Seturaman Mahalingam or “Maha”, as he is better known, started his professional career with Tata Consultancy Services in 1970. In his 40-year career with TCS, Maha has been involved in myriad aspects of the Company’s operations and growth, before being appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company in February 2003 and as Executive Director in August 2007.
A chartered accountant by qualification, Maha began his career as an IT consultant and thereafter played a major role in marketing TCS services across the globe, developing processes and creating large software development centers for the Company.
As an early starter in the Indian IT industry, Maha has played a key role in helping TCS become a $6.3 billion global company with over 160,000 employees.
Prior to becoming the Chief Financial Officer in February 2003, Maha has managed many of the key functions in TCS including Marketing, Operations, Education and Training as well as Human Resources. He managed the company’s operations in London and New York in the early days of TCS’ global journey.
Maha was conferred the ‘CFO of the Year’ award 2006 announced by International Market Assessment (IMA). Maha was also the winner of CNBC TV18’s Best Performing CFO Award in the Technology Sector for 2007.
Born in February 1948, Maha is married with two children and lives in Mumbai.
Below is the brief podcast interview of S Mahalingam, created by Kiruba Shankar
As we’re gearing up for 10th edition of CII Connect, let’s spend a moment looking back at previous editions of Connect. Connect 2009, held last year, was a great success. The unconference conducted by Kiruba Shankar generated lots of ideas from public. I was present during the same and had good experience live blogging it.
Here’s a comprehensive list of ideas generated in last years’ Connect 2009 Unconference. To be honest, I believe this list is accurate to some 95% as I might have missed few ideas (either because they were lengthy and not to point or I failed to grasp/note them down). Sorry if I’ve missed any ideas.
Contributor name is also included wherever possible.
1. Taxi pooling at airport (Keshav)- Saves money, fuel, emissions and traffic jams-Build a system through which people heading towards adjacent locations can group together and hire one single taxi.
2. SMS based GPS (Idea generated based on the fact that YSR’s chopper could be traced because of an SMS sent from one of the officials)
3. Involve people in decision taking- MPs to live tweet from parliament and public to read and respond, so that instant feedback is conveyed.
4. Tweeting through ICT
5. Along with number, show location of caller in mobile (Ashok)
6. Community radio center in villages with intenet Kiosks so that villagers can surf, reply on problem and solutions
7. Reduce usage of vernacular languages
8. Television is must in each house-quality program should be shown. ICT should have its own channels. Great opportunity to develop our own language system like what china has done.
9. Directory of information
10. Video conference facility
11. Customized decision taking information to decision takers
12. Instead of going for new idea- Use existing EduSAT, take education to every part of country (Pattabhiraman)
13. Take ICT to gullies: pickup and encourage ideas from gullies, take it and post it on twitter. (Ex: Packing eggs in news paper)
14. Fix GPS in consumer durables for easy tracking
15. Making electronic controls for appliances with GSM models to bring down maintenance related issues. Already implemented by Pulsars-Makers of Vending machine controls and sugarcane juice making machine controls, used in Bangalore , that sends info on send daily usage, system condition and other aspects through SMS
16. Right2SayNO.com
17. Information at fingertips on taxi pricing between two location- Don’t give up, use technology to change them (Google latitude give distance between locations)
18. Music on demand though mobiles to save on memory card
19. Convert Sodexho pass into electronic form to prevent misuse.
20. Vehicle with GPS transmitter
21. Rotary supported project through village knowledge centre- Digital literacy, next web conferencing to take training on advanced courses (KB Sridhar)
22. Charging concept- Use solar and wind power to charge mobile.
23. Develop technology to detect authenticity of any innovation
24. De printer: Insert printed paper, get back white sheet
25. RFID tags on 1000 Rs notes and track them
26. Centralize issuance of mobile sim cards through an authorized agency to prevent misuse.
27. Technology to detect telephones in a room.
28. Use facebook wallpaper instead of SMS
29. Ability to share battery power between devices
30. Common Chargers
31. Language converter for SMSs
32. Change mindsets of people through technology-change minds of terrorists. Rename “Connect2009″ to “Connect2009 onwards”
33. Just dial number to call garbage collectors and other civic services (Add on idea Potholebangalore.com was set up wherein people can upload photos of potholes, server crashed due to heavy usage)
34. Technology to receive SMS when mobile is switched off
35. GIS enable entire TamilNadu (Secretary IT)
36. GPS For ambulances
37. Cops can use and encourage twittering
38. Showing concern to environment. print both front and backside at once-saves paper
38. Drink and drive: Sensor to be fixed in vehicle during mfg, won’t let vehicle start.
40. Control all devices in home through bluetooth (already implemented by Jacob from kanyakumari: An idea and implementation that won 2nd price at Nokia innovations bluhome.net)
41. Helpdesk via SMS
42. Camera outside home-help us see visitor in home at our mobile phone when we are away
43. Cost aspect of technology
44. Cloth PC, Pant PC, fix PC in our clothing.(Gopi)
Davidar, in his position as Secretary of IT, plays a critical role in the growth of IT in TamilNadu. He entered the Indian Administrative Service in 1986 after teaching Political Science in Madras Christian College for five years. He has held various positions within the government. Here are a few – Commissioner, Madurai Corporation – Collector, Vellore – Director, Handlooms & Textiles – Special Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department – Chairman, Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd Ace blogger Kiruba Shankar interviewed PWC Davidar during Connect 2009 and below is the podcast of the same…
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