Infosys co-founder to launch app chronicling Indian IT

The project is unique in the sense that it's a mobile app that has been christened as Itihaasa

Infosys co-founder and former CEO & MD Kris Gopalakrishnan will launch a mobile app, Itihaasa, chronicling the history of Indian information technology. The app will be available in the Android Play Store for free download from Sunday evening.

The content is in the form of videos with stories of the industry narrated by 44 veterans. Some of those interviewed for Itihaasa are FC Kohli, Azim Premji, N R Narayana Murthy and N Vittal.

“The reason why it was done as an app is it can be constantly updated,” said sources involved with the project that is completely funded by Gopalakrishnan.

After his retirement from Infosys last year, Gopalakrishnan has been active in philanthropy, science and technology.

In 2014, Pratiksha Trust, established by him and his wife Sudha, committed Rs 225 crore over 10 years to setting up of a centre for brain research at the Indian Institute of Science.

He also donated $1.8 million (around Rs 10.8 crore) to Carnegie Mellon University for a research partnership with the IISc.

Recently, Gopalakrishnan donated Rs 6 crore to the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine for research on mental diseases and blood disorders.

Gopalakrishnan and another Infosys co-founder, SD Shibulal, sold 7.5 million company shares last month for around Rs 862 crore.

The proceeds of the sale would be used for philanthropic activities among others, they had said in a statement then.

“The success of infotech changed the way the world perceived India -from a land of snake charmers to a nation of  technology-savvy people,” Gopalakrishnan wrote in a blog post. “We have captured this history in the voices of 44 protagonists,” he added.

TECH HISTORY

• Itihaasa will be a mobile app chronicling history of Indian IT industry
   
• The content will be in the form of videos with stories on the industry
   
• 44 industry veterans will share their experiences
   
• The app will be available from Sunday evening for free downloads