Interview with Sam Pitroda
-WD Team

If today we are striding ahead in the world of telecommunications, there is one very interesting person's fight for modernization. He calls himself a mad-man but we call him a genius. Whitedrums.com was fortunate to meet Mr. Sam Pitroda in person for five minutes at the Hilton, Mumbai when he was here on a two day trip.

WD - We know that you are constantly involved in some project or the other, which is your latest?
SP - We are planning to form a 'National Knowledge Network'. We have recommended to the government to fund a project to build a 5000 node network. The government has approved of it in principle, since the amount involved is 1billion US Dollars. We prefer the Indian government to fund it and not own it, which they are having difficulties to accept the concept. The concept of funding it and not owning it.

WD - Why this project?
SP - India has 50, 000 libraries and we want to form a huge network where in each other can access the network and jointly work. This would help one and all. In fact we are the first to launch 'Knowledge Commission' in the world.

WD - What is this knowledge commission?
SP - We have five key areas, namely: 1. Access to knowledge. 2. Knowledge concepts. 3. Creation of knowledge. 4. Application of knowledge and 5. E-governance. Although we have launched it recently, yet the full implication of this can be felt only in the next 20-25 years to come. We are preparing the ground work.

WD - When is this likely to happen?
SP - It should start within a year by the IT department of Indian government. There are multiple networks that need to be built. We need one national network; it is like building roads so that people can drive.

WD - How is it that government does not speak about various project initiatives unless asked for?
SP - There are in fact many projects that exist and the Indian people are not even aware of! All these projects are for the people's benefit and it is indeed sad that they are not spoken about. In fact the media and others should take the call and highlight the various schemes, projects, etc.

WD - How does one get to know more about this knowledge commiccion and get involved?
SP - We have started a site called http://knowledgecommission.gov.in/ where you can get detail information.