Professor Deepak Phatak, Subrao Nilekani Chair Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Born on 2nd April 1948, Dr Phatak is an electrical engineer and shifted to computers during graduate studies. He has been serving with IIT Bombay since 1971, currently occupying the Subrao Nilekani chair in the CSE department.

His primary research inclinations are in Technology application and deployment areas. He is regarded as pioneer of smart card usage in financial transactions in India. He started an IT business incubator to foster innovation and also the country’s first interactive distance learning program using VSATs. Currently, he is executing a national mission project to empower thousands of teachers for more effective teaching of technology subjects using a blended mode of training and by developing open source knowledge contents. His Affordable Solutions Lab has developed several low cost technology solutions including clicker devices and interactive e-learning tools. He has been an Open Source evangelist in India. He serves on boards of several companies. He currently chairs the national board of IT education and research.

Professor Phatak is a recipient of several awards and was listed amongst fifty most influential Indians by Business week in 2009. His dream is to see a resurgent India catching up with the world using IT as the spring board.