Dream and pursue your dreams." Gates was at IIT Delhi to launch a new Microsoft Initiative Dreamspark, that offers professional software to students free of cost.
"I think Indian students are better placed that how I was 35 years back. They are more exposed to the ground realities than their counterparts in the US, know the challenges of poverty and therefore know how technology can be used to achieve best results in order to help the poor," he added.
Addressing a packed auditorium of enthusiastic students and press at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gates shared his experiences on wide ranging issues like the future of technology, poverty & polio programmes, new US president, and the current economic crisis. Gates spoke for over 30 minutes and later responded to queries by IIT Delhi students. His speech was marked with anecdotes, humor, data and insights. MBAUniverse.com was present on the occasion.
"I see a bright spark in the youth across the globe. They have the advantage of the latest technology, which I did not 33 years back, and a want to help the needy. Students like you who study in such competent institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology have the potential to innovate and reach out to the needy," he said.
An optimistic Gates didn't agree with the dooms day scenario that analysts paint with the current financial meltdown and global economy slowing down. Said Gates, "I don't really know how long will the current sentiments last, but things are not all that bad. It can take upto two years for things to settle, but you should not worry too much. Focus on long-term. Microsoft is not cutting down any of its expenditure on research or talent."
Tracing back his journey to Harvard University, Gates recounted, "Thirty-three year back, at our University, when Paul Allen and I looked at how fast the speed of computer-processing was increasing, we saw a great opportunity for creating software that used that power. We moved in early. I used to beg for computing time those days, and work in the nights! Later, we hired smart people to take our ideas forward. We first recruited from IIT 20 years back. And all that paid off."
Gates also said that cell-phone and PC together are becoming a major source of innovation in the world. Offering an example from Kenya, he said, "A mobile company in Kenya has brought down the cost of money transfer from 5% (via postal services) to just 2%."
A university drop-out, Gates said it is important to get higher education, such as a master's degree or post-graduation, because that enables one to work with experts and hone one's skills. "I criticise the university curriculum sometimes because it does not expose one to the challenges of life - see the reality of poverty for instance. But still, higher education gets you to work with professors who have a great deal of knowledge and that helps," he said.
On the occasion, Microsoft India also launched DreamSpark - a software giveaway for an estimated 10 million plus qualified students in the country. DreamSpark will provide students access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools at no charge.
