INDIA / SUPERCOMPUTER
Source: Voice of America
DATE=3/3/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-210806
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SUNDAY, INDIA UNVEILED ITS OWN, LOCALLY-BUILT SUPERCOMPUTER. THE UNITED STATES HAD BLOCKED SALE OF AN AMERICAN SUPERCOMPUTER BECAUSE OF FEARS IT WOULD HELP INDIA'S MISSILE AND NUCLEAR PROGRAMS. CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS THIS REPORT.
TEXT: THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS SUPERCOMPUTER FACILITY IN THE SOUTHERN CITY, BANGALORE, IN A CEREMONY ATTENDED BY PRIME MINISTER H-D DEVE GOWDA.
INDIA BEGAN DEVELOPING THE COMPUTER CENTER IN 1993 AFTER THE UNITED STATES CANCELLED A DEAL FOR INDIA TO BUY AN AMERICAN SUPERCOMPUTER. THE UNITED STATES WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD BE USED FOR MISSILE AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INDIAN SUPERCOMPUTER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER -- N. BALAKRISHNAN -- SAYS THE NEW FACILITY FILLS A BIG VOID.
NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION. AND, THIS INSTITUTE HAS BEEN STRUGGLING, STARVING FOR COMPUTING POWER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND, SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE VERY GRAND CHALLENGE PROBLEMS WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY NECESSARY FOR THE NATION.
MR. BALAKRISHNAN SAYS THE FACILITY -- WHICH LINKS 23 HUNDRED COMPUTERS IN PARALLEL -- WILL BE USED BY A WIDE RANGE OF RESEARCHERS.
THIS FACILITY GIVES US POWER TO SOLVE SEVERAL OF THE NATIONAL INITIATIVES IN THE AREAS LIKE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, MOLECULAR DYNAMICS, BIOTECHNOLOGY, WEATHER.
THAT IS THE TALENT OF OUR SCIENTISTS. THAT IS THE TALENT TO DEVELOP ALL THESE FACILITIES, INDIGENOUSLY -- BY OUR OWN SCIENTISTS WITHOUT THE COOPERATION FROM WESTERN COUNTRIES. THAT, ITSELF, IS A LANDMARK SO FAR AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN OUR COUNTRY.
MR. GOWDA SAYS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS ONE AREA WHERE INDIA HAS THE ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH THE MOST ADVANCED COUNTRIES.
(SIGNED).
NEB / MWD / BP / WD
03-Mar-97 2:38 AM EST (0738 UTC)
NNNN
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
