chaired committees for both the Maharashtra and Goa governments.

Dr. Bhatkar is an accomplished author and researcher. He has written and edited over 12 books and published more than 80 technical and research papers. His work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences, where he has addressed important issues in the fields of computer science, supercomputing, and ICT development.

Dr. Bhatkar’s contributions to science and technology have earned him many prestigious awards. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2000, the Maharashtra Bhushan in 1999, and the Padma Bhushan in 2015, recognising his work in advancing India’s capabilities in computing and technology. Additionally, he has been honoured with several honorary doctorates, including from DY Patil University in 2011 and Gujarat Technological University in 2014.

In recent years, Dr. Bhatkar has continued to lead significant initiatives. In 2016, he was appointed Chairperson of the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). He has also been actively involved in the National Supercomputing Mission, steering India’s efforts to develop exascale supercomputing architecture. Furthermore, Dr. Bhatkar mentors innovation-based start-ups and is the founder of several initiatives aimed at promoting knowledge and technology across the country.

In 2024, Dr. Bhatkar was honoured with the Punyabhushan Award for his lifetime contributions to science and technology. His recent public engagements include addressing the World Parliament of Science, Religion, and Philosophy, where he continues to share his insights on the intersection of technology and society. In addition to his work in science and technology, Dr. Bhatkar is also involved with Green Terre Foundation, mentoring their efforts toward environmental sustainability.

Currently, Dr. Bhatkar is focused on advancing India’s National Supercomputing Mission and remains a key figure in the development of exascale computing for the country. He also continues to serve as the Chancellor of Nalanda University, where he is committed to fostering knowledge and education in the 21st century. His legacy as a pioneer of supercomputing in India, a promoter of computer literacy, and an advocate for ICT development remains firmly established in the country’s scientific history.

Dr. Vijay Bhatkar’s vision is to drive India towards technological self-reliance, with a focus on advancing supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and information technology. He aims to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge systems and modern technology, ensuring India remains a global leader in high-performance computing. His work focuses on bringing technology to the masses, promoting computer literacy, and developing cutting-edge innovations that serve the country’s future. Currently, his goal is to lead India’s National Supercomputing Mission, develop exascale supercomputing architecture, and mentor the next generation of scientists and technologists.

Dr. Vijay Bhatkar has received numerous awards and recognition for his significant contributions to science and technology. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2000 and the Padma Bhushan in 2015, two of India’s highest civilian awards. In 1999, he received the Maharashtra Bhushan, the state’s highest honour. His work in supercomputing earned him the title of Electronics Man of the Year in 1992. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from  DY Patil University in 2011 and Gujarat Technological University in 2014. In 2024, he received the prestigious Punyabhushan Award for his lifetime achievements.