Azim Premji: The trail blazer

Former Wipro president Ashok Soota writes: Azim Premji led the firm to become a global leader in the IT sector

The first path-breaking achievement for which Azim Premji will be remembered is the transformation of a vegetable oil company into a consumer goods behemoth. He is also celebrated for the creation of India’s largest computer company and India’s second largest software company—albeit a ranking which has been difficult to sustain. The innovations of Wipro’s computer business included the launch of the world’s first Multibus II computer, based on the Intel 286 chip, as well as the launch of the Wipro Supergenius personal computer which became India’s largest selling PC.