Network Virtualisation and Cloud Computing — a nine-page graphs-intensive research mono-graph focusing on virtualisation of networking — has bagged computer science engineer Dharmesh Kakadia (23) first prize in a Cloud 20.20 online technical paper contest conducted by the Bangalore-based Unisys India Pvt. Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the US-based Unisys Corp. 

 

A first-generation science student of a Rajkot (Gujarat)-based socio-economically disadvantaged family schooled in the Gujarati medium, Dharmesh pressed on to acquire a B.Tech in computer science from Gujarat’s Dharamsinh Desai (deemed) University, and is currently enroled in a Masters of Science (MS) programme at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT)-Hyderabad. “The support of my parents, teachers and friends, and a little bit of luck have made this achievement possible,” he says.

 

After several rigorous rounds of evaluation, including a technical paper writing challenge, face-to-face interviews and final presentations, Dharmesh bested 3,000 entries from a record 2,400 engineering colleges including the premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) to win an Apple MacBook laptop, internship and a job placement offer with Unisys.

 

An information technology heavy-weight offering a range of innovative IT services and solutions, Unisys India introduced the contest in 2009 to engage and encourage students in engineering colleges to explore the possibilities of cloud computing — a new technology for faster delivery of computing and storage services on the internet.

 

Dharmesh’s interest in computer science — ignited in his primary school years — developed into a strong passion thereafter despite limited access to a computer. It was only in his third year of undergrad studies when his proud parents gifted him a laptop that he was drawn to the concepts of networking and cloud computing. Moreover his arduous journey into the IT world was facilitated by school and college-level scholarships and fee waivers.

 

Convinced that “research facilities in India are currently on a par with international standards” and inspired by his success in the Unisys Cloud 20.20 technical paper contest, Dharmesh has set his heart on hard core research in cloud computing despite being offered an attractive job placement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). “I strongly believe cloud computing has the potential to solve many of the development problems of rural and urban India. I am determined to show how,” says this determined go-getter.

Paromita Sengupta (Bangalore)