And the function was an "IT event", as the minister chose to term it.

Hewlett Packard, a leading name in the computer industry, was setting up a computer lab in Sardar Patel Vidyalaya.

The newly installed computer lab was set up at a cost of Rs 17.25 lakh, which includes the cost of 22 HP Brio PCs, a net server and other equipment.

The school, in turn, has concrete plans to share this IT advantage with other underprivileged schools. Seven schools, namely Delhi Kannada School, Shyama Prasad Vidyalaya, TTA School, Mahavidyala of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan and two branches of Sarvodaya, have been chosen for a 30-hour computer module.

What exactly is the focus of the module? Says Mr Mahesh Shelat, principal of Sardar Patel Vidyalaya: "Our basic aim is to teach not only our students, but other underprivileged students as well. The module scheduled to begin from the first week of September would initially provide basic computer training to two teachers from each school. Once the teachers have been trained, the programme will be spread to the students."

The school calls it the `Sahodaya spirit'-the spirit to share what they receive. So was it Sahodaya spirit that prompted Hewlett-Packard to give this munificent gift to Sardar Patel Vidyalaya? Said Mr Ganesh Ayyar, president of Hewlett-Packard India: "We chose to partner with Sardar Patel Vidyalaya as we share a common mission of spreading and sharing through community outreach. Through this partnership with Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, we will be able to create a platform where young citizens of India will be exposed to technology at an early age and acquire the relevant skills to succeed in the new information era."

But why did Hewlett-Packard not opt for a school that could not afford a computer lab at all? Explained Mr Ayyar, "It is important for the recipient of such grants to have the required infrastructure and capacity to maintain the facility."

Sardar Patel Vidyalaya has concrete plans for its own staff and pupils as well. They have begun by introducing primary students to computer use as well as sharpening the skills of the students from classes 8, 9 and 10.

There are other programmes as well. For instance, they are currently working on developing computer aided teaching modules customised to the school's needs and have plans of working on an introductory package developed by CBSE for classes 9 and 10.

Mr Mahajan termed it as a stepping stone, and added that such schemes for sharing the IT advantage would only propel our growth as a nation. And what is more, Hewlett-Packard plans to continue with such practices. "Our mission is to look at creative ways of applying technology and contributing towards supporting programmes that address the immediate or long-term needs of the society," summed up Ms Siaou-Sze Lien, managing director of Hewlett-Packard, Asia Pacific.