Manufacturing Skills for Semiconductors are different from design skills!
My keynote presentation at Gujarat Semiconnect 24 earlier this week explored the issues in “Developing India’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Workforce” and was based on the following principles: Semiconductor Manufacturing skills are different from design skills. India has its design industry, but … Continued
Now an IEEE Senior Member!
I was just informed that I have been elevated to IEEE Senior Member. This is an honor bestowed only to those who have made significant contributions to the profession. In my case, I believe it was my work at Electronics … Continued
Cross-eyed PhD: Tip14 ..Watch ‘The PhD Movie”!
The PhD journey is a demanding one – with a lot of ups and downs! Feeling pulled down?! Take this tip!! … Continued
8 simple steps that enabled my 5th Degree! Reshaping my world with Life-Long Learning…
In June 1st week, I completed my MTech in ECE with specialization in Semiconductors, VLSI and Embedded System Design. Nelson Mandela has said that education is the single most powerful tool for changing the world. I know that it has been … Continued
Nothing Matters in Semiconductors…
What is there in the chamber when everything is taken out of it? Nothing! …or Vacuum!! Vacuum technology is fundamental to Semiconductors manufacturing! A fab process engineer should have a strong understanding of vacuum technology as most chambers have … Continued
When trust is built…
( In the picture: Sonny Kunnakat, MD Worldwide Operations Applied Materials with Honble Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw. Also present, CEO ISM Akash Tripathi ji, Chief of Staff-ISM Sagar Sharma and Shannu Kaw Sr Director, Applied Materials) Led a door-knock session for … Continued
Semiconductor Packaging..a personal milestone!
2 sessions per weekend; 1.5-2 hrs per session! + a range of exciting of tech talks on semiconductor packaging over the last 4 months earned me my Certification in Device and Systems Packaging from BITS Pilani/ Georgia Tech collaborative course. … Continued
India’s Semiconductor Vision – Realization of a dream…
Over the last 14 years, from the era of MAIT with its path-breaking report recommending a semiconductor vision for India to my years at MAIT, I have lived a dream – of India having its own electronics manufacturing industry and … Continued
Two ways that Applied Materials shaped me…
Applied Materials shaped me in two distinct ways over the years… Applied Materials has been a wonderful professional experience over the last decade. I am sharing here two unique programs that resonate with me, represent the company core values and … Continued
A Stroll Down Memory Lane: 4 Tips for the perfect Chandni Chowk food Walk!
Chandni Chowk, the bustling heart of Old Delhi, is a food lover’s paradise. And what better way to explore it than with a group of old friends? This Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining a group of my college … Continued
HP DeskJet turns 25!
The World’s Most Loved Printers just turned 25! 25 years ago, I had the privilege of launching the HP DeskJet printers in India. It was an era strongly dominated by the dot matrix printers – and I remember the dealers telling me … Continued
The Not-to-do list!
Just completed a productivity workshop on Linkedin Learning. One of the most interesting modules invited me to carefully think over my not-to-do list! This is the list of things we will consciously choose not-to-do! They are a drain on our … Continued
Sky is the limit…Asli Udaan hai baki…
Applied Materials is honored to receive the Electronics Maker award for the Most Innovative Company in the year 2022. I received the award on behalf of the corporation – and in my crisp message to the industry -I just spoke … Continued
Machines will fail, it is People who make the difference….
Machines will fail, it is People who make the difference…. On my return flight from SFO, I met a wonderful young man with a unique, can-do attitude in life. My pre-booked seat turned out to be a lemon deal – … Continued
Igniting Young Minds!
Igniting Young Minds! I had the privilege to be on the Jury for NXP’s Young Innovator Challenge. It was a wonderful evening with the NXP family as we browsed thru the projects of the young innovators as they presented their … Continued
Semiconductor Workforce Development – What India needs to do…
Semiconductor Workforce Development – What India needs to do! Enabling India’s semiconductor program has been a personal vision and I have the privilege of contributing to it as a subject-matter-expert (SME) across different industry and government bodies. My … Continued
What US Chips Act means for India…
WHAT US CHIPS ACT MEANS FOR INDIA… USA President Biden signed off the US CHIPS Act on Aug 9,22- committing USA to a historic realignment of its semiconductor destiny thru policy and program funds. The genesis of this move … Continued
Lessons from SEMICON West 22/ 6 reasons for India to develop its Semiconductor Sector
It’s a new dawn; it’s a new day; it’s a new life, and we’re feeling good… Legendary singer, Michael Cormick, set an optimistic, vibrant mood for SEMICON West 2022 as it came back in full swing after SEMICON West “Lite” … Continued
Sustainability – it is a TEAM effort!
As Applied Materials India expands its sustainability initiatives, Nicily, Praveen and I took a a handshake meeting with CII sustainability teams to understand their pioneering work in the sustainability space. We had hosted MMe Seema Aurora, CII leader for … Continued
Meetup@Dubai
Aloysius & Me – a warm cup of coffee after nearly 15 years! Refreshing meeting old industry colleagues in my Dubai trip last month. Here is a photograph with Aloysius ex-Ingram – now in Redington Middle East… I was pleasantly … Continued
When Ideas take Wings…
When Ideas take Wings… Came across the ePlane at Dubai Expo! Created by a startup from IIT Chennai – it envisages a 2 seater flying ‘car That can cut the travel time by a factor of 4, May spawn a … Continued
Future of Computing// The world in the palm of my hands…
In end 1995, Ravi informed me that he was moving me to PPGA – the PC Product group in HP, and I would be handling the HP Vectra and Server market development in India. I guess I was … Continued
Scaling Solar Skills…
!3/14th Nov 21! There is NO SUBSTITUTE for a good HANDS-ON training! We had an action packed 2 days of Solar Skill Trainings for eminent faculty from the leading Institutions selected for the Solar COEs by ESSCI. The … Continued
Toolbox for creating Innovation in Semiconductor Ecosystem!
Attached is my keynote presentation at India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) Vision 2021. I was asked to speak on pathways for University engagement – and I turned the topic to focus on creating the innovation ecosystem for the … Continued
Semiconductor Technology Primers (CMOS Basics and ATMP) 1&2&3 of 4 part sessions
I repeated the Semiconductor Technology Primers at the encouragement of Dr Sangeeta Semwal at Ministry of Electronics & IT – and Invest India teams. The backdrop is the Indian aspiration for enabling its semiconductor ecosystem – driven partly by … Continued
Fast-charge your Linkedin Profile// Workshop for BCC
My post on ‘Winning Linkedin Headlines’ and the related youtube video has been getting a strong response over the last few weeks. I also crossed a milestone on my Linkedin network in early September -over 6000 direct network connections and … Continued
14. St.Xavier’s, Jaipur – Back to School…
After five decades, I visited Xavier’s on18th Sept 21 when I was in Jaipur for a family function. The glorious façade – a landmark in Jaipur- with its unique architecture drew me in and the first port of halt … Continued
SS5: How to remember Names with Faces for easy recall
Many people have a problem remembering names of people they meet. In my career , I have conducted numerous trainings and dealer events. I started remembering the names of the people I met as a simple business requisite. In … Continued
Force Multiplier at SOS Children’s Village
From Right to Left: Neelam, Ashwini, Dr.Niharika, Sarthak, Amit Garg, Lavanya and Shweta ji at SOS Children’s Village, Faridabad on 7th August,21 We returned to SOS Children’s Village, Faridabad – this time with Amit Garg and his lovely family … Continued
Fast-Charge your Linkedin Profile with these HEADLINE TIPS!
Is your Linkedin Profile letting you down? In these series of branding tips I will show you how to revamp your linked-in profile to fast-charge your profile! My love affair with Linkedin is nearly 2 decades old, My start … Continued
13. Classics :The Count of Monte Cristo
I remember first reading ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ as a Classics Illustrated Comic in 1965 at Uran. It had a beautiful hand-painted cover that showed Edmond Dantes, the sailor, reveling in the treasure of Monte Cristo!. I still have … Continued
The magic of a little love, a little hope…the story of SOS Children’s Village, GreenField, Faridabad
With Dr.Amaranth Sarmah, Village Director, Dr.Niharika and SOS Village Team I had the privilege to visit SOS Children’s Village, GreenField, Faridabad last week. As a Faridabad resident, I had taken upon myself to increase my engagement with the NGO which … Continued
Rok Sako to Rok Lo! Fun Team-Building Activity Part 2
Rok Sake to Rok Lo! (Stop us, if you can)! Part 2 Fun Team-Building Activity In the part 1 of this post, we saw the brief that shaped the HP Team activity at Goa. Of course, the brief could well … Continued
SS4. How to memorize names – so that they can be remembered easily!
This Memory post demonstrates – and shares the how-to memorize names so that one can recall them easily. Have you read a book and forgotten the author’s name? Are you forgetting the names that you read in an article yesterday? Here … Continued
The HP DeskJet Love Story…
One of the defining accomplishments in my life has been the creation of the HP DeskJet printer market in India. In end 1993, after the successful launch of HP LaserJet 4, my boss threw a challenge at me – … Continued
SS3. Reciting Poems & Mantras from Memory
In the video shared above, I recite a series of mantras, poems and quotes from memory. The full slide deck explaining the process of memorization and recall of poems and mantras is shared here. Reciting Poems from memory … Continued
SS2: Reciting Reverse Alphabets from Memory!
Reciting Reverse Alphabets from Memory! Can we recite alphabets in reverse order from memory? In the above video, I do it in ~10 seconds. How does one accomplish this? There is a simple mnemonic aid that I have placed in a memory … Continued
SS1: Reciting Pi to 1000th Digit- a new Personal Best!
A new personal best in Continuous Learning-Memory Training! This month – as a simple personal challenge – I memorized and recited the value of Pi (22/7) to 1000+ digits! I have been a voracious reader- and have evolved a commitment … Continued
Wide Band-Gap Semiconductors – An Opportunity for India?
With Govt of India (Ministry of Electronics & IT) giving another call for an Expression of Interest for Semiconductor Fab, there is a keen interest in select players for exploring a WBG semiconductor fab. On behalf of Applied Materials and … Continued
10. I rest my case, Your Honor… (Perry Mason)
Erle Stanley Gardner was a prolific American author who pioneered a fascinating genre of crime stories- featuring the adventures of a brilliant, young lawyer – Perry Mason as he solved murder frame-ups and legal traps that his clients got into. … Continued
Semiconductor Innovation Ecosystems: Learnings for India
Government of India has announced its new Expression of Interest for a Semiconductor Fab with a mixed response and a lot of media interest over the recent weeks. Another subtle move has been the preparation of a detailed project report … Continued
A PERSONAL BEST MILESTONE! How I did it..
Dec’20 – I clocked 550,000 running steps – and a personal best record of 400km. There is tremendous power in going beyond what one thinks is possible…Here are five tips on what made it happen! It was an … Continued
3. The Search Engine…with a heart!
Year 1968, Dad got promoted and transferred to departmental Head Quarters. We left Uran for Jaipur where I was duly admitted to Nirmala School in Class 4th – and then subsequently into St Xavier’s Jaipur. Xaviers was an amazing school- … Continued
1. I changed!
As I look back over the years, I realize that I have changed. And one of the key factors behind the change has been my love for books. My earliest recollections of my reading days are from mid 60s … Continued
Solar PV Design – the basic calculations…
Skilling India…for the solar revolution… The full SPV design slides from my train-the-trainer session for Solar COEs are shared here. SPV Design is essentially optimizing the solar PV site taking into account the site specifications across different components and with respect … Continued
Gift of Friendship…
Overwhelmed by the tide of birthday wishes …my heartfelt thanks to all the well-wishers …and request your patience as it is physically impossible for me to respond to all of you individually. Appreciate your warmth – and wish you all … Continued
A mother’s eye…
Sonu was concerned at the failing eyesight of his mother, Rekha Gupta….but, as a daily wager car mechanic, he was financially constrained! But then a good son is his mother’s eye…he reached out in his ecosystem for help. And Brij … Continued
Semiconductor Packaging – An Industry Primer
CONTENT PLAN : ATMP- PRIMER WORKSHOP ELCINA-MEITY : 9TH OCTOBER, 2020 Continuing on the knowledge workshop from last week, this session briefly touched the semiconductor industry – and key trends and drivers into the decade of 2020 -and then dived … Continued
Semiconductors- An industry Primer
Content Plan: Semiconductor Primer Workshop with MEITY & ELCINA Sometime back, Mr.Saurabh Gaur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & IT, asked me to deliver a Semiconductor Primer for the Ministry of Electronics& IT. I worked with ELCINA to prepare and … Continued
A miracle medicine called ‘running’…
Running on the beach at Goa Sept 2015 In 2013, I dropped my weight from 92.6 kg to 71.4 kg – and kept it at that range(+-2kg) for most of the years till 2019. In Sept 2020, I am weighing … Continued
Solar PV Safety- Electrical Safety
A Solar PV installer has to take care of the electricity related hazards at his site. This covers two hazards: Electric shocks and Arc flash Discharge It is relevant to record that proper precautions and personal protection equipment is mandated … Continued
Solar PV Civil works: Tips on foundation block design
Rooftop solar PV structures typically use a combination of purlins, rafters and posts mounted on the roof. To provide for structural stability, the posts are fixed on concrete foundation blocks. These foundation blocks can be cylindrical or , typically, a … Continued
Scaling Solar Skills for the Nation…
With a national objective for the rooftop solar at 40GW and an installation base of 4.4 GW on March 31’19- it is obvious that there will be a serious push by the Government to grow the nascent rooftop solar … Continued
I-Care: Karein Roshini…
It is 5+ years since I started actively contributing to eye-care; 5 years in which I was transformed as I touched the lives of the poor blind. On the journey, I found wonderful friends and equally committed persons at … Continued
Cross-Eyed PhD: Tip 2- the synopsis
Tip 2: The Research Concept, Synopsis & the Literature Review AMU conducted a short-3 day preparatory session for the semester 2 of the AIMA PhD aspirants. Ontology & Epistemology ..two esoteric terms were introduced in an afternoon session … Continued
On Earning my PhD…a life milestone achieved
19th September 2019! I faced the academic board and examiners at the Faculty of Management & Research, Aligarh Muslim University. There were researchers, faculty and my guides and the external examiners from Dubai and Delhi University. The Dean, FMSR … Continued
Nirmala Dhara
We discovered this work of Mausi ji – a rare collection of inspring thoughts that were compiled over 5 decades back and that transcend time… The work is shared here as an ebook/pdf for all. Mausi ji’s Nirmala … Continued
Changing the world…a smile at a time…
Helping one person may not change the world – but it can change the world for that one person. Salma’s smile says it all! The way to change the world is through Individual responsibility and taking local … Continued
Serving God by Serving Humanity…
Serving God by Serving Humanity… The role of husband, wife and parent is fundamental to the perpetuity of a society. Yet, it is difficult for impoverished couples to fulfil this in the absence of a competent parent. In this blog … Continued