The National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), organized the Dr. N. Seshagiri Memorial Lecture 2019 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, to honour the contributions of Dr. N. Seshagiri, the founding Director General of NIC and a pioneer of India’s digital transformation journey.
Dr. Seshagiri played a pivotal role in building India’s e-Governance ecosystem and establishing a nationwide IT infrastructure connecting government ministries, departments, states, and districts. His leadership between 1976 and 2000 laid the foundation for many of the digital governance initiatives seen today.
The memorial lecture was delivered by N. R. Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys, in the presence of Sanjay Dhotre, Minister of State for HRD, Communications and Electronics & IT, Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, MeitY, senior government officials, industry leaders, and members of the technology community.
In his address, Narayana Murthy highlighted the importance of quality education, research, and skill development in accelerating the growth of India’s software industry. He also recalled his long association with Dr. Seshagiri, describing him as a visionary leader who combined academic excellence, administrative capability, and a deep commitment to national development.
Minister Sanjay Dhotre praised Dr. Seshagiri’s role in transforming NIC into the technology backbone of the Government of India and acknowledged the organisation’s contribution to advancing Digital India initiatives.
Secretary MeitY Ajay Prakash Sawhney described Dr. Seshagiri as one of the architects of India’s IT revolution and credited him with pioneering a nationwide satellite network connecting districts across the country decades ago.
The event also featured a film showcasing Dr. Seshagiri’s life and contributions, while his family was felicitated in recognition of his enduring legacy.
Concluding the programme, NIC Director General Dr. Neeta Verma paid tribute to Dr. Seshagiri’s vision, noting that many of India’s e-Governance achievements today are rooted in the foundation he helped create.
