Ratan Tata’s Tata Group played a pivotal role in India’s supercomputing journey with the creation of the country’s first high-speed supercomputer, Eka. By the early 2000s, nations like the USA, China, and Japan were racing to build powerful supercomputers, while India lagged far behind. In 2007, not a single Indian supercomputer ranked among the top 10 globally.
This realization spurred S. Ramadorai, Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to take action. He understood the importance of supercomputers for India’s future and approached Ratan Tata, then Chairman of Tata Sons, to highlight the significance of the project. Recognizing the need for India to compete globally, Tata quickly gave the go-ahead to begin work on what would become the Eka supercomputer.
TCS immediately began assembling a team, including scientists like Dr. Sunil Sherlekar, an IIT Bombay alumnus, and Dr. Narendra Karmakar, to lead the charge. Work on the project started in Pune, with an ambitious deadline of October 1, 2007. However, challenges arose when Dr. Karmakar left, casting doubt on the project’s success. Yet, the team pressed on, determined to deliver a supercomputer capable of achieving 100 teraflops—enough speed to rank it among the world’s most powerful machines.
Despite their best efforts, the team hit a roadblock when Eka’s performance plateaued at 97 teraflops. In a twist of fate, a TCS engineer reached out to a Russian expert who had a fondness for Charminar cigarettes and Kingfisher beer. With the promise of a crate of his favorite items, the Russian engineer stepped in to help. His expertise pushed Eka’s speed to an impressive 118 teraflops, just in time for the October 31 deadline.
When the global supercomputer rankings were announced on November 6, 2007, India’s Eka proudly held fourth place. This achievement was a testament to the visionary leadership of Ratan Tata, the relentless drive of Ramadorai, and the dedication of the scientific team, marking a historic moment for India in the world of supercomputing.
